Honokiol synergizes chemotherapy drugs in multidrug resistant breast cancer cells via enhanced apoptosis and additional programmed necrotic death

  • Authors:
    • Wei Tian
    • Yongchuan Deng
    • Ling Li
    • Haifei He
    • Jie Sun
    • Dong Xu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 14, 2012     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2012.1739
  • Pages: 721-732
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major challenge in cancer therapy. Apoptosis tolerance is one of the key mechanisms of MDR. Honokiol, a small-molecule pharmacologically active component, exhibits competent cytotoxicity in a variety of human cancer cells through apoptosis and other forms of programmed cell death (such as programmed necrosis). Although much work has been done on its antitumor effects, little attention has been paid on systemic evaluation of efficacy of honokiol combined with other chemotherapeutic agents, especially in drug‑resistant cell lines. Here, we systematically and quantitatively assess its combinational effect with different chemotherapeutic agents using the combination index (CI) equation. We found that honokiol synergized with chemotherapeutic agents both in sensitive and resistant, solid and non-solid (MCF-7, HL-60, MCF-7/ADR and HL-60/ADR) cell lines. Honokiol (40 µg/ml) induced necrotic cell death in MCF-7/ADR cells with characterized morphological and biochemical features. Co-incubation with honokiol and etoposide (VP-16) activated a complex death modality, which was composed of necrotic cell death and apoptosis. This dual-death pathway was shut down when pretreated with pan-caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) and cyclophilin D inhibitor (cyclosporin A). Western blot analysis results proved that honokiol also enhanced VP-16-induced apoptosis potentially via blocking nuclear factor‑κB (NF-κB) activation. Our data for the first time quantitatively demonstrate that honokiol synergizes frequently-used chemotherapeutic agents via enhanced apoptosis and additional programmed necrotic death. These findings indicate a promising way to circumvent MDR and apoptosis tolerance.

Related Articles

Journal Cover

February 2013
Volume 42 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Tian W, Deng Y, Li L, He H, Sun J and Xu D: Honokiol synergizes chemotherapy drugs in multidrug resistant breast cancer cells via enhanced apoptosis and additional programmed necrotic death. Int J Oncol 42: 721-732, 2013
APA
Tian, W., Deng, Y., Li, L., He, H., Sun, J., & Xu, D. (2013). Honokiol synergizes chemotherapy drugs in multidrug resistant breast cancer cells via enhanced apoptosis and additional programmed necrotic death. International Journal of Oncology, 42, 721-732. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2012.1739
MLA
Tian, W., Deng, Y., Li, L., He, H., Sun, J., Xu, D."Honokiol synergizes chemotherapy drugs in multidrug resistant breast cancer cells via enhanced apoptosis and additional programmed necrotic death". International Journal of Oncology 42.2 (2013): 721-732.
Chicago
Tian, W., Deng, Y., Li, L., He, H., Sun, J., Xu, D."Honokiol synergizes chemotherapy drugs in multidrug resistant breast cancer cells via enhanced apoptosis and additional programmed necrotic death". International Journal of Oncology 42, no. 2 (2013): 721-732. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2012.1739