Abstract Background Multidrug resistance (MDR) is often responsible for the failure of chemotherapy treatment, and current strategies for cancer MDR are not adequately satisfying as to their efficacy and safety. In this study, we sought to determine the anti-MDR effects of ultrasound (US) irradiation and its underlying mechanisms against drug-resistance. Methods MDR variant MCF-7/ADR cell lines and endothelial cell lines were used to determine the appropriate ultrasound intensity for in vitro experiments. MCF-7/ADR cell and HEPG2/ADM cells were used to assess the anti-MDR effect of US irradiation. Intracellular adriamycin (ADM) accumulation, Cell viability, cell proliferation and cell apoptosis were evaluated after ADM + US treatment or ADM treatment alone. MCF-7/ADR xenograft mice were used to investigate the appropriate ultrasound intensity for in vivo experiments and its effect on the long-term prognosis. Underlining mechanisms by which ultrasound exposure reversing MDR phenotype were investigated both in vitro and in vivo. Results Combination of ADM and 0.74 W/cm2 US irradiation enhanced ADM intracellular concentration and nuclear accumulation in MCF-7/ADR and HEPG2/ADM cells, compared to those treated with ADM alone. Enhanced cellular ADM uptake and nuclei localization was associated with increased cytotoxicity of ADM to ADM-resistant cells, lower ADM-resistant cell viability and proliferative cell ratio, and higher apoptotic cell ratio. More importantly, US exposure increased the effectiveness of ADM to inhibit tumor growth in MCF-7/ADR xenograft mice. Mechanistically, US exposure promoted ADM accumulation in MDR cells mainly through down-regulation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which is dependent on US-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. US-induced oxidative stress promoted miR-200c-3p and miR-34a-3p expression by forming miR-200c/34a/ZEB1 double-negative feedback loop. Finally, US-induced miR-200c/34a overexpression decreased P-gp expression and reversed MDR phenotype. Conclusion US irradiation could reverse MDR phenotype by activating ROS-ZEB1-miR200c/34a-P-gp signal pathway. Our findings offer a new and promising strategy for sensitizing cells to combat MDR and to improve the therapeutic index of chemotherapy.
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