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Curcumin prevents induced drug resistance: a novel function?
1Department of Surgical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Curcumin prevents multidrug resistance (MDR) by inhibiting P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and mdr1 mRNA upregulation induced by adriamycin (ADM). This enhances ADM
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Multidrug resistance (MDR) poses a significant challenge in cancer chemotherapy.
- Strategies to prevent acquired drug resistance are crucial for improving treatment efficacy.
- Adriamycin (ADM) resistance in K562 cells is often mediated by P-glycoprotein (P-gp).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate curcumin's potential to prevent adriamycin (ADM)-induced multidrug resistance (MDR) in K562 cells.
- To evaluate the effect of curcumin on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and mdr1 mRNA expression.
- To assess the impact of curcumin on intracellular drug accumulation and ADM cytotoxicity.
Main Methods:
- K562 cells were pretreated with curcumin before co-incubation with ADM.
- P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and mdr1 mRNA levels were quantified using flow cytometry and RT-PCR.
- Intracellular Rh-123 accumulation and ADM-induced cytotoxicity were determined via flow cytometry and MTT assay.
Main Results:
- ADM treatment alone increased P-gp and mdr1 mRNA expression.
- Curcumin pretreatment dose-dependently reduced ADM-induced P-gp and mdr1 mRNA levels.
- Curcumin pretreatment restored intracellular Rh-123 accumulation and enhanced ADM cytotoxicity.
Conclusions:
- Curcumin effectively prevents the upregulation of P-gp and mdr1 mRNA induced by ADM.
- This preventive action is linked to increased intracellular drug accumulation and enhanced ADM cytotoxicity.
- Curcumin demonstrates a novel function as a potential agent for preventing drug resistance.
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