Objective: To determine the effect of neferine (Nef) combined with mdr-1shRNA on the expression of mdr/P-gp in K562/A02 cell line.
Methods: MTT assay was used to observe the cell proliferation. The expression level of P-gp was determined by Western blot and the transcription of mdr-1 gene was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.
Results: After K562/A02 cells were treated by Nef or mdr-1shRNA alone or both for 24 h, the proliferation of K562/A02 cells was significantly higher in the Nef combined with mdr-1shRNA treatment group than that of Nef or mdr-1shRNA alone group (P<0.01).The expression of mdr-1/P-gp in the Nef with mdr-1 shRNA group was significantly lower than that of Nef or mdr-1shRNA alone group.
Conclusion: Nef enhances the inhibition of mdr-1shRNA expression vector on K562/A02 cell proliferation and on P-gp protein to effectively reverse multidrug resistance induced by mdr-1 gene encoding P-gp.