Curcumin inhibits HCV replication by induction of heme oxygenase-1 and suppression of AKT

摘要: Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects approximately 130-170 million people worldwide, no vaccines are available. HCV is an important cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, leading to the need for liver transplantation. In this study, curcumin, a constituent used in traditional Chinese medicine, has been evaluated its anti-HCV activity mechanism, using human hepatoma cell line containing genotype 1b subgenomic replicon. Below concentration 20% cytotoxicity, curcumin dose-dependently inhibited replication by luciferase reporter gene assay, RNA detection protein analysis. Under same conditions, also induced heme oxygenase-1 with highest induction at 24 h. Hemin, inducer, expression dose-dependent manner. The knockdown partially reversed curcumin-inhibited expression. addition induction, signaling molecule activities AKT, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were curcumin. Using specific inhibitors PI3K-AKT, MEK-ERK NF-κB, results suggested that only PI3K-AKT inhibition positively involved replication. Inhibition ERK NF-κB was likely promote summary, AKT pathway inhibition. inhibits activities, it slightly increased This result may provide information when as adjuvant therapy.