Abstract

BackgroundEpirubicin (EPI) is a first-line chemotherapeutic drug for the clinical treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), but the overexpression of multidrug resistance (MDR) transporter proteins, such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), renders EPI ineffective. On the basis of some studies, melatonin (MLT) is considered to possess the potential for chemotherapeutic synergy that can be leveraged to overcome MDR. MethodsThe human DLBCL cells SUDHL-6 and SUDHL-10 were incubated with MLT and/or EPI for 48 h. Using CCK8 assay, the cell viability of SUDHL-10 and SUDHL-6 cell lines under different treatments were tested. Using AO/EB assay,the apoptosis of SUDHL-6 cell line was detected. Cytochrome c release experiment was used to reveal the further molecular mechanism. Immunofluorescence experiment was used to detect the expression of P-gp of DLBCL cell lines under different drug treatment groups. Rhodamine-123 and epirubicin accumulation test were used to detect the function of P-gp. Immunohistochemical staining studies in tumor tissue of DLBCL disclosed that the expression of P-gp and P65. Western blotting assay and pulldown assay were used to detect the relationship between NF-κB pathway and P-gp exression. ResultsMelatonin potentiated the epirubicin-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation and increased epirubicin-induced apoptosis. Melatonin inhibits epirubicin-induced P-glycoprotein expression and the activity of the P-glycoprotein pump.Epirubicin promotes the expression of P-gp by activating the NF-κB pathway. However, melatonin inhibited the epirubicin-mediated activation of NF-κB signaling and the expression of P-gp. ConclusionsOur results demonstrated that MLT inactivating the NF-κB pathway and down-regulating the expression of P-gp, ultimately sensitized EPI-mediated growth suppression of DLBCL cells. Legal entity responsible for the studyThe second hospital of Dalian medical university. FundingHas not received any funding. DisclosureThe author has declared no conflicts of interest.

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