Direct regulation of IL-2 by curcumin

作者：Oh Jin Gyo; Hwang Da Jeong; Heo Tae Hwe^*

来源：Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2018, 495(1): 300-305.

DOI：10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.11.039

• Interleukin-2 (IL-2)
• Interleukin-2 receptor alpha (IL-2R alpha)
• Vascular leak syndrome (VLS)
• Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)
• Curcumin

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a crucial growth factor for both regulatory and effector T cells. Thus, IL-2 plays a critical role in the stimulation and suppression of immune responses. Recently, anti-IL-2 antibodies (Abs) have been shown to possess strong IL-2 modulatory activities by affecting the interaction between IL-2 and IL-2 receptors. In this study, we screened an herbal library to identify a compound that regulates IL-2, which resulted in the identification of curcumin as a direct binder and inhibitor of IL-2. Curcumin is a phytochemical with well-known anti-cancer properties. In this study, curcumin mimicked or altered the binding pattern of anti-IL-2 Abs against IL-2 and remarkably inhibited the interaction of recombinant IL-2 with the IL-2 receptor alpha, CD25. Interestingly, curcumin neutralized the biological activities of IL-2 both in vitro and in vivo. In this report, we elucidated the unsolved mechanism of the anti-cancer effect of curcumin by identifying IL-2 as a direct molecular target. Curcumin, as a small molecule IL-2 modulator, has the potential to be used to treat IL-2 related pathologic conditions.

• 出版日期2018-1-1