MDR1 and MDR3 genes and drug resistance to cisplatin of ovarian cancer cells

Summary To investigate the relationship between MDR1 and MDR3 gene and drug resistance to cisplatin of ovarian cancer cells. Two siRNAs (MDR1, MDR3) which specifically targeted MDR1 and MDR3 genes were transfered into A2780/DDP cells. Then double staining with Annexin-V-FITC/PI was used to detect cell apoptosis by the flow cytometry (FCM). A2780/DDP cell viability was determined by MTT. MDR1 and MDR3 mRNA were assessed by RT-PCR. Caspase-3 protein was detected by Western blotting. Transfection of MDR1 and MDR3 siRNA into A2780/DDP cells failed to reverse the drug-resistance of A2780/DDP cells to cisplatin (P>0.05). No significant difference in the apoptosis efficiency was observed between the MDR1 and MDR3 siRNA, pSuppressorNeo vector transfection cells and untreated cells (P>0.05). In the presence of cisplatin of different concentrations, the viability of A2780/DDP cells was not significantly decreased after the transfection. No changes in MDR1 and MDR3 mRNA were found in MDR1 and MDR3 siRNA-transfected A2780/DDP cells. As compared with pSuppressorNeo and untreated groups, no significant difference existed in the expression of MDR1 and MDR3 mRNA (P>0.05). The expression of caspase-3 protein in MDR1 and MDR3 siRNA transfected A2780/DDP cells was not significantly increased. It is concluded that multidrug resistance induced by cisplatin in ovarian carcinoma cell lines is not due to overexpression of MDR1 and MDR3 gene. The drug resistance of ovarian carcinoma cells to cisplatin is not mediated by P-glycoprotein.