Kurkuminin U87 Glioblastoma Hücrelerinde Kanser Kök Hücre Belirteçlerine ve P Glikoprotein Aracılı İlaç Direncine Olan Etkisi

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 138 - 147, 28.10.2025

Esra Nazlıgül , Bilge Özerman Edis , Mustafa Nuri Yenerel , Başak Günçer

https://doi.org/10.26650/JARHS2025-1746753

Abstract

Amaç: Curcuma longa rizomlarından türetilen polifenolik bir bileşik olan kurkumin; anti-inflamatuar, antioksidan ve antikanser aktiviteler dahil olmak üzere çok çeşitli farmakolojik özelliklere sahiptir. Yaygın bir şekilde geleneksel tıbbi uygulamaları tercih edilmesine rağmen özellikle glioblastoma multiforme'deki (GBM) terapötik potansiyeli yeterince araştırılmamıştır. Bu çalışma kurkuminin glioblastoma proliferasyonu, apoptoz, kanser kök hücresi (CSC) belirteçlerinin ifadesi, ilaç direnci mekanizmaları ve hücre döngüsü düzenlemesi üzerindeki etkilerini incelemeyi ve GBM tedavisinde yeni bir yardımcı terapötik ajan olarak potansiyelini belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır.

Gereç ve Yöntemler: Kurkuminin sitotoksik etkisi MTT yöntemiyle gösterildi. Apoptoz, Annexin V/PI boyaması kullanılarak akış sitometrisinde çalışıldı. Hücre döngüsündeki değişiklikler incelendi. CSC belirteçlerinden CD44, CD24, CD133 ve çoklu ilaç direnci taşıyıcısı P-glikoproteinin (Pgp) ifadesi akış sitometrisi ile belirlendi.

Bulgular: Kurkuminin, apoptozu teşvik ederken U87 glioblastoma hücre hatlarının çoğalmasını engellediği bulundu. Hücreleri G2/M fazında etkili bir şekilde durdurdu. Kurkumin ayrıca tümör agresifliği ve tedavi direncinde rol oynayan CD44 ve CD133 dahil olmak üzere CSC belirteçlerinin ifadesini de düzenledi. Ayrıca, kurkumin düşük konsantrasyonlarda P-glikoproteinin ifadesini engellediği görüldü.

Sonuç: Kurkumin, çoğalmanın inhibisyonu, apoptozisin indüklenmesi, CSC belirteçlerinin modülasyonu ve ilaç direnci yollarına müdahale dahil olmak üzere birden fazla mekanizma yoluyla glioblastomada ümit verici antikanser aktivite göstermektedir. Bu bulgular kurkuminin GBM’de adjuvan ajan olarak potansiyelini ortaya koymakta olup daha fazla araştırma yapılmasını gerektirmektedir.

Keywords

Kanser kök hücre belirteçleri , apoptoz , glioblastoma , kurkumin , çoklu ilaç direnci

Effects of Curcumin on Cancer Stem Cell Markers and P-Glycoprotein-Mediated Drug Resistance in U87 Glioblastoma Cells

Abstract

Objective: Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound derived from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, possesses a wide array of pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Despite its traditional medicinal applications, its therapeutic potential, particularly in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), remains insufficiently explored. This study seeks to examine the effects of curcumin on glioblastoma proliferation, apoptosis, cancer stem cell (CSC) marker expression, drug resistance mechanisms, and cell cycle regulation, with the aim of identifying its potential as a novel adjunct therapeutic agent in GBM treatment.

Material and Methods: We conducted a cytotoxicity assay using thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT). Apoptosis was assessed through annexin/PI staining. Cell cycle analysis was performed. Flow cytometry was used to analyse the staining of CD44/CD24/ CD133 and the multidrug resistance transporter, P-glycoprotein (Pgp).

Results: Curcumin was found to inhibit the proliferation of U87 glioblastoma cell lines while promoting apoptosis. Cells were arrested in the G2/M phase effectively. Curcumin also modulated the expression of CSC markers, including CD44 and CD133, which are implicated in tumour aggressiveness and treatment resistance. In addition, curcumin inhibited the expression of P-glycoprotein at low concentrations.

Conclusion: Curcumin exhibits promising anticancer activity in GBM through multiple mechanisms, including the inhibition of proliferation, induction of apoptosis, modulation of CSC markers, and interference with drug resistance pathways. These findings suggest curcumin’s potential as an adjuvant therapeutic agent in GBM management, warranting further investigation.

Keywords

Stem cell markers , apoptosis , curcumin , glioblastoma , multidrug resistance

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