Tianjin Medical Journal ›› 2023, Vol. 51 ›› Issue (12): 1321-1325.doi: 10.11958/20230722

• Experimental Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Study on the mechanism of luteolin reversing multidrug resistance in leukemia K562/ADR cells

ZHOU Xinyu1(), LI Jingmin2, ZHANG Ting1, JIA Xiuhong1,()   

  1. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou 256603, China
    2. Department of Human Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Binzhou Medical University
  • Received:2023-05-18 Revised:2023-07-20 Published:2023-12-15 Online:2023-12-22
  • Contact: E-mail:jiaxiuhong001@163.com

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the mechanism of luteolin′s (Lut) reversal effect on multidrug resistance of chronic myeloid leukemia K562/ADR cells. Methods CCK-8 assay was used to detect drug resistance in K562 and K562/ADR cells 24 hours after treatment with different doses of adriamycin (ADR). CCK-8 assay was used to assess the cytotoxicity and sensitizing effect of Lut on ADR after K562/ADR cells were treated with Lut alone or in combination with ADR for 24 hours. K562/ADR cells in logarithmic growth phase were separated into three group: 0 μmol/L Lut, 2 μmol/L and 4 μmol/L Lut groups. ADR accumulation in cells was measured using flow cytometry. Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), multidrug resistance associated protein 1 (MRP1), P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and glutathione-S-transferase-PI (GST-pi) mRNA and protein expressions were identified using RT-PCR and Western blot assay. Glutathione (GSH) kit was used to detect intracellular GSH content. Results Compared with K562 cells, K562/ADR cell line was significantly resistant to ADR, and the drug resistance was 53.69 times. K562/ADR cell proliferation was decreased to variable degrees by different doses of Lut when compared to the 0 μmol/L Lut group (P<0.05). The proliferation inhibition rates of K562/ADR cells treated with 2 and 4 μmol/L Lut were less than 10%, indicating that the concentration of Lut was non-toxic. Compared with the 0 μmol/L Lut group, the 2 μmol/L Lut group and the 4 μmol/L Lut group showed significantly increased ADR growth inhibition rate on K562/ADR and increased accumulation of ADR in cells, improved the reversal resistance fold, and decreased GSH content in cells. MRP1, P-gp, GST-pi and Nrf2 mRNA and protein expression were reduced in cells (P<0.05). The effect of 4 mol/L Lut was greater than that of 2 mol/L Lut. Conclusion Lut may decrease K562/ADR cell proliferation and reverse ADR medication resistance. The mechanism could be connected to the downregulation of Nrf2, MRP1, P-gp and GST-pi expression, which leads to an increase in ADR accumulation in K562/ADR cells.

Key words: leukemia, myelogenous, chronic, BCR-ABL positive, Luteolin, drug resistance, multiple, nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2, multidrug resistance associated protein 1, P-glycoprotein, glutathione-S-transferase-PI

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