Abstract

On the basis of physiological localization, broad substrate specificity and energy dependence, the role of the kidney P-glycoprotein was tested in the energy-dependent renal secretion of organic cations. P-glycoprotein-enriched vesicles from Cl 1D/VCR [a multidrug-resistant (MDR) cell line] displayed enhanced transport of the MDR drug vinblastine and the organic cation cimetidine but not of the organic cation tetraethylammonium (TEA) over that shown by vesicles prepared from the drug-sensitive parental line Cl 1D. An outwardly directed proton gradient stimulated TEA and cimetidine uptake by renal brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) but this gradient did not enhance the uptake of these organic cations into Cl 1D/VCR vesicles. Vinblastine uptake was unaffected by the proton gradient in either vesicle preparation. An outwardly directed gradient of TEA enhanced the uptake of TEA into renal BBMV but did not do so in the case of Cl 1D/VCR vesicles. These data indicate that P-glycoprotein, which is normally energized by ATP hydrolysis, is incapable of catalyzing organic cation/proton exchange or organic cation/organic cation exchange, properties of the organic cation carrier of renal proximal tubule BBMV. The MDR substrates and modulators inhibited the uptake of vinblastine and cimetidine by Cl 1D/VCR vesicles and the uptake of cimetidine and TEA by renal BBMV. Several organic cations studied inhibited TEA and cimetidine uptake by renal BBMV but did not inhibit the uptake of vinblastine and cimetidine by Cl 1D/VCR vesicles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)