Chemosensitizing effects of synthetic curcumin analogs on human multi-drug resistance leukemic cells

• Analogs 1J, 2A, 2F and 2J at non-toxic doses could reverse P-gp-mediated MDR.
• The MDR reversing property of analog 1J occurs via the inhibition on P-gp function.
• The analogs 2A and 2F only inhibit P-gp expression.
• The analog 2J exerts the inhibitory effects on both P-gp function and expression.
• Analogs 2J had less cytotoxicity than other analogs to human PBMCs and RBCs.

Curcumin analogs were synthesized and their multi-drug resistance (MDR) reversing properties were determined in human MDR leukemic (K562/Adr) cells. Four analogs, 1,7-bis-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione (1J), 2,6-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzylidene)-cyclohexanone (2A), 2,6-bis-(3,4-dihydroxy-benzylidene)-cyclohexanone (2F) and 2,6-bis-(3,4-dimethoxy-benzylidene)-cyclohexanone (2J) markedly increased the sensitivity of K562/Adr cells to paclitaxel (PTX) for 8-, 2-, 8- and 16- folds, respectively and vinblastine (Vin) for 5-, 3-, 12- and 30- folds, respectively. The accumulation of P-gp substrates, Calcein-AM, Rhodamine 123 and Doxorubicin, was significantly increased by 1J (up to 6-, 11- and 22- folds, respectively) and 2J (up to 7-, 12- and 17- folds, respectively). Besides 2A, 2F and 2J dramatically decreased P-gp expression in K562/Adr cells. These results could be summarized in the following way. Analog 1J inhibited only P-gp function, while 2A and 2F inhibited only P-gp expression. Interestingly, 2J exerts inhibition of both P-gp function and expression. The combination index (CI) of combination between 2J and PTX (0.09) or Vin (0.06) in K562/Adr cells indicated strong synergistic effects, which likely due to its MDR reversing activity. Moreover, these analogs showed less cytotoxicity to peripheral mononuclear cells (human) and red blood cells (human and rat) suggesting the safety of analogs for further animal and clinical studies.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide