J Vet Sci.  2016 Dec;17(4):435-444. 10.4142/jvs.2016.17.4.435.

Therapeutic effect of topical application of curcumin during treatment of radiation burns in a mini-pig model

• Kim J
• Park S
• Jeon BS
• Jang WS
• Lee SJ
• Son Y
• Rhim KJ
• Lee SI
• Lee SS

• KMID: 2412598
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2016.17.4.435

Abstract

Curcumin protects the skin against radiation-induced epidermal damage and prevents morphological changes induced by irradiation skin, thereby maintaining the epidermal thickness and cell density of basal layers. In this study, the effects of topical curcumin treatment on radiation burns were evaluated in a mini-pig model. Histological and clinical changes were observed five weeks after radiation exposure to the back (⁶⁰Co gamma-radiation, 50 Gy). Curcumin was applied topically to irradiated skin (200 mg/cm²) twice a day for 35 days. Curcumin application decreased the epithelial desquamation after irradiation. Additionally, when compared to the vehicle-treated group, the curcumin-treated group showed reduced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and nuclear factor-kappaB. Furthermore, irradiation prolonged healing of biopsy wounds in the exposed area, whereas curcumin treatment stimulated wound healing. These results suggest that curcumin can improve epithelial cell survival and recovery in the skin and therefore be used to treat radiation burns.

Keyword

curcumin; mini-pig; radiation burns; skin

MeSH Terms

Administration, Topical
Animals
Burns/*drug therapy
Curcumin/*pharmacology/*therapeutic use
Gamma Rays/*adverse effects
Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects
Radiation-Protective Agents/pharmacology/*therapeutic use
Skin/drug effects/*radiation effects
Swine
Swine, Miniature
Wound Healing/*drug effects/genetics
Radiation-Protective Agents
Curcumin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A) Focal gamma irradiation (50 Gy) applied to dorsal skin of mini-pigs. (B) Image of irradiated lesion and punch biopsy site.

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  Fig. 2 Curcumin attenuated clinical skin changes after irradiation (50 Gy). (A) Skin appearance before irradiation, 7, 21, and 35 days after irradiation of pigs treated with vehicle or curcumin. (B) Time-dependent changes in clinical score in vehicle- or curcumin-treated skin of pigs following irradiation. Data are the means ± the standard error of the mean (SEM).

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  Fig. 3 Curcumin attenuated histological changes, including decreased basal cell numbers and skin depth after irradiation. (A) Histological skin changes 35 days after irradiation (50 Gy) of pigs treated with vehicle or curcumin. H&E stain. 400×. (B) Time-dependent changes in basal cell density in the skin of mini-pigs treated with vehicle or curcumin following irradiation. (C) Time-dependent changes in epidermal thickness of the skin of mini-pigs following irradiation and vehicle or curcumin treatment. Data are the means ± the standard error of the mean (SEM). *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 vs. vehicle-treated irradiated animals.

• 

  Fig. 4 Curcumin decreased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in skin after irradiation (50 Gy). (A) COX-2 expression in skin before irradiation exposure. COX-2 expression in skin of vehicle-treated (B-D) or curcumin-treated (E-G) mini-pigs 7, 21, and 35 days after irradiation. Hematoxylin counterstain. 400× (A-G).

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  Fig. 5 Curcumin decreased the expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB in skin after irradiation (50 Gy). (A) NF-κB expression in skin before irradiation exposure. NF-κB expression in skin of vehicle-treated (B-D) or curcumin-treated (E-G) mini-pigs 7, 21, and 35 days after irradiation. Hematoxylin counterstain. 400× (A-G).

• 

  Fig. 6 Peripheral blood counts before, 3, 7, 21, and 35 days after focal irradiation (50 Gy) and vehicle or curcumin treatment. Effect of curcumin treatment on (A) population of blood cells, (B) neutrophils, (C) eosinophils, (D) lymphocytes, (E) red blood cells, and (F) platelets. Data are the means ± SEM.

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  Fig. 7 Curcumin stimulated wound healing in biopsy lesions three days after irradiation (50 Gy). (A) Appearance of biopsy lesions of non-irradiated lesions 32 days after biopsy. Representative images showing biopsy lesions 35 days after irradiation and vehicle (B) or curcumin (C) treatment. (D) Time-dependent changes in biopsy wounds in skin of vehicle- or curcumin-treated pigs following irradiation. Curcumin administration affected biopsy wound formation in skin. Data are the means ± SEM.

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