Curcumin improves angiogenesis in the heart of aged rats: Involvement of TSP1/NF-κB/VEGF-A signaling

Microvasc Res. 2022 Jan:139:104258. doi: 10.1016/j.mvr.2021.104258. Epub 2021 Sep 17.

Abstract

Background: Cardiac aging is an irreversible process that is determined by a number of slowly deleterious changes in morphological and physiological properties of the heart. We investigated the effects of curcumin on cardiac angiogenesis, in old male rats.

Materials and methods: Rats randomly divided into young, age (rats of 26-28 months of age) and curcumin-age (rats of 26-28 months of age treatment with curcumin 50mg/kg). Finally, the expression of VEGF, NF-κB, and TSP-1 were assessed by ELISA in cardiac tissue. Also, angiogenesis was determined by immunostaining for PECAM-1/CD31 and apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL.

Results: After 2 months, curcumin-age had significantly higher cardiac VEGF-A and NF-κB and lower cardiac TSP-1 expression levels in comparison with age and young. A significant increase in levels of NF-κB and TSP-1 were observed in the age group.

Conclusion: Results suggest that curcumin through regulation of cardiogenic mediators and improving cardiac angiogenesis can promote heart performance in the senescent rats.

Keywords: Aging; Angiogenesis; Curcumin; NF-κB; TSP-1; VEGF-A.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Coronary Vessels / drug effects*
  • Coronary Vessels / metabolism
  • Coronary Vessels / pathology
  • Curcumin / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Signal Transduction
  • Thrombospondin 1 / metabolism*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism*

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
  • NF-kappa B
  • Thrombospondin 1
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • thrombospondin 1, rat
  • vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat
  • Curcumin