Cited by 10Cystic Fibrosis Research AdvancesGenomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stressCurcumin's Biomedical Applications

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Curcumin-mediated NRF2 induction limits inflammatory damage in, preclinical models of cystic fibrosis

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Overactive neutrophilic inflammation causes damage to the airways and death in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disorder resulting from mutations in the CFTR gene. Reducing the impact of inflammation is therefore a major concern in CF. Evidence indicates that dysfunctional NRF2 signaling in CF individuals may impair their ability to regulate their oxidative and inflammatory responses, although the role of NRF2 in neutrophil-dominated inflammation and tissue damage associated with CF has not been determined. Therefore, we examined whether curcumin, an activator of NRF2, might provide a beneficial effect in the context of CF. METHODS: Combining Cftr-depleted zebrafish as an innovative biomedical model with CF patient-derived airway organoids (AOs), we aimed to understand how NRF2 dysfunction leads to abnormal inflammatory status and tissue remodeling and determine the effects of curcumin in reducing inflammation and tissue damage in CF. RESULTS: We demonstrate that NFR2 is instrumental in regulating neutrophilic inflammation and repair processes in vivo, thereby preventing inflammatory damage. Importantly, curcumin treatment restores NRF2 activity in both CF zebrafish and AOs. Curcumin reduces neutrophilic inflammation in CF context, by rebalancing the production of epithelial ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, curcumin improves tissue repair by reducing CF-associated fibrosis. Our findings demonstrate that curcumin prevents CF-mediated inflammation via activating the NRF2 pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This work highlights the protective role of NRF2 in limiting inflammation and injury and show that therapeutic strategies to normalize NRF2 activity, using curcumin or others NRF2 activators, might simultaneously reduce airway inflammation and damage in CF.

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Metadata

Authors
Leon-Icaza, S. A., Frétaud, M., Cornélie, S., Bureau, C., Yatime, L., Floto, R. A., Renshaw, S. A., Herrmann, J.-L., Langevin, C., Cougoule, C., & Bernut, A.
Affiliations
  • Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • University of Sheffield (GB)
  • Inserm (FR)
Corresponding author
Bernut, Audrey
Venue
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2025-05
Volume
186
Pages
117957
ISSN
0753-3322 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4409093563
Cited by
10
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 4
FWCI
6.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (submittedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Association Vaincre la Mucoviscidose (RF20210502852/1/1/48)
  • EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (955576, 751977)
  • Foundation for Medical Research (ARF201909009156)
  • Cystic Fibrosis Trust (160161, SRC018)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Cystic Fibrosis Research Advances
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stress
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Medicine › Curcumin's Biomedical Applications
Keywords
cystic fibrosis, curcumin, Nrf2 signaling, neutrophilic inflammation, airway inflammation, airway organoids, zebrafish model, CFTR, reactive oxygen species, inflammatory cytokines, airway fibrosis, tissue repair, Nrf2 activators
MeSH terms
Animals, Curcumin, Cystic Fibrosis, Disease Models, Animal, Humans, Inflammation, Neutrophils, Zebrafish, Reactive Oxygen Species, Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator, Zebrafish Proteins, Animals, Genetically Modified, NF-E2-Related Factor 2

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