Abstract: Objective To investigate the expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and matrix
metalloproteinases (MMPs) in apoptotic human T cell lymphoma Jurkat cells induced by curcumin in vitro and explore the
possible molecular mechanisms of curcumin-induced apoptosis. Methods Jurkat cells were treated with different
concentrations of curcumin, and the cell proliferation and cell cycle changes were detected by MTT assay and flow cytometry,
respectively. Western blotting and gelatin zymography were employed to examine the protein expression levels of MAPKs and
MMPs activity in the exposed cells. Results Curcumin inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat cells in a time- and dose-dependent
manner, and caused cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase. Treatment of Jurkat cells with 25, 50, and 75 μmol/L curcumin resulted in a
concentration-dependent increase of JNK and p-JNK expressions (P<0.01) without significantly affecting the expressions of
ERK1/2 and P38 MAPK or the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Conclusion Curcumin within the concentration range of
6.25-25.00 μmol/L can induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of Jurkat cells, the mechanism of which might involve the
activation of JNK pathway but not the MMPs.