Curcumin improves perfusion recovery in experimental peripheral arterial disease by upregulating microRNA‑93 expression

Abstract

In peripheral arterial disease (PAD), angiogenesis is the major process involved in repairing the microvasculature in the ischemic lower limb. Curcumin, a monomer isolated from turmeric roots, has been demonstrated to have pro- and anti-angiogenic effects under different circumstances. Previous studies have indicated that curcumin treatment improves tissue repair and perfusion recovery in a mouse model of diabetic PAD. However, the effects of curcumin on PAD under non-diabetic conditions has remained elusive, In the present study, mice with PAD and a normal glycaemic profile were treated with curcumin, which improved perfusion recovery, increased capillary density and elevated microRNA (miR)-93 expression in ischemic muscle tissue. In cultured endothelial cells under simulated ischemia, curcumin improved endothelial cell viability and enhanced tube formation. However, following miR-93 knockdown using a microRNA inhibitor, endothelial cell tube formation was inhibited. Furthermore, in the presence of the miR-93 inhibitor, curcumin did not alter endothelial cell viability or tube formation. These results demonstrate that curcumin had beneficial effects in non-diabetic PAD by improving angiogenesis, which may have been achieved partially via the promotion of miR-93 expression.