Resveratrol Enhances Gemcitabine-Induced Apoptosis in A549 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Muneer Mohammed Hanoon; Yassir Mustafa Kamal Al Mulla Hummadi; Abdulwahid Abdulwahab Alnakal; Baydaa Hameed Abdullah

doi:10.32947/ajps.v26i2.1384

Authors

Muneer Mohammed Hanoon Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
Yassir Mustafa Kamal Al Mulla Hummadi Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
Abdulwahid Abdulwahab Alnakal Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Bahrain
Baydaa Hameed Abdullah Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32947/ajps.v26i2.1384

Keywords:

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Gemcitabin, Resveratrol, Apoptosis

Abstract

Background: Lung cancer is the commonest cause of cancer related mortality. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent kind of lung malignancies. Gemcitabine is a first line drug used in NSCLC. However, the therapeutic efficacy of gemcitabine is constrained by the drug resistance and toxicity. Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol with chemosensitizing properties, enhancing the antitumor effects of chemotherapy.

Objectives: To investigate whether resveratrol potentiates the apoptotic effect of gemcitabine in A549 cells and the modulatory effects of gemcitabine- resveratrol combination on PI3K/Akt and STAT3 pathways.

Methods: Exponentially growing A549 cells were treated with gemcitabine, resveratrol, or their combination. Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (Annexin V-FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) staining was used to measure apoptosis. The protein expression levels of phospho-Akt and phospho-STAT3 were quantified using Western blotting.

Results: The results indicated that gemcitabine-resveratrol combination greatly increased the apoptosis in A549 cells compared with single drug treatments. Moreover, the co-treatment significantly reduced the expression levels of phospho-Akt and phospho-STAT3 compared to each drug alone.

Conclusion: Resveratrol enhanced gemcitabine-induced apoptosis in A549 cells. Moreover, the combination treatment resulted in augmented suppression of both phospho-Akt and phospho-STAT3 expression. These findings suggest resveratrol as potential adjunct to gemcitabine to in the treatment of NSCLC.

Author Biography

Baydaa Hameed Abdullah, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq

Clinical Biochemistry

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