ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:To study the reversal effect of quercetin on human cervical squamous carcinoma cisplatin-resistant cell line SiHa/DDP. METHODS :The drug resistance index of cisplatin to SiHa/DDP cells ,and the reversal resistance multiple of quercetin to SiHa/DDP cells were determined. The effects of quercetin (0.005 μg/mL),cisplatin(2.5 μg/mL),cisplatin combined with quercetin (2.5 μg/mL cisplatin+0.005 μg/mL quercetin),quercetin combined with pathway inhibitor(0.005 μg/mL quercetin+ 20 nmol/L rapamycin )on the apoptotic rate of SiHa/DDP cells were investigated ,as well as its effects on the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian rapamycin target protein (mTOR) signaling pathway related proteins (PI3K,Akt,mTOR,P-gp,p70S6K). RESULTS :The resistance index of cisplatin to SiHa/DDP cells was 5.19, and reversal resistance multiple of quercetin to SiHa/DDP cells was 4.00. Compared with cisplatin alone and quercetin alone , cisplatin combined with quercetin ,quercetin combined with rapamycin could significantly increase the apoptotic rate of SiHa/DDP cells(P<0.05),while decreased the phosphorylation of Akt ,mTOR and p 70S6K protein as well as the expression of P-gp protein (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS :Quercetin can effectively reverse drug resistance of SiHa/DDP cells to cisplatin ,which may be associated with inhibiting the expression of the protein related to PI 3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.