This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

I had previously posted this research in the Avonex forum but I thought that it might also be a good idea to post it here as it might be more visible to other members of the ThisIsMS community. This paper came out last Fall and looked at the effects of curcumin combined with Ifn-B. Curcumin is an antioxidant extracted from the spice turmeric. This paper's results indicate that curcumin may enhance the beneficial effects of taking one of the Ifn-B drugs for combatting MS. Note that the full paper is available for free at the second link below.

Curcumin modulation of IFN-beta and IL-12 signalling and cytokine induction in human T cells.
J Cell Mol Med. 2007 Sep-Oct;11(5):1129-37.

• Curcumin is a polyphenol derived from the dietary spice turmeric. It possesses diverse anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Curcumin has been shown to exhibit an inhibitory effect on the production of inflammatory cytokines by human monocytes and has inhibited the animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in association with a decrease in interleukin 12 (IL-12) production and signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) activation. The type I interferon (IFN) IFN-B has the ability to suppress IL-12. Both IL-12 and IFN-alpha/beta signal through the activation by phosphorylation of STAT4. Our aim was to investigate the effects of curcumin on the ability of T cells to respond to IL-12 or IFN-alpha/beta. We report that curcumin decreases IL-12-induced STAT4 phosphorylation, IFN-gamma production, and IL-12 Rbeta1 and beta2 expression. IFN-beta-induced STAT4 phosphorylation, IL-10 production and IFN receptor (IFNAR) subunits 1 and 2 expression were enhanced by curcumin. Curcumin increased IFN-alpha-induced IL-10 and IFNAR1 expression. Prior exposure to curcumin decreased IFN-alpha-induced IFNAR2 expression and did not modify the level of IFN-alpha-induced pSTAT4 generation. Thus, the effect of curcumin on STAT4 activation in T cells is dependent upon the stimulus to which the T cells have been exposed.

Here are some direct quotes from the full paper's discussion section which expand upon the abstract...

...prior exposure to curcumin enhanced the ability of T cells to respond to IFN-B, not only at the level of cytokine induction but also upstream at the signalling pathway and receptor level.

We found that prior treat-ment with curcumin enhanced IFN-B-induced IL-10 production (an anti-inflammatory cytokine), whilst the induction of IFN-gamma (a pro-inflammatory cytokine) by IL-12 in human T cells was reduced by pre-treatment with curcumin.

Although it is clear that the differentiation of Th1 cells is crucial for an effective immunity to a wide variety of intracellular pathogens, Th1 cells and IL-12 may also contribute to the pathogenesis of a variety of immune-mediated inflammatory disorders, including MS and rheumatoid arthritis. It has already been shown that curcumin inhibits IL-12 production and signalling in EAE. This, combined with the inhibition of IL-12 signalling in human T cells and curcumin synergistic effect with IFN-B observed in this study on immune cells from both normal volunteers and MS patients, could place curcumin as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of MS.

NHE

I noticed a real difference to my relapse after taking 8g of maximised curcuminoids. Unfortunately curcumin is quite hard to get through the gut and my experience of its anti-inflammatory effects have levelled off and I'm not seeing further improvements. I see that the herbal extract developers LifeExtension have produced a more bioavailable form of curcumin and I intend to try this instead. Curcumin is also effective as an inhibitor of Epstein Barr. there's loads of entries in Pubmed. Here's one:
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gibbledygook,

I noticed that your dosage has been increasing since you initial report at 3000 mg a day. Kim is switched over to these from the ones we were buying at the Vitamin Shoppe. She was taking 2000 mg and now she is taking 4000. But, I'm not sure that we're seeing a benefit. Then again, Kim's taking a lot of stuff and it's hard to isolate what is happening. Do you feel you've isolated the changes to the Curcumin? Ken

Hi Ken,

Yes I believe that the curcumin which is the only supplement which I have increased in dosage is what is responsible for the improvements I've experienced. I spent 2 months on an 8g dose of curcumin plus the other herbs and have recently doubled the dose. My improvements can be timed to the moment I doubled the dose...of course it could be some random exogenous event but I certainly don't feel that way about it! It could also be the boswellia which I started taking the day I upped the dose of curcumin.

It's a hot day in London today and my symptoms are a bit worse but nothing like they were in February nor indeed in December 07 when I was in hot and humid Cape Town.

I have definitely improved since starting 18g of curcumin daily. BUT will my liver take it? Have had one liver function test and will take another in 2 weeks.

gibbledygook have a read:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/hj4 ... c7907&pi=1

Piperine adds absorption of every different suppplement:
http://www.delano.com/Articles/piperine-multiplies.html