Effects of nanocurcumin supplementation on T-helper 17 cells inflammatory response in patients with Behcet's disease: a randomized controlled trial.

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 80 mg/day nanocurcumin or placebo for eight weeks. Disease activity, frequency of Th17 cells and expression of related parameters including retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γ (RORγt) 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 ( = .012) and placebo ( = .047). Moreover, RORγt, IL-17, IL-23, miRNA-155, miRNA-181, and miRNA-326 mRNA expression decreased significantly in the nanocurcumin group compared with baseline ( = .004,  = .009,  < .001 < .001,  < .001,  < .001, respectively) and placebo ( = .002,  = .021,  = .006,  = .035,  < .001,  = .017, respectively). Significant reductions in IL-17 and IL-23 were seen in nanocurcumin group compared with baseline ( = .017 and  = .015) and placebo ( = .047 and  = .048, respectively). Significant reduction in disease activity was observed in nanocurcumin group compared with placebo group ( = .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.HighlightsNanocurcumin supplementation decreased Th17 cells frequency significantly compared with baseline and placebo group.Nanocurcumin supplementation decreased mRNA expression of RORγt, IL-17, IL-23, miRNA-155, miRNA-181, and miRNA-326 significantly compared to baseline and placebo group.Nanocurcumin supplementation decreased cell supernatant IL-17 and IL-23 significantly compared to baseline and placebo group.Nanocurcumin supplementation decreased disease activity significantly compared to placebo group.