Decreased Systemic Monocyte Colony Protein-1 (MCP-1) Levels and Reduced sCD14 Levels in Curcumin-Treated Patients with Moderate Anxiety: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Psychosocial stress may alter cortisol and/or affect the normal functioning of the immune system. Curcuminoids can promote beneficial effects in neuropsychiatric diseases. We evaluated whether curcumin supplementation for 15 consecutive days (1800 mg/day) would decrease systemic MCP-1, sCD14, and TNF alpha levels in patients with moderate anxiety (n = 81). A total number of 81 subjects were enrolled in this study, divided into the following groups according to their Hamilton scores: a control group including patients without anxiety who were not taking curcumin (Cont, n = 22) and an anxiety group including patients with moderate anxiety (Anx, n = 22). The curcumin-treated patients experienced moderate anxiety, and they take curcumin for 15 consecutive days (Anx-Cur (after), n = 15, 1800 mg/day). An evaluation of 128 patients was conducted, which allowed for their assignment to the study groups according to their scores on Hamilton scale II. The cortisol levels were quantified in salivary samples through ELISA (ng/mL), and malonaldehyde (MDA) levels were measured in plasma via the TBARS assay as an index of lipoperoxidation. Several systemic proinflammatory cytokines (pg/mL: MCP-1, TNF alpha, IL-1 beta) and mediators were quantified through ELISA (pg/mL), including systemic sCD14 levels as a marker of monocyte activation. A two-way bifactorial ANOVA was conducted to evaluate the contributions of the anxiety factor (Anx) and/or curcumin factor (Cur) in all the tested markers, including interactions between both factors. High systemic MCP-1 and elevated sCD14 levels were observed in patients with moderate anxiety, which were reduced with curcumin supplementation. In addition, curcumin prevented cortisol overexpression and decreased MDA levels as an antioxidant response in these patients. Collectively, curcumin presented anti-chemotactic effects by reducing systemic MCP-1 levels in anxiety. Curcumin decreased systemic MCP-1 as well as sCD14 levels in patients with moderate anxiety.

Keywords: CCR2; MCP-1; antioxidants; anxiety; behavior; chemokines; cortisol; curcumin; depression; inflammation; monocytes; neurology; neuroprotection; neuropsychiatric disorders; nutraceuticals; oxidative stress; sCD14; stress.

Figure 1

Scheme of enrolled participants and study groups.This scheme shows the enrollment of the 128 patients according to their initial Hamilton scores. This pilot study included 81 patients and 47 excluded subjects. Control (n = 15): subjects without anxiety (n = 22). Cur (n = 15): control patients without anxiety taking curcumin (powder phytosome form, Meriva@) for 15 consecutive days (1800 mg 2 times/day, n = 15). Anx (n = 22): patients with moderate anxiety (without taking curcumin, n = 22). The eligibility criteria for this group are scores within the range of moderate anxiety in the Hamilton scale II (Anx group, n = 22). Anx-Cur (After) (n = 22): patients with moderate anxiety taking curcumin for 15 consecutive days (1800 mg twice/day, n = 22). As an additional control, we compared systemic markers (pg/mL: MCP-1, sCD14, TNF alpha levels) in patients with anxiety after taking curcumin [Anx-Cur (After)] with their own basal levels [before taking curcumin, Anx-Cur (Before), n = 22]. Anx-Cur (Before) (n = 22): patients with moderate anxiety (before taking curcumin, n = 22).

Figure 2

Hamilton scores and cortisol levels (ng/mL). Mean values ± S.E.M. for Hamilton scores (left) and salivary cortisol levels (ng/mL, right panel).

Figure 3

TBARS (MDA) indicating the percentage of MDA levels as compared to control (considered as 100%) (left) and mean values ± S.E.M. for systemic TNF alpha levels (pg/mL). * p < 0.05 vs. cont # p < 0.05 vs. Anx; # p < 0.05 vs. patients with moderate anxiety before curcumin treatment [Anx-Cur (Before)]; MDA percentages vs control (left) and mean values ± S.E.M. for systemic TNF alpha (pg/mL) levels (right). @ p < 0.05 vs Anx Cur (Before).

Figure 4

Mean values ± S.E.M. for systemic MCP-1 (pg/mL: left) and SCD14 levels (right: pg/mL). MCP-1 (pg/mL, left) and sCD14 (pg/mL) levels (right panel) levels via ELISA.

Figure 5

Spearman correlations between cortisol and systemic sCD14 protein levels in patients with moderate anxiety. Spearman correlations between Hamilton scores after/before taking curcumin (A); correlation between cortisol and sCD14 levels after 15 days of curcumin supplementation in patients with moderate anxiety [Anx-Cur (After)] (B); and correlation between cortisol and sCD14 levels in patients with moderate anxiety before taking curcumin [Anx-Cur (Before)] (C). Notably, there was a positive correlation between sCD14 and cortisol levels in patients with moderate anxiety before taking curcumin [Anx-Cur (Before)].

Figure 6

Summary of mean findings. Mean effects of curcumin supplementation in patients with moderate anxiety, mediated by decreased salivary cortisol levels and prevention of overexpression of systematic MCP-1 and sCD14 due to anxiety, suggesting anti-inflammatory effects.