Curcumin promotes oxidative stress, apoptosis and autophagy in H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts

• Published in: Molecular & cellular toxicology Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 441 - 453
• Main Authors: Zepeda-Quiróz, Iván, Sánchez-Barrera, Helen, Colín-Val, Zaira, Robledo-Cadena, Diana Xochiquetzal, Rodríguez-Enríquez, Sara, López-Marure, Rebeca
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01-11-2020; Springer Nature B.V; 대한독성 유전단백체 학회
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Autophagy; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cardiovascular system; Caspase-9; Cell Biology; Cell cycle; Cell proliferation; Curcumin; Heart; Inflammation; Life Sciences; Membrane potential; Mitochondria; Original Article; Oxidants; Oxidative stress; Phagocytosis; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Phosphatidylserine; Toxicity; 생물학; Cardiomyoblasts; Oxidative stress; Cell death; Cell cycle; Mitochondrial damage; Curcumin; Mitophagy; Autophagy
• ISSN: 1738-642X; 2092-8467
• DOI: 10.1007/s13273-020-00101-w

Background
Curcumin, a polyphenol derived from
Curcuma longa
, has some adverse effects on heart; however, its toxic effects on cardiac cells are poorly understood.
Objective
To evaluate the toxicity of curcumin on H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts. To this, H9c2 cells were exposed to different concentrations of curcumin and proliferation, viability, cell cycle, oxidative stress, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), death and autophagy were evaluated.
Results
Curcumin caused concentration-dependent inhibition of H9c2 cells proliferation and viability. A higher sub-G1 population was observed in cells treated with curcumin, which was related with phosphatidylserine translocation and increase of activated caspase-9, indicating apoptotic death. Curcumin induced oxidative stress and decreased ΔΨm causing mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, it promoted autophagy, revealed by higher LC3B and beclin-1 protein expression and mitophagy.
Conclusion
Curcumin exhibited toxic effects in cardiac cells and further studies are required to validate its therapeutic potential and use as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agent in the cardiovascular system.
Graphic abstract