Pinostrobin and Tectochrysin Conquer Multidrug-Resistant Cancer Cells via Inhibiting P-Glycoprotein ATPase

• Published in: Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 16; no. 2; p. 205
• Main Authors: Wu, I-Ting, Kuo, Chan-Yen, Su, Ching-Hui, Lan, Yu-Hsuan, Hung, Chin-Chuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 29.01.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: ABC transporters; Adenosine triphosphatase; Alzheimer's disease; Antimitotic agents; Antineoplastic agents; Apoptosis; ATPase; Bioflavonoids; Breast cancer; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Care and treatment; Cell cycle; Cell division; Chemical properties; Chemotherapy; Dosage and administration; drug efflux; Drug resistance; Drugs; Enzyme kinetics; Flavones; Flavonoid; Flavonoids; Glycoproteins; Health aspects; Metabolites; multidrug resistance; pinostrobin; tectochrysin; Testing; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Taiwan; P-glycoprotein; multidrug resistance; drug efflux; ATPase; tectochrysin; Flavonoid; pinostrobin
• ISSN: 1424-8247; 1424-8247
• DOI: 10.3390/ph16020205

Enhanced drug efflux through ATP-binding cassette transporters, particularly P-glycoprotein (P-gp), is a key mechanism underlying multidrug resistance (MDR). In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of pinostrobin and tectochrysin on P-gp in MDR cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms. Fluorescence substrate efflux assays, multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) shift assays, P-gp ATPase activity assays, Western blotting, and docking simulation were performed. The potential of the test compounds for MDR reversal and the associated molecular mechanisms were investigated through cell viability assay, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis assay, and further determining the combination index. Results demonstrated that pinostrobin and tectochrysin were not the substrates of P-gp, nor did they affect the expression of this transporter. Both compounds noncompetitively inhibited the efflux of rhodamine 123 and doxorubicin through P-gp. Furthermore, they resensitized MDR cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs, such as vincristine, paclitaxel, and docetaxel; thus, they exhibited strong MDR reversal effects. Our findings indicate that pinostrobin and tectochrysin are effective P-gp inhibitors and promising candidates for resensitizing MDR cancer cells.