Compared the effect of p65siRNA and curcumin to promote esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines apoptosis

Background and purpose:The activation of NF-κB signaling pathway plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of carcinogenesis.Although constitutive NF-κB activation has been reported in many human tumors,the role of the NF-κB pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) is not clear.The purpose of this study was to detect whether p65siRNA and curcumin could promote ESCC cells apoptosis as well as to increase the ESCC cells' sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway.These 2 outcomes will be compared.Methods:The expression of p65 was detected in ESCC cells transfected with p65siRNA by Western blot.After being treated with curcumin,ESCC cells were examined for the expression of pIκBα using Western blot.After ESCC cells were treated with p65siRNA and curcumin alone or combined with 5-FU for 72 h,the cells were analyzed for cell apoptosis using flow cytometry.Morphological changes of ESCC cells were observed under microscope.Results:Western blot results indicate that the protein level of p65 decreased after being transfected under p65siRNA,while the protein level of MARK was not affected.Curcumin seemed to have inhibited IκBα phosphorylation and degradation in the 2 ESCC cell lines in a time-dependent manner.Compared with p65siRNA,curcumin alone could increase cell apoptosis(P0.05),but when combined with 5-FU,the results were more prominent(P0.05).The proliferation of EC9706 and Eca109 was slow after being treated with p65siRNA and curcumin in combination with 5-FU.Conclusion:Both p65siRNA and curcumin could promote ESCC cells apoptosis and enhance sensitivity to 5-FU through suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway.There is still a long way for RNA interference practicing in clinic.Therefore,curcumin is proved to be useful in the treatment of ESCC because it is a pharmacologically safe compound with less side effects.