Effect of syringin on paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer cells by regulating the FAK/MEK/ERK signaling pathway

XU Chengbin; SONG Meng; WANG Jinle

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-7386.2025.08.003

Abstract：Objective To analyze the effect of syringin(SY)on paclitaxel(PTX)resistance in breast cancer(BC)cells by regulating the focal adhesion kinase(FAK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase(MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)signaling pathway.Methods A paclitaxel resistant cell line MCF-7/PTX was constructed.MCF-7/PTX cells were randomly divided into control group(blank control),low-dose SY group(50 μg/mL SY induction for 24h),medium-dose SY group(100μg/mL SY induction for 24h),high-dose SY group(200μg/mL SY induction for 24h),and Zn27 group(200μg/mL SY+2nmol/L ZN27 for 24-h induction).Cell proliferation,apoptosis,migration,and invasion were detected by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay,Annexin V-FITC/PI dual-staining,wound healing assay and Transwell assay,respectively.Protein expressions of key proteins involved in the FAK/MEK/ERK pathway were detected by Western blot.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was applied to determine the level of reactive oxygen species(ROS).Results Compared with those of MCF-7/PTX cells induced with blank control,cells in the L-SY,M-SY and H-SY groups had significantly higher ROS level and apoptotic rate,but lower colony number,survival rate,invasive cell number,migratory rate,and protein levels of Bcl-xL,FOXM1,Survivin,p-FAK,p-MEK and p-ERK(P＜0.05).In comparison to the H-SY group,cells in the ZN27 group had significantly lower ROS level and apoptotic rate,but higher colony number,survival rate,invasive cell number,migratory rate,and protein levels of Bel-xL,FOXM1,Survivin,p-FAK,p-MEK and p-ERK(P＜0.05).Conclusion SY inhibits the survival and migration of PTX-resistant BC cells,and enhance the sensitivity of PTX chemotherapy by inhibiting the FAK/MEK/ERK pathway.