Berberine modulates expression of mdr1 gene product and the responses of digestive track cancer cells to Paclitaxel
1999
Berberine and Cancer Cell Response to Paclitaxel
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Lin H-L, Liu T-Y, Wu C-W, Chi C-W
Primary Institution: Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
Hypothesis
Does berberine treatment affect the expression of the mdr1 gene product and the responses of digestive tract cancer cells to Paclitaxel?
Conclusion
Berberine treatment reduces the effectiveness of Paclitaxel in digestive tract cancer cells by modulating the expression of pgp-170.
Supporting Evidence
- Berberine up-regulated pgp-170 expression in various cancer cell lines.
- Berberine treatment decreased retention of rhodamine 123 in cancer cells.
- Paclitaxel treatment induced cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner.
- Berberine pretreatment increased cell viability compared to Paclitaxel alone.
- Berberine blocked Paclitaxel-induced cell cycle responses and morphological changes.
Takeaway
Berberine, a compound from Chinese medicine, can make certain cancer cells less responsive to a common chemotherapy drug called Paclitaxel.
Methodology
Flow cytometry was used to assess the effects of berberine on cancer cell lines and their response to Paclitaxel.
Participant Demographics
oral, gastric, and colon cancer cells
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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