ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with R11-SSPEI/miR-145 as photosensitizer on cell death in cervical cancer so as to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Cell cytotoxic effect was measured by MTT assay. Cellular apoptosis was detected by AnnexinV-PI by flow cytometry. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed by DCFH-DA staining. The expressions of Caspase-3, Caspase-9, BIP, and Bcl-2 were assessed by Western blotting. Mitochondrial membrane potential was tested by JC-1 staining. Results: Analysis of cell proliferation evidenced that there was a dramatic inhibition after photodynamictherapy (PDT) with R11-SSPEI/miR-145. We observed increased apoptosis (P=0.014) and demonstrated that the apoptosis was involved of mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum death pathway. The expressions of Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and BIP were elevated (P<0.05) and that of Bcl-2 decreased. NAC could decrease the ROS level in photodynamic therapy with R11-SSPEI/miR-145 group and rescue the cell death. Conclusion: Taken together, the present results indicated that PDT with R11-SSPEI/miR-145 suppressed cancer development with Hela cells, suggesting R11-SSPEI/miR-145 as a new photosensitizer in PDT has the potential to become the mainstream of cancer treatment.