title: Berberine enhances radiosensitivity of esophageal squamous cancer by targeting HIF-1α in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: Radiation therapy is an important treatment approach for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, how to promote radiation sensitivity in ESCC remains a challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of berberine, a common used Chinese medicine, on the radiosensitivity of ESCC. ECSS cell line ECA109 and TE13 were subjected to hypoxia and/or ionizing radiation (IR), in the presence or absence of berberine treatment. Cell growth and survival, and apoptosis were evaluated. In addition, ECA109 cells were xenografted into nude mice and subjected to IR and/or berberine treatment. The expression of HIF-1α and VEGF was detected by western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. Our results showed that berberine increased radiosensitivity of ESCC cells and xenografts, and this was associated with the inhibition of HIF-1α and VEGF expression. These data suggest that berberine may be a potential radiotherapy sensitization drugs due to its significant anti-hypoxia activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy; the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing, PR China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Baixia
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Hongcheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Guangzhou
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Xinchen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001599:Berberine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D001599:Berberine
keywords: HIF-1α; berberine; esophageal cancer; hypoxia; radiosensitivity
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