Differential Effects of Curcumin and Estradiol on ER-β Expression in GT17 neurons
Description
Estrogen receptor beta (ER-β) is a nuclear receptor implicated in regulating cell growth, differentiation, and signaling pathways in various tissues. Curcumin, a bioactive compound derived from Curcuma longa, has been reported to modulate estrogen receptor activity, yet its precise impact on ER-β remains unclear. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that curcumin regulate the expression of ER-β in the same manner as estradiol. GT17 neurons that express ER-β where treated with curcumin (5uM) or estradiol (100nM) for 0, 15, 30, 60, or 90 minutes. Protein extracted from GT1-7 neurons was used in western blot analysis to identify changes in the expression of ER-β. Time-course analysis demonstrated that curcumin decreased the expression of estrogen receptor beta 30 minutes after treatment before expression was returned to baseline level. However, estradiol treatment resulted in an increase in the receptor expression thirty minutes after administration. The increase in estrogen receptor beta increased further at the 60 minutes time point prior to returning towards baseline at 90 minutes. Our findings provide preliminary evidence demonstrating that curcumin can regulate the expression of estrogen receptor beta. However, the change in expression (i.e., increase vs. decrease) does not align with what was observed with estradiol treatment. Continuing studies are needed to determine the physiological effect of this observation.
Citation Information
Hesaraghatta, Anagha and Barnes, Maria, "Differential Effects of Curcumin and Estradiol on ER-β Expression in GT17 neurons" (2026). Office of Research DMU Research Symposium. 37.
https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/researchsymposium/2025rs/2025abstracts/37
Differential Effects of Curcumin and Estradiol on ER-β Expression in GT17 neurons
Estrogen receptor beta (ER-β) is a nuclear receptor implicated in regulating cell growth, differentiation, and signaling pathways in various tissues. Curcumin, a bioactive compound derived from Curcuma longa, has been reported to modulate estrogen receptor activity, yet its precise impact on ER-β remains unclear. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that curcumin regulate the expression of ER-β in the same manner as estradiol. GT17 neurons that express ER-β where treated with curcumin (5uM) or estradiol (100nM) for 0, 15, 30, 60, or 90 minutes. Protein extracted from GT1-7 neurons was used in western blot analysis to identify changes in the expression of ER-β. Time-course analysis demonstrated that curcumin decreased the expression of estrogen receptor beta 30 minutes after treatment before expression was returned to baseline level. However, estradiol treatment resulted in an increase in the receptor expression thirty minutes after administration. The increase in estrogen receptor beta increased further at the 60 minutes time point prior to returning towards baseline at 90 minutes. Our findings provide preliminary evidence demonstrating that curcumin can regulate the expression of estrogen receptor beta. However, the change in expression (i.e., increase vs. decrease) does not align with what was observed with estradiol treatment. Continuing studies are needed to determine the physiological effect of this observation.
