Curcumin nanoparticles attenuate cardiac remodeling due to pulmonary arterial hypertension

Abstract

Herein, we investigate whether curcumin nanoparticles (Cur NPs) are effective for the treatment of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension in Sprague Dawley rat. Echocardiography was performed at the start of the study and 28 days after MCT injection. Compared to MCT only animals, Cur NP administration was associated with reduced right ventricular (RV) wall thickness and a decreased right ventricle weight/body weight ratio. Cur NPs also attenuated MCT induced increase in RV mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-1β. These changes were also associated with decreased RV expression of nitrotyrosine, fibronectin and myosin heavy chain-β.