Curcumin Inhibits the Expression of Aquaporin 5: The New Perspective in Inhibition of Colon Carcinogenesis

Expression of aquaporin5 (AQP5), a member of aquaporins family of water channel proteins, in the early stage of colon cancer suggests that AQP5 is probably a driving force in colon carcinogenesis. We hypothesized that curcumin can reduce the level of AQP5 protein in hct116 colon cancer cells. hct116 colorectal cancer cells were cultured in DMEM, divided into three groups, nontreated control group, vehicle-treated and drug-treated. Cells were just exposed to medium, vehicle-treated (sham) cells received ethanol (as the solution of curcumin) and drug-treated cells were treated with different concentrations (10, 20, 30, 50, 80, 160 µM) of curcumin for 24 and 48h. Cell viability measured by MTT assay. Then cells were treated with 50 µM)IC50) of curcumin. immunocytochemistry performed to examine the effect of curcumin on the expression of AQP5. MTT assay indicated that curcumin decreased cell viability and proliferation in a time and dose dependent manner.Immunocytochemistry showed that the amount of AQP5 protein decreased in treated cell by curcumin. our results suggested that curcumin inhibits the expression of AQP5 in human hct116 colon cancer cell line. In this article, for the first time, the effect of curcumin in inhibition of AQP5 investigated. Inhibition of AQP5 expression may provide a novel therapeutic target in colon cancer treatment and prevention.