Effects of Curcumin-mediated Photodynamic Therapy on Notch Signaling Pathway in a Rat Model of Cervical Cancer

LIU Hong-lian; LIU Zhao-sheng

摘要：Objective:To investigate the effect of curcumin-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) on the Notch signaling pathway in a rat model of cervical cancer. Methods:A total of 70 SPF-grade healthy adult female Wistar rats were selected,and were randomly divided into 5 groups using a random number table:model group,positive group,curcumin group,PDT group,and PDT+curcumin group. The rat model of cervical cancer was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of U14 cells (5×106/mL) 1mL. After successful modeling,the model group was given intraperitoneal injection of normal saline+natural light,and the positive group was intraperitoneally injected with 100 mg/kg DAPT solution+Natural light,the curcumin group was given intraperitoneal injection of 200 μL of 150μmol/L curcumin+natural light,the PDT group was given intraperitoneal injection of normal saline+photodynamic therapy at 100 J/cm2,and the PDT+curcumin group was given intraperitoneal injection of 200 μL of 150 μmol/L curcumin+photodynamic therapy at 100J/cm2.Results:HE staining results showed that PDT+curcumin group exhibited a more sparse arrangement of tumor cells in the lesion tissue slices,relatively smaller cell volume,lower nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio,and more condensed nuclei,with a noticeable presence of vesicular nuclei and perinuclear halos than the other four groups. The expression of Notch-1 protein in PDT+curcumin group,as measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting,was significantly lower than that in other four groups (P<0.05). CD4+,CD8+and CD4+/CD8+expression levels in PDT+curcumin group were higher than those in model group,positive group and PDT group (P<0.05). The expression of Bcl-2 protein in PDT+curcumin group was lower than that in the other four groups,and the expression of Bax protein in PDT+curcumin group was higher than that in the other four groups (P<0.05). Conclusion:Curcumin-mediated PDT can inhibit Notch signaling pathway,promote immune factors,and regulate the expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bax.