Abstract
Multidrug resistance in tumor cells is often associated with reduced drug accumulation resulting from increased expression of the 190-kDa multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) or the 170-kDa P-glycoprotein. However, unlike P-glycoprotein, MRP1 is a primary active transporter of many conjugated organic anions, including the cysteinyl leukotriene LTC4. Moreover, agents such as verapamil that reverse P-glycoprotein-mediated resistance are often poorly, or not at all, effective in MRP1-overexpressing cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of verapamil on MRP1-mediated transport processes. We found that verapamil inhibited LTC4 transport into inside-out membrane vesicles prepared from MRP1-transfected cells in a competitive manner, but only in the presence of reduced glutathione (GSH) or its nonreducing S-methyl derivative. In the presence of 1 mM GSH, the apparentKi for verapamil was 1.2 μM, and in the presence of 100 μM verapamil, the apparentKi for GSH was 77 μM. Verapamil itself was not transported by MRP1 in either intact cells or membrane vesicles. However, verapamil strongly stimulated MRP1-mediated GSH uptake by membrane vesicles in a concentration-dependent and osmotically sensitive manner that was inhibitable by MRP1-specific monoclonal antibodies. In the presence of 100 μM verapamil, the apparentKm and Vmax for GSH uptake were 83 μM and 55 pmol mg−1min−1, respectively. It is proposed that the variable ability of verapamil to modulate MRP1-mediated resistance in different cell lines may be more closely linked to its effect on the GSH status of the cells than on its ability to inhibit the MRP1 transporter itself.
Footnotes
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Send reprint requests to: Susan P. C. Cole, Ph.D., Cancer Research Laboratories, Room 328, Botterell Hall, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6. E-mail:coles{at}post.queensu.ca
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↵1 This study was supported by Grant MT-10519 from the Medical Research Council of Canada.
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↵2 R.G.D. is the Stauffer Research Professor of Queen's University.
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↵3 S.P.C.C. is a Senior Scientist of Cancer Care Ontario.
- Abbreviations:
- MRP1
- multidrug resistance protein 1
- ABC
- ATP-binding cassette
- GSH
- reduced glutathione
- LTC4
- leukotriene C4
- GSSG
- glutathione disulfide
- DTT
- dithiothreitol
- mAb
- monoclonal antibody
- cMOAT
- cyclic multispecific organic anion transporter
- Received November 8, 1999.
- Accepted January 19, 2000.
- The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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