Effect of curcumin on growth inhibition and gene expression reduction in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells (CLL-CII)

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most frequent leukemia in adults living in Western countries. with a diverse clinical course that due to life expectancy less than two years between patients finding ,new therapeutic strategies is essential for it. Curcumin as the biologic active of turmeric, has many biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic and anti-cancer activities. In this study, the effect of curcumin on bioavailability and PML gene expression of the chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell line (CLL-CII) examined.

In this experimental study the CLL-CII cells in three groups of control, placebo  and treated with different concentrations of curcumin 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 μM for 24, 48 and 72 hours to examine bioavailability, and the expression of PML gene, were incubated. The Bioavailability was analyzed by ELISA reader using MTT kit and the expression of PML gene were analyzed by RT-Real Time PCR. 

The results of this study indicate that the concentration of 2.5 μm from curcumin significantly decreases the Bioavailability of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells in comparison with other experimental groups at all three times of incubation. Also, treatment with curcumin significantly decreased the expression of PML gene in all experimental groups compared to control and placebo groups (P=.032).

Due to the Inhibitory effect of curcumin on the growth, proliferation and invasion of lymphocytic leukemia cells as well as on the potential function of PML-RARα oncogene in these cells by decreasing PML gene expression, it seems that the use of turmeric active ingredient (curcumin) in the prevention and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia will have a satisfactory results.