NR ANUF
AU Caughey,B.W.; Raymond,L.D.; Raymond,G.J.; Maxson,L.; Silveira,J.; Baron,G.S.
TI Inhibition of protease-resistant prion protein accumulation in vitro by curcumin
QU Journal of Virology 2003 May; 77(9): 5499-502
PT journal article
AB Inhibition of the accumulation of protease-resistant prion protein (PrPres) is a prime strategy in the development of potential transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) therapeutics. Here we show that curcumin (diferoylmethane), a major component of the spice turmeric, potently inhibits PrPres accumulation in scrapie agent-infected neuroblastoma cells (50% inhibitory concentration, approximately 10 nM) and partially inhibits the cell-free conversion of PrP to PrPres. In vivo studies showed that dietary administration of curcumin had no significant effect on the onset of scrapie in hamsters. Nonetheless, other studies have shown that curcumin is nontoxic and can penetrate the brain, properties that give curcumin advantages over inhibitors previously identified as potential prophylactic and/or therapeutic anti-TSE compounds.
MH Animal; Curcumin/administration & dosage/*pharmacology; Endopeptidases/metabolism; Hamsters; Mesocricetus; Neuroblastoma; PrPsc Proteins/*antagonists & inhibitors/*metabolism/pathogenicity; Scrapie/drug therapy/physiopathology; Tumor Cells, Cultured
AD Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana 59840, USA. bcaughey@nih.gov
SP englisch
PO USA