The Urtica dioica extract enhances sensitivity of paclitaxel drug to MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells.
INTRODUCTION
Due to the chemo resistant nature of cancer cells and adverse effects of current therapies, researchers are looking for the most efficient therapeutic approach which has the lowest side effects and the highest toxicity on cancer cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the synergic effect of Urtica dioica extract in combination with paclitaxel on cell death and invasion of human breast cancer MDA-MB-468 cell line.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
To determine the cytotoxic effects of Urtica dioica extract with paclitaxel, MTT assay was performed. The scratch test was exploited to assess the effects of Urtica dioica, Paclitaxel alone and combination on migration of cancer cells. The expression levels of snail-1, ZEB1, ZEB2, twist, Cdc2, cyclin B1 and Wee1 genes were quantified using qRT-PCR and western blot performed for snail-1expression. The effects of plant extract, Paclitaxel alone and combination on different phases of cell cycle was analyzed using flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Results of MTT assay showed that Urtica dioica significantly destroyed cancer cells. Interestingly, Concurrent use of Urtica dioica extract with paclitaxel resulted in decreased IC50 dose of paclitaxel. Moreover, findings of scratch assay exhibited the inhibitory effects of Urtica dioica, Paclitaxel alone and combination on migration of MDA-MB-468 cell line. Our findings also demonstrated that the extract substantially decreased the Snail-1 and related gene expression. Ultimately, Cell cycle arrest occurred at G2/M phase post-treatment by deregulating Cdc2 and wee1.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrated that the dichloromethane extract of Urtica dioica inhibit cell growth and migration. Also, Urtica dioica extract substantially increased sensitivity of breast cancer cells to paclitaxel. Therefore, it can be used as a potential candidate for treatment of breast cancer with paclitaxel.
['Mohammadi|Ali|A|', 'Mansoori|Behzad|B|', 'Aghapour|Mahyar|M|', 'Shirjang|Solmaz|S|', 'Nami|Sanam|S|', 'Baradaran|Behzad|B|']
D001943:Breast Neoplasms D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins D016923:Cell Death D045744:Cell Line, Tumor D002465:Cell Movement D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases D004357:Drug Synergism D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic D006801:Humans D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50 D009687:Nuclear Proteins D017239:Paclitaxel D010936:Plant Extracts D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases D012333:RNA, Messenger D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors D026982:Urtica dioica D014945:Wound Healing
Urtica dioica extract Paclitaxel MDA-MB-468 Cytotoxicity Apoptosis