We further explored the effect of curcumin on colonocytes
and goblet cells differentiation. Fig. 4A shows the effect of curcumin
on dipepdityl peptidase IV (DPP IV) expression, a marker of
colonocytes differentiation. There were no significant differences
in DPP IV expression among all groups (1.10 ± 0.39; 1.05 ± 0.22-
and 1.04 ± 0.31-fold the control levels for the DMH10, DMH12 and
DMH12 + Cur groups, respectively) (p > 0.05), suggesting normal
differentiation and distribution of colonocytes in dysplastic ACF.
The effect of curcumin on goblet cells differentiation was further
evaluated by Alcian Blue (AB) staining. Histology of control sections
showed high number of AB-positive cells from the bottom to the
luminal pole of colonic crypts (Fig. 4B). In contrast, dysplastic ACF
were almost depleted in AB-positive cells (Fig. 4C and D). Curcumin
inhibited the formation of dysplastic ACF without any impact on
immature crypt cells differentiation to colonocytes or goblet cells
(Fig. 4E). The DMH10 and DMH12 groups displayed low apoptotic
activity with 2.44 ± 1.56 and 1.81 ± 1.81 cells per field, respectively