Curcumin reduces the toxic effects of iron loading in rat liver epithelial cells

Background/Aims: Iron overload can cause liver toxicity and increase the risk of liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma in humans. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a component of the food spice turmeric, has antioxidant, iron binding and hepatoprotective properties. The aim of this study was to quantify its effects on iron overload and the resulting downstream toxic effects in cultured T51B rat liver epithelial cells. Methods: T51B cells were loaded with ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) with or without the iron delivery agent 8‐hydroxyquinoline. Cytotoxicity was measured by methylthiazolyldiphenyl‐tetrazolium bromide assay. Iron uptake and iron bioavailability were documented by chemical assay, quench of calcein fluorescence and ferritin induction. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by a fluorescence assay using 2′,7′‐dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. Oxidative stress signalling to jnk, c‐jun and p38 was measured by a Western blot with phospho‐specific antibodies. Results: Curcumin bound iron, but did not block iron uptake or bioavailability in T51B cells given FAC. However, it reduced cytotoxicity, blocked the generation of ROS and eliminated signalling to cellular stress pathways caused by iron. Inhibition was observed over a wide range of FAC concentrations (50–500 μM), with an apparent IC50 in all cases between 5 and 10 μM curcumin. In contrast, desferoxamine blocked both iron uptake and toxic effects of iron at concentrations that depended on the FAC concentration. The effects of curcumin also differed from those of α‐tocopherol, which did not bind iron and was less effective at blocking iron‐stimulated ROS generation. Conclusions: Curcumin reduced iron‐dependent oxidative stress and iron toxicity in T51B cells without blocking iron uptake.