| Objective: Present research was performed to assess the effects of nanocurcumin supplementation on
T-helper 17 (Th17) cells inflammatory response in patients with Behcet’s disease (BD).
Methods: In this randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 36 BD subjects were randomly
placed into two groups to take 80mg/day nanocurcumin or placebo for eight weeks. Disease activity,
frequency of Th17 cells and expression of related parameters including retinoic acid-related orphan
receptor c (RORct) transcription factor messenger RNA (mRNA), related microRNAs (miRNAs) such as
miRNA-155, miRNA-181, and miRNA-326 as well as proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin
(IL)-17 and IL-23 were evaluated.
Results: Thirty-two patients (17 in the nanocurcumin and 15 in the placebo groups) completed the
trial. Number of Th17 cells decreased significantly in the nanocurcumin group compared to baseline
(p¼.012) and placebo (p¼.047). Moreover, RORct, IL-17, IL-23, miRNA-155, miRNA-181, and miRNA-
326 mRNA expression decreased significantly in the nanocurcumin group compared with baseline
(p¼.004, p¼.009, p<.001, p<.001, p<.001, p<.001, respectively) and placebo (p¼.002, p¼.021,
p¼.006, p¼.035, p<.001, p¼.017, respectively). Significant reductions in IL-17 and IL-23 were seen
in nanocurcumin group compared with baseline (p¼.017 and p¼.015) and placebo (p¼.047 and
p¼.048, respectively). Significant reduction in disease activity was observed in nanocurcumin group
compared with placebo group (p¼.035).
Conclusion: Nanocurcumin supplementation had favorable effects in improving inflammatory factors
and disease activity in BD patients. Additional studies are warranted to suggest nanocurcumin as a
safe complementary therapy in BD. |