Effect of berberine on the expression of membrane progesterone receptor (mPRβ) in NALM6 cells

Acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer associated with the malignant proliferation of lymphoid progenitor cells. In recent years, natural medicines have received attention due to reasons such as availability, fewer side effects, and lower costs. Berberine (BBR) is a bioactive compound with anticancer effects that influences progesterone production. Progesterone can affect some tumors by inhibiting or inducing cell proliferation through its nuclear or membrane receptors. In this study, we investigated the effect of BBR on the expression of membrane progesterone receptor beta (mPRβ) in NALM6 cells. After culturing the cells in a serum-containing medium, the cells were treated with different concentrations of BBR (20-100 μM) at 48 and 72 h, and cell survival was determined using the MTT assay. Finally, the effect of BBR on the expression of mPRβ in NALM6 cells at concentrations of 30 and 10 μM at 48 and 72 h, respectively, was evaluated using flow cytometry. Our results showed that the cells express mPRβ. The BBR significantly inhibited cell growth in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and mPRβ expression was significantly decreased in treated cells compared to untreated cells. These findings suggest that NALM6 cells are most likely influenced by progesterone. In addition, apart from its direct anticancer effects, BBR may also modulate the effects of progesterone on cancer cells. The findings of this study may be useful for designing new anti-cancer approaches.