Modulation of drug-resistant membrane and apoptosis proteins of breast cancer stem cells by targeting berberine liposomes

• Published in: Biomaterials 2013-06, Vol.34 (18), p.4452-4465
• Main Authors: Ma, Xu, Zhou, Jia, Zhang, Cheng-Xiang, Li, Xiu-Ying, Li, Nan, Ju, Rui-Jun, Shi, Ji-Feng, Sun, Meng-Ge, Zhao, Wei-Yu, Mu, Li-Min, Yan, Yan, Lu, Wan-Liang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Animals; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins - metabolism; ATP-binding cassette transporters; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters - metabolism; Berberine - pharmacology; Berberine - therapeutic use; Berberine - toxicity; Breast cancer stem cells; Breast Neoplasms - blood; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cell Death - drug effects; Cytochromes c - secretion; Dentistry; Diagnostic Imaging; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm - drug effects; Female; Humans; Liposomes - chemistry; Liposomes - toxicity; MCF-7 Cells; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Nude; Mitochondria - drug effects; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondrial signaling pathways; Neoplastic Stem Cells - drug effects; Neoplastic Stem Cells - metabolism; Neoplastic Stem Cells - pathology; Phenotype; Relapse; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Targeting berberine liposomes; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Burden - drug effects
• ISSN: 0142-9612; 1878-5905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.02.066

Abstract The recurrence of breast cancer is associated with drug-resistance of cancer stem cells (CSCs), while overexpression of cell membrane ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and resistance of mitochondrial apoptosis-related proteins are responsible for the drug-resistance of CSCs. The targeting berberine liposomes were developed to modulate the resistant membrane and mitochondrial proteins of breast CSCs for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer relapse. Evaluations were performed on human breast CSCs and CSC xenografts in nude mice. The targeting berberine liposomes were shown to cross the CSC membrane, inhibit ABC transporters (ABCC1, ABCC2, ABCC3, ABCG2) and selectively accumulate in the mitochondria. Furthermore, the pro-apoptotic protein Bax was activated while the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was inhibited resulting in opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pores, release of cytochrome c , and activation of caspase-9/caspase-3 enzymes. Significant efficacy of the administrations in mice was observed, indicating that the targeting berberine liposomes are a potential therapy for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer relapse arising from CSCs.