Effect of baicalein on reversal of multidrug resistance in MCF-7/MX cells in vitro and its mechanisms / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To investigate the effect of baicalein on the reversal of multidrug resistance ( MDR) media-ted by breast cancer resistance protein ( BCRP) in hu-man breast cancer MCF-7/MX cells, and explore the possible mechanisms. Methods MTT assay was per-formed to determine the cytotoxicity of baicalein and susceptibility of chemotherapeutic drugs. The protein expression levels of BCRP, p-p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 were determined by Western blot. Results MCF-7/MX cells were not only resistant to MX but cross-re-sistant to 5-FU and DDP, and the resistance index was 70. 45, 6. 68 and 21. 47, respectively. 2. 5, 5μmol· L-1 of baicalein could increase the sensitivity to above chemotherapeutic agents and decrease the expression levels of BCRP, p-p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 in MCF-7/MX cells. Conclusion Baicalein can effec-tively reverse MDR of MCF-7/MX by down-regulating BCRP expression through p38/MAPK and NF-κB path-ways.