Fig. 2

Expression of a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ coactivator-1α (PGC1α), b PPARγ, c GA repeat binding protein alpha subunit (GABPa), and d mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) mRNA in the cortex of control and curcumin-supplemented APOE3 and APOE4 mice. Relative mRNA concentration was assessed using RT–PCR and related to the housekeeping gene β–actin. A general trend of differential regulation where curcumin was effective in APOE3, but not in APOE4 mice could be observed for PPARγ, GABPa, and TFAM. For PGC1α, the effects of curcumin supplementation were not significant. The mRNA expression of PPARγ was significantly higher in curcumin-supplemented APOE3 mice compared to control APOE3 mice but was not significantly regulated in APOE4 mice. GABPa was significantly reduced comparing control and curcumin-supplemented APOE3 mice to APOE4 mice. In the case of TFAM, curcumin significantly upregulated TFAM mRNA concentrations in APOE3 mice, but downregulated TFAM in APOE4 mice. ConE3, APOE3 control group; CurE3, APOE3 curcumin group; ConE4, APOE4 control group; CurE4, APOE4 curcumin group. Values are expressed as means + SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01