الفهرس 
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Abstract
Macrophages are a type of white blood cells of the immune system that engulfs and digests foreign proteins. They can be activated by many stimuli, depending on their environment, resulting in specific states of polarization. Polarized macrophages are referred to as macrophage1/macrophage2 (M1/M2) cells. Plasticity is a key feature of macrophages. Macrophages that encourage inflammation are classically activated M1, whereas those that driving immunoregulatory, decrease inflammation and encourage tissue repair and wound-healing functions are alternatively activated M2.
Curcumin, active compound extracted from the rhizomes of turmeric, has several biological and pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, antiinflammation, anticarcinogenic, hepatoprotective, thrombosuppressive, antiarthritic and modulation of multiple signalling pathways.
The present study aimed to explore the potential mechanisms of curcumin on M1/M2 polarization and macrophage expression, activation and cytokine secretion, also, investigate the ameliorative role of curcumin on initiated side effects of methotrexate in adjuvant induced arthritis in rats.
Rats were divided into eight groups. Control group (C), without treatment. Methotrexate group (MTX), was injected in a dose of 0.75 mg/kg b.w./week. Curcumin group (CUR), was treated with a daily oral dose of curcumin (150 mg/kg b.w./day). Methotrexate and curcumin group (MTX + CUR), was treated with methotrexate and curcumin as the same previous corresponding dose. Adjuvant arthritis group (AIA), was injected with Complete Freund’s adjuvant for arthritis induction. AIA/MTX group, arthritis induction then treated with methotrexate. AIA/CUR group, arthritis induction then treated with curcumin. AIA/MTX +CUR, arthritis induction then treated with both methotrexate and curcumin.
The present results showed that treatment of arthritic rats with methotrexate in combination with curcumin resulted in an enhancement in paws inflammation, growth rate, absolute and relative liver and spleen weights, ANA, IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, NF-kB levels and CD68+ joint expression. The microscopic examination of joint, liver, and spleen showed that treatment with methotrexate in combination with curcumin resulted in minimizing methotrexate side effects in these tissues.
It can be concluded that curcumin seems to be most promising in regulating macrophage expression, activation, cytokine secretion and polarization, and overcoming methotrexate side effects, thus providing a novel insight into the application of curcumin -based treatments.