title: Berberine radiosensitizes human nasopharyngeal carcinoma by suppressing hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Berberine confers radiosensitivity on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and this is associated with the down-regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Berberine could be a promising radiosensitizer for NPC radiotherapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  NPC has a poor prognosis. Radiotherapy as first-line therapy significantly increases patient survival but radioresistance is a problem. This study aimed to investigate the radiosensitizing effects of berberine on NPC and explore the underlying mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  CNE-1 and CNE-2 cells were exposed to hypoxia and treated with berberine at different concentrations. The MTT assay, clonogenic assay, and flow cytometry were performed to analyze cell proliferation, colony formation, and apoptosis. The expression of HIF-1α and VEGF was assessed by Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis. Male nude mice inoculated subcutaneously with CNE-2 cells were used to examine the sensitizing effects of berberine in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Berberine efficiently radiosensitized NPC cells and xenografts in mice, and inhibited hypoxia/radiation-induced up-regulation of HIF-1α and VEGF expression.
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing, China.
authors: Chi
authors: C
authors: Zhang
authors: Xi
authors: X
authors: Yang
authors: Qu
authors: Q
authors: Zhang
authors: Baixia
authors: B
authors: Yang
authors: Liping
authors: L
authors: Xu
authors: Qin
authors: Q
authors: Qin
authors: Hongcheng
authors: H
authors: Zhu
authors: Jia
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Cai
authors: Guangzhou
authors: G
authors: Tao
authors: Jianxin
authors: J
authors: Ma
authors: Xiaolin
authors: X
authors: Ge
authors: Sheng
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Hongyan
authors: H
authors: Cheng
authors: Xinchen
authors: X
authors: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D001599:Berberine