TY - JOUR AB - Drug resistance limits the clinical application of cisplatin, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent. Gap junction (GJ) is a channel that enhances cytotoxicity of certain chemotherapeutic agents. Baicalein is well known for its antitumor activity. This study investigated the effect of baicalein on cisplatin cytotoxicity and the relationship between this effect and the modulation of the GJ function in connexin 26 (Cx26)‑transfected HeLa cells. The sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay was used to examine the effect of baicalein on cell viability. A ‘parachute’ assay was used to investigate the effect of baicalein on GJ function. The effects of baicalein on cisplatin cytotoxicity and GJ function were assayed by standard colony‑forming assays. The expression of Cx26 was monitored by western blotting. It was observed that exposure of Cx26‑transfected cells to cisplatin reduced the number of colonies formed in low‑density cultures (no GJ formation) and in high‑density cultures (GJ formation), but the toxic effect was greater when cells were seeded at a high density. In the absence of connexin expression or with blockage of connexin channels however, cell density had no effect on cisplatin toxicity. Baicalein significantly enhanced cisplatin cytotoxicity, but this effect required the presence of functional GJs between the cells. In conclusion, the dependence of cisplatin toxicity on cell density is mediated by GJs. Baicalein increases cisplatin cytotoxicity through enhancing GJ intercellular communication. AD - Department of Pharmacy, Sun Yat‑Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat‑Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat‑Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, P.R. China AU - Wang,Yiwen AU - Wang,Qin AU - Zhang,Suzhi AU - Zhang,Yuan AU - Tao,Liang DA - 2014/07/01 DO - 10.3892/mmr.2014.2157 EP - 521 IS - 1 JO - Mol Med Rep KW - baicalein gap junction connexin cisplatin PY - 2014 SN - 1791-2997 1791-3004 SP - 515 ST - Baicalein increases the cytotoxicity of cisplatin by enhancing gap junction intercellular communication T2 - Molecular Medicine Reports TI - Baicalein increases the cytotoxicity of cisplatin by enhancing gap junction intercellular communication UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2014.2157 VL - 10 ER -