Effects of oral nanocurcumin on disease activity and Treg cells frequency and related factors in Behcet patients: Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

The effect of curcumin on the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease is still unknown and reports in this field are very rare. In the only study that exists in this regard the researchers concluded that curcumin was able to regulate inflammatory signal pathways in the macrophages of Behcet patients more specifically than in the macrophages of healthy individuals. Due to limited studies, this study aimed to investigate the effects of oral nanocurcumin on disease activity, microRNA expression and factors affecting the development of Treg cells and serum levels of IL-10 and TGF-β in patients with Behçet's disease. Materials and Methods: The present study was a randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial that was performed in patients (36 patients) with Behcet referred to the Rheumatology Clinic affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The study groups received an 80 mg nanocurcumin supplement or placebo daily for 8 weeks. The patients' clinical manifestations were evaluated by a physician. BDCAF criteria were used to determine disease activity. Blood samples were taken before and after the intervention and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the frequency of Treg cells and to evaluate the expression of miRNA106, miRNA 25, Foxp3 transcription factor and the expression of cytokine genes IL-10 and TGF-β by Quantitative Real time PCR. Also, ELISA kit was used to evaluate the serum levels of cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β. The subjects were allowed to follow their treatment protocol during the study period and did not change the type and dose of their medication during the study period as much as possible Results: Treg cells frequency increased significantly in the nanocurcumin group compared with baseline (P<0.001) and placebo group (P<0.001). Moreover, FoxP3, TGF-β, IL‐10, miRNA-25, and miRNA-106b mRNA expression increased considerably in the nanocurcumin group compared to baseline (P<0.001) and placebo group (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.025, P=0.011, and P<0.001, respectively). Significant increases in serum TGF-β and IL-10 were seen in nanocurcumin group compared with baseline (P<0.001) and placebo group (P=0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). Significant decrease in disease activity was found in nanocurcumin group compared with placebo group (P=0.044).