[Mechanism of Chinese herbal compound Zilongjin for antagonizing multi-drug resistance of tumor cells].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the mechanism of action of Zilongjin (ZLJ) in antagonizing multi-drug resistance (MDR) of tumor cells.


METHODS
MDR tumor cells, including human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and MCF-7/DOX, and human oral epithelial cancer cells KB and KBV200, were treated with ZLJ. The inhibition of ZLJ on cell proliferation was determined with MTT assay; cell cycle and fluorescence dye Rhodamine 123 intensity were detected by flow cytometry; and the expression of related proteins was examined by Western blot.


RESULTS
IC50 values in MDR cells after ZLJ treatment were similar to those in sensitive cells; MDR cells showed no cross resistance to ZLJ. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the cell cycles of either sensitive or MDR cells were arrested at S phase after exposure to ZLJ. Using ZLJ singly showed a weak inhibition on MDR of MCF-7/ DOX and KBV200 cells, but when used in combining with doxorubicin or vincistine, it evidently increased their cytotoxicity. Expression of P-glycoprotein in MCF-7/DOX cells decreased after ZLJ treatment in a time-dependent manner. Western blot showed that ZLJ could cause the apoptosis marker protein PARP cleavage to initiate the apoptotic pathway.


CONCLUSIONS
The proliferation of tumor cells with MDR could be inhibited by ZLJ and they show no cross resistance to ZLJ. The inhibitory effect is related to the activation of apoptotic pathway and the decrease of P-glycoprotein expression.
Zou
Shan-Shan
SS
Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.
Xu
Rong
R
He
Qi-Yang
QY
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple / Q000187:drug effects*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C558114:zilongjin