Investigating the synergistic effect of berberine and cisplatin on induction of apoptosis in Calu-6 cell line and evaluation of changes in the expression level of BAX, p53, Caspase 3, Caspase 9 genes

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Berberine as a herbal alkaloid has antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties. Cisplatin is a potent inducer of apoptosis in most types of cancer cells. In the present study, investigated the ability of berberine alone and in combination with cisplatin to induce apoptosis in the Calu-6 cell line (human lung cancer cell line).

In this experimental study, MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of combination of berberine with cisplatin on Calu-6 cell proliferation; DAPI staining and annexin V-FITC assay were also used to evaluate apoptosis in treated cells; changes in the level of transcripts of BAX, Caspase 3,9, p53 genes were examined by real-time PCR. Quantitative data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA at a significant level of P<0.05.

The MTT assay results showed that the combination of berberine with cisplatin inhibits the proliferation of Calu-6 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Morphological observations obtained from DAPI staining method and annexin V-FITC assay showed an increase in apoptotic cells in the treatment groups. The real-time PCR results showed an increase in the expression of transcripts of BAX, Caspase 3,9, p53 genes in the treatment groups.

The results of this research showed that the concomitant use of berberine with cisplatin inhibits the proliferation of Calu-6 cells and induces apoptosis in these cells.