GCS基因与MDR1基因在肝癌细胞多药耐药中的相关性研究

目的观察葡萄糖神经酰胺合酶(GCS)基因高表达对肝癌细胞HepG2内多药耐药基因(MDR1)表达的影响,探讨GCS基因参与肝癌多药耐药的作用机制。方法脂质体法将GCS基因真核表达质粒pEGFP-GCS导入肝癌细胞株HepG2中,应用G418筛选培养,反转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测细胞GCS mRNA和MDR1 mRNA的表达,蛋白印迹法检测细胞GCS蛋白和P-糖蛋白(P-gp)的表达,四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)法检测基因转染前后阿霉素对HepG2细胞半数抑制浓度(IC50)的变化。结果转染后HepG2细胞内GCSmRNA和蛋白的表达水平显著提高(P<0.05),而MDR1mRNA及P-gp的表达水平亦显著提高(P<0.05);同时,MTT法检测结果显示GCS基因转染后HepG2细胞对阿霉素的耐药性显著提高(P<0.05),IC50从(6.2±0.4)μg/ml上升到(11.6±1.0)μg/ml。结论高表达GCS可以上调HepG2细胞中MDR1的表达,使HepG2细胞发生多药耐药。     

mdr1反义寡核苷酸增强多药耐药肝癌细胞HepG2/ADM化疗敏感性的实验研究

目的：探讨在体外实验条件下mdr1反义寡核苷酸对多药耐药肝癌细胞株化疗敏感性的影响。方法以肝癌细胞HepG2/ADM为研究对象,设立mdr1反义寡核苷酸组和空白试剂组作对照,利用脂质体包载肿瘤耐药基因mdr1的反义寡核苷酸进行细胞转染,通过反转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）、免疫印迹实验（Western blotting）分别检测mdr1基因mRNA和P-gp蛋白表达,通过MTT实验检测细胞转染前后对阿霉素（ADM）、顺铂（DDP）和5-氟尿嘧啶（5-FU）的化疗敏感性。结果 HepG2/AMD肝癌细胞经反义寡核苷酸处理后,mdr1 mRNA、P-gp蛋白表达水平均明显降低,对ADM、DDP 和5-FU的化疗敏感性明显增强。结论反义寡核苷酸能在体外有效增加肝癌细胞HepG2/ADM对化疗药物的敏感性。     

姜黄素逆转人结肠癌细胞株HCT-8/VCR多药耐药的研究

目的探讨姜黄素对人结肠癌耐药细胞株HCT-8/VCR多药耐药性的逆转作用及可能机制。方法运用MTT法进行药敏试验,流式细胞仪检测细胞内罗丹明123(Rh123)的表达,RT-PCR法检测多药耐药基因mdr1 mR-NA水平的变化,Western blot法检测mdr1基因蛋白产物P糖蛋白(P-gp)表达水平的变化。结果经25μmol/L姜黄素处理后,增强了HCT-8/VCR细胞对VCR的敏感性,其逆转倍数为4.58倍,增加了细胞内Rh123的蓄积(P<0.05),明显抑制了多药耐药基因mdr1 mRNA及其蛋白的表达(P<0.05)。结论本研究结果提示姜黄素能抑制耐药基因的表达及功能,提高细胞对化疗药物的敏感性,从而逆转结肠癌细胞的多药耐药性。     

信号转导和转录激活因子基因表达的抑制及其对HepG_2细胞增殖的影响

目的探讨应用RNAi技术沉默信号转导和转录激活因子(STAT3)基因对肝癌HepG2细胞的影响。方法针对STAT3 mRNA序列设计合成3对编码小干扰RNA(SiRNA)的DNA模板,构建pGenesil-1-shRNA-STAT3重组质粒,转染人肝癌细胞HepG2细胞。通过半定量反转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)、Western blot检测STAT3基因mRNA和蛋白水平的表达情况,采用四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)实验检测转染后细胞增殖的变化。结果成功构建了pGeneSil 1-shRNA-STAT3重组质粒,并转染HepG2肝癌细胞;半定量RT-PCR、Western blot结果显示,重组质粒转染组细胞的STAT3基因表达在mRNA及蛋白水平上显著低于对照组;MTT实验结果显示,重组质粒转染组细胞的增殖明显受到抑制。结论pGeneSil 1.0-shRNA-STAT3转染HepG2肝癌细胞后,可有效抑制STAT3的表达,并抑制肝癌细胞的生长及增殖。     

Bcl-2小干扰RNA对HL-60／VCR细胞耐药性逆转的研究

为探讨以bcl-2基因作为靶分子进行白血病多药耐药基因治疗的可行性，构建bcl-2基因的小干扰RNA载体并将其转导入HL-60／VCR细胞，G418筛选后应用Western blot进行鉴定；MTT法检测细胞转染前后生长速度和药物敏感性的变化；Western blot检测细胞转染前后凋亡相关蛋白Bax和耐药相关蛋白ZNRD1的表达变化。结果：成功地构建了bcl-2的小干扰RNA载体并转染HL-60／VCR；经蛋白质水平检测证实成功地建立了Bcl-2低表达的白血病细胞模型；转染后的细胞对长春新碱和阿霉素的敏感性增强，且低表达耐药相关蛋白ZNRD1。结论：该小干扰RNA真核表达载体能在一定程度上逆转白血病细胞的耐药性。     

锌α2糖蛋白对肝癌HepG2细胞增殖与侵袭能力的影响

目的：锌α2糖蛋白（ZAG）是一种具有复杂功能的蛋白。本研究探讨ZAG对肝脏肿瘤HepG2细胞增殖及侵袭能力的影响及其作用机理。方法：构建ZAG干扰质粒,并转染入HepG2肝癌细胞株,采用Western blot方法检测转染前后ZAG表达的变化;利用MTT和平板克隆实验检测ZAG对细胞增殖的影响,利用Transwell小室实验检测转染前后HepG2细胞侵袭能力的变化,同时检测转染前后细胞ATP含量的变化,以了解ZAG对细胞代谢的影响。结果与结论：ZAG干扰质粒成功转染入HepG2细胞并筛选出ZAG下调的稳定细胞株;转染后的HepG2细胞增殖能力、侵袭能力均有显著提高,同时ATP水平上调,肿瘤细胞恶性更强。     

Claudin-1荧光真核表达载体的构建及其在HepG2肝癌细胞中的表达

目的构建pDsRED1-Claudin-1重组质粒,并在HepG2肝癌细胞中进行表达。方法采用基因重组技术构建含Claudin-1开放读码框(ORF)基因的红色荧光蛋白报告基因载体pDsRED1-Claudin-1。经PCR、酶切和DNA测序鉴定,通过脂质体法转染HepG2肝癌细胞后,进行荧光检测和Western blot分析。结果成功构建真核表达质粒pDsRED1-Claudin-1,转染HepG2细胞后,经荧光检测和Western blot分析可见Claudin-1红色荧光融合蛋白正确表达。结论成功构建含Claudin-1 ORF基因的红色荧光蛋白报告载体,并在HepG2肝癌细胞中正确表达。     

p 16 基因对人肝癌细胞的生长抑制作用的初步研究

目的探讨抑癌基因p16对肝癌细胞生长的抑制作用。方法将p16 cDNA亚克隆至pcDNA3.1真核表达载体上,并经脂质体介导转染至人肝癌细胞株SMMC-7721。用MTT法和Western blot分析转染细胞的生长情况。结果成功构建重组表达质粒pcDNA3.1-p16,转染pcDNA3.1-p16的SMMC-7721细胞生长速度受到明显抑制;经Western blot证实,转染后有外源p16蛋白的表达,且伴随Bax上调,Bcl-2和cIAP2的下调。结论重组pcDNA3.1-p16质粒能在人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721内表达,且能抑制SMMC-7721的生长,其机理与诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡相关。     

Smad3 WT、Smad3 EPSM、Smad3 3S-A 3种质粒稳转HepG2细胞株的建立与功能研究

目的建立Smad3 WT、Smad3 EPSM及Smad3 3S-A 3种质粒稳转HepG2细胞株,探究单纯转染3种质粒及选择性上调p Smad3C、p Smad3L对HepG2细胞功能的影响。方法采用脂质体转染试剂盒将Smad3 WT(野生型Smad3基因)、Smad3 EPSM(Smad3L区磷酸化位点突变)、Smad3 3S-A(Smad3C区磷酸化位点突变)3种质粒转染至HepG2细胞中,经G418筛选阳性细胞,Western blot法鉴定3种质粒稳转细胞株的转染效率。MTT法检测细胞增殖情况。流式细胞术检测细胞周期及凋亡。结果 Western blot结果显示,转染相应质粒的HepG2细胞高表达目的蛋白,提示稳转细胞株构建成功。MTT结果显示,在缺乏TGF-β_1刺激情况下,转染3种质粒后对HepG2细胞增殖几乎没有影响,TGF-β_1能够诱导稳转细胞株的细胞增殖,且转染Smad3 EPSM质粒的HepG2细胞,较未转染、转染Smad3 WT或Smad3 3S-A质粒的HepG2细胞对TGF-β_1诱导的细胞增殖反应减弱。细胞周期分析显示,TGF-β_1刺激下,转染Smad3 EPSM质粒组G_0/G_1期细胞数明显增多,而转染Smad3 3S-A质粒组G_2/M期细胞数增加明显。细胞凋亡检测显示,TGF-β_1刺激下,较未转染和转染Smad3 WT质粒组,转染Smad3 EPSM质粒组细胞凋亡率明显增加,而转染Smad3 3S-A质粒组细胞凋亡率明显降低。结论成功建立Smad3 WT、Smad3 EPSM及Smad3 3S-A 3种质粒稳转HepG2细胞株,为进一步探讨开发能够经由调控p Smad3C、p Smad3L的药物提供一定的基础。     

siRNA沉默CD147基因对肝癌细胞的影响

目的 观察小分子干扰RNA(siRNA)沉默CD147基因在肝癌细胞HepG2中的表达,探讨CD147基因对肝癌细胞生长、凋亡的影响.方法 根据CD147 cDNA序列设计具有短发夹结构的两条DNA序列,与载体pSileneerTM4.1-CMV neo构建重组表达载体,鉴定后转染至HepG2细胞,Western blotting法检测抑制效果,MTT法检测细胞增殖情况,流式细胞术检测肿瘤细胞凋亡情况.结果 成功构建了针对CD147基因表达的干扰质粒,有效抑制了HepG2细胞增殖,促进了HepG2细胞凋亡.结论 CD147靶向RNA干扰重组表达栽体为肝癌的基因治疗提供了可能.     

Saikosaponin A,an active glycoside from Radix bupleuri,reverses P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance in MCF-7/ADR cells and HepG2/ADM cells

1.?The expression and function of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is associated with the phenotype of multidrug resistance (MDR). Saikosaponin A (SSA) is a triterpenoid saponin isolated from Radix Bupleuri. This study was mainly designed to understand effects of SSA on MDR in MCF-7/ADR and HepG2/ADM cells.

2.?MDR reversal was examined as the alteration of cytotoxic drugs IC50 in resistant cells in the presence of SSA by MTT assay, and was compared with the non-resistant cells. Apoptosis and uptake of P-gp substrates in the tumor cells were detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was performed to assay the expression of P-gp.

3.?Our results demonstrate SSA could increase the chemosensitivity of P-gp overexpressing HepG2/ADM and MCF-7/ADR cells to doxorubicin (DOX), vincristine (VCR) and paclitaxel. SSA promoted apoptosis of MCF-7/ADR cells in the presence of DOX. Moreover, it could also increase the retention of P-gp substrates DOX and rhodamine 123 in MCF-7/ADR cells, and decrease digoxin efflux ratio in Caco-2 cell monolayer. Finally, a mechanistic study showed that SSA reduced P-gp expression without affecting hydrolytic activity of P-gp.

4.?In conclusion, our findings suggest that SSA could be further developed for sensitizing resistant cancer cells and used as an adjuvant therapy together with anticancer drugs to improve their therapeutic efficacies.     

Effect of curcumin on multidrug resistance in resistant human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC7901/VCR

AIM: To investigate the reversal effects of curcumin on multidrug resistance (MDR) in a resistant human gastric carcinoma cell line. METHODS: The cytotoxic effect of vincristine (VCR) was evaluated by MTT assay. The cell apoptosis induced by VCR was determined by propidium iodide (PI)-stained flow cytometry (FCM) and a morphological assay using acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) dual staining. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) function was demonstrated by the accumulation and efflux of rhodamine123 (Rh123) using FCM. The expression of P-gp and the activation of caspase-3 were measured by FCM using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated anti-P-gp and anti-cleaved caspase-3 antibodies, respectively. RESULTS: Curcumin, at concentrations of 5 micromol/L, 10 micromol/L, or 20 micromol/L, had no cytotoxic effect on a parent human gastric carcinoma cell line (SGC7901) or its VCR-resistant variant cell line (SGC7901/VCR). The VCR-IC50 value of the SGC7901/VCR cells was 45 times more than that of the SGC7901cells and the SGC7901/VCR cells showed apoptotic resistance to VCR. SGC7901/VCR cells treated with 5 micromol/L, 10 micromol/L, or 20 micromol/L curcumin decreased the IC50 value of VCR and promoted VCR-mediated apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Curcumin (10 micromol/L) increased Rh123 accumulation and inhibited the efflux of Rh123 in SGC7901/VCR cells, but did not change the accumulation and efflux of Rh123 in SGC7901 cells. P-gp was overexpressed in SGC7901/VCR cells, whereas it was downregulated after a 24-h treatment with curcumin (10 micromol/L). Resistant cells treated with 1 mumol/L VCR alone showed 77% lower levels of caspase-3 activation relative to SGC7901 cells, but the activation of caspase-3 in the resistant cell line increased by 44% when cells were treated with VCR in combination with curcumin. CONCLUSION: Curcumin can reverse the MDR of the human gastric carcinoma SGC7901/VCR cell line. This might be associated with decreased P-gp function and expression, and the promotion of caspase-3 activation in MDR cells.     

SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38-MAPK pathway, is a new reversal agent of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is the plasma membrane transport pump responsible for efflux of chemotherapeutic agents from cells and is one of the systems that secures multidrug resistance (MDR) of neoplastic cells. In the present study, drug sensitive L1210 and multidrug resistant L1210/VCR (characterized by overexpression of P-gp) mouse leukemic cell lines were used as an experimental model. We have found that SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38-MAPK pathway, significantly reduced the degree of the vincristine resistance in L1210/VCR cells. This phenomenon was accompanied by a decrease in the LC(50) value of vincristine from 3.203+/-0.521 to 0.557+/-0.082 microM. The LC(50) value of sensitive cells for vincristine was about 0.011 microM. The effect of SB203580 on L1210/VCR cells was associated with significantly increased intracellular accumulation of [3H]-vincristine in the concentration dependent manner. Prolonged exposure of resistant cells to 30 microM SB203580 did neither significantly influence the gene expression of P-gp, nor change the protein levels of p38-MAPK. Western blot analysis revealed that the MDR phenotype in L1210/VCR cells was associated with increased level and activity of cytosolic p38-MAPK. In resistant cells, the enhanced phosphorylation of both, p38-MAPK and ATF-2 (endogenous substrate for p38-MAPK) was found as well. In conclusion we could remark that SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 kinase pathway, reversed the MDR resistance of L1210/VCR cells. MDR phenotype of these cells is connected with increased levels and activities of p38-MAPK. These findings point to the possible involvement of the p38-MAPK pathway in the modulation of P-gp mediated multidrug resistance in the L1210/VCR mouse leukemic cell line. However, the mechanisms of SB203580 action should be further investigated.     

非离子表面活性剂逆转肿瘤细胞多药耐药性的机制

目的探讨非离子表面活性剂聚氧乙烯醚﹑聚乙二醇300﹑曲拉通X100对肺癌耐药细胞A549/DDP(耐顺铂)多药耐药性的逆转及其机制。方法用四氮唑盐(MTT)法进行体外耐药逆转实验,Westernblot检测P-gp(P-糖蛋白)蛋白的表达。结果①合用非离子型表活剂前后,A549/DDP对化疗药物阿霉素、顺铂、丝裂霉素、5-氟尿嘧啶、依托泊甙和长春新碱的敏感性显著增加(各组都为P<0.01);②三种非离子型表面活性剂能抑制P-gp蛋白的表达。结论三种非离子表面活性剂具有逆转A549/DDP耐药性的作用,逆转机制与其抑制P-gp蛋白的表达有关。     

SiRNA沉默 HBx对 HepG2.2.15细胞人端粒酶逆转录酶基因表达的影响

目的探讨应用RNA干扰技术沉默HBx对HepG2．2．15细胞中hTERT基因表达的影响。方法（1）将pSIHBV／X质粒转染HepG2．2．15细胞,RT-PCR法评估沉默效率。（2）MTT法检测转染24h、48h、72h后细胞增殖情况。（3）Real-timePCR和Westernblot检测hTERT表达情况。结果测序结果显示pSIHBV／X质粒构建正确;RT-PCR检测HBVX基因的沉默效率为53．6％;MTT检测结果显示转染24h、48h、72h后H印G2．2．15细胞的增殖受抑制,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;Real-timePCR和Western blot检测结果均显示,转染pSIHBV／X质粒后HepG2．2．15细胞中hTERT基因的mRNA水平和蛋白水平表达分别有不同程度的下调,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论siRNA沉默HBx基因可抑制HepG2．2．15细胞中癌症标志基因hTERT的表达。     

Modulation of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance in K562 leukemic cells by indole-3-carbinol

Resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is one of the major problems in the treatment of cancer. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) encoded by the mdr gene is a highly conserved protein, acts as a multidrug transporter, and has a major role in multiple drug resistance (MDR). Targeting of P-gp by naturally occurring compounds is an effective strategy to overcome MDR. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a glucosinolates present in cruciferous vegetables, is a promising chemopreventive agent as it is reported to possess antimutagenic, antitumorigenic, and antiestrogenic properties in experimental studies. In the present investigation, the potential of I3C to modulate P-gp expression was evaluated in vinblastine (VBL)-resistant K562 human leukemic cells. The resistant K562 cells (K562/R10) were found to be cross-resistant to vincristine (VCR), doxorubicin (DXR), and other antineoplastic agents. I3C at a nontoxic dose (10 x 10(-3) M) enhanced the cytotoxic effects of VBL time dependently in VBL-resistant human leukemia (K562/R10) cells but had no effect on parent-sensitive cells (K562/S). The Western blot analysis of K 562/R 10 cells showed that I3C downregulates the induced levels of P-gp in resistant cells near to normal levels. The quantitation of immunocytochemically stained K562/R10 cells showed 24%, 48%, and 80% decrease in the levels of P-gp by I3C for 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation. The above features thus indicate that I3C could be used as a novel modulator of P-gp-mediated multidrug resistance in vitro and may be effective as a dietary adjuvant in the treatment of MDR cancers.     

姜黄素衍生物C15对白血病K562/A02细胞多药耐药的逆转作用

目的: 探讨姜黄素衍生物C15对人白血病K562/A02细胞多药耐药(multidrug resistance,MOR)的逆转作用及其作用机制。方法: 四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)法检测细胞增殖;流式细胞术检测P-糖蛋白(P-gp)外排泵功能和细胞周期;免疫印迹法检测蛋白表达;P-gp-Glo^TM Assay System试剂盒检测P-gp ATP水解酶(ATPase)活性。结果: C15对K562/A02细胞半数抑制浓度(IC₅₀)大于50 μmol·L^-1。对K562/A02细胞无明显细胞毒的浓度为2.5,5.0,10.0 μmol·L^-1的C15逆转对K562/A02细胞对阿霉素(ADR)耐药的倍数分别为2.60,5.39,11.39,对长春新碱(vincristine, VCR)耐药的倍数分别为4.50,18.07,124.35,但是对非P-gp底物的化疗药物顺铂(cisplatin, CIS)和敏感细胞K562基本无逆转效果。2.5,5.0,10.0 μmol·L^-1 C15可以增加耐药细胞K562/A02胞内罗丹明123(Rh-123)的蓄积量分别为1.93,2.30,2.47倍。C15增加阿霉素(adriamycin, ADR)在K562/A02细胞中的蓄积水平,降低P-gp介导的Rh-123外排速率。2.5,10.0 μmol·L^-1 C15与300 nmol·L^-1VCR联合作用后,可使K562/A02细胞的G2/M期比例从9.36%增加到67.57%和69.38%。C15对P-gp蛋白和ATPase的活性没有抑制作用。结论: C15可能是P-gp的非衣物型抑制剂,且具有逆转K562/A02细胞MDR的作用,该作用与其抑制细胞P-gp的外排泵功能有关。     

Combined treatment of P-gp-positive L1210/VCR cells by verapamil and all-trans retinoic acid induces down-regulation of P-glycoprotein expression and transport activity.

The development of the most common multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype associated with a massive overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in neoplastic cells may result in more than one hundred fold higher resistance of these cells to several drugs. L1210/VCR is a P-gp-positive drug resistant cell line in which P-gp overexpression was achieved by repeated cultivation of parental cells with a stepwise increasing concentration of vincristine. Relatively little is known about regulation of P-gp expression. Therefore, serious efforts have been made to recognize all aspects involved in regulation of P-gp expression. Retinoic acid nuclear receptors are involved in regulating expression of a large number of different proteins. Several authors have described that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA, ligand of retinoic acid receptors, RARs) may induce alterations in P-gp expression and/or activity in drug resistant malignant cell lines. There are also other nuclear receptors for retinoids--retinoid X receptors (RXRs)--that may be involved in the development of the P-gp-mediated MDR phenotype. The topic of the present paper is a study of the relationship, if any, between the regulatory pathways of nuclear receptors for retinoids and P-glycoprotein expression. Increased levels of mRNAs encoding the retinoic acid nuclear receptors RARalpha and gamma, as well as decreased levels of the mRNAs encoding RARbeta and the retinoid X receptor RXRgamma or slightly decreased levels of RXRbeta mRNA, were observed in L1210/VCR cells in comparison with parental L1210 cells. Neither L1210 cells nor L1210/VCR cells contained measurable amounts of mRNA encoding the RXRalpha receptor. ATRA did not influence the viability of L1210/VCR cells differently from L1210 cells. A combined treatment of L1210/VCR cells with vincristine (1.08 micromol/l) and ATRA induced slightly higher cell death than that observed with ATRA alone. When applied alone, ATRA did not influence P-gp expression (monitored by anti P-gp antibody c219 using western blot analysis) or transport activity (monitored by use of calcein/AM as a P-gp substrate by FACS) in L1210/VCR cells. In contrast, when ATRA was applied together with verapamil (an often used P-gp inhibitor), a significant decrease in P-gp expression and transport activity were observed. However, no significant differences in [11, 12-(3)H]-ATRA uptake were observed in either sensitive or resistant cells, in the latter case in the absence or presence of vincristine. Moreover, verapamil did not influence ATRA uptake under any conditions. Thus, we can conclude that the combined treatment of L1210/VCR cells with ATRA and verapamil is able to depress P-gp expression, and consequently its activity. ATRA is not a P-gp-transportable substance, and thus this effect could not be attributed to verapamil-induced inhibition of P-gp that would allow ATRA to reach retinoic acid nuclear receptors and activate them.     

LY294,002, a specific inhibitor of PI3K/Akt kinase pathway, antagonizes P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance

The transmembrane transport pump P-glycoprotein (P-gp) causes the efflux of chemotherapeutic agents from cells and is an important system that secures multidrug resistance (MDR) of neoplastic cells. In the present study drug sensitive L1210 and multidrug resistant L1210/VCR mouse leukemic cell lines were used as an experimental model. We found that LY 294,002, a specific inhibitor of PI3K/Akt kinase pathway, reduced the degree of vincristine resistance in L1210/VCR cells significantly and in a concentration-dependent manner. This was accompanied by decrease in IC(50) value to vincristine from 3.195+/-0.447 to 1.898+/-0.676 micromol/l for 2 micromol/l, to 0.947+/-0.419 micromol/l for 4 micromol/l, and to 0.478+/-0.202 micromol/l for 8 micromol/l LY294,002. The IC(50) value of sensitive cells for vincristine was about 0.010 micromol/l. FACS analysis of the proportion of cells in apoptosis or necrosis by annexin-V apoptosis kit showed the following: (i) vincristine-induced apoptosis in resistant cell to a much lower extent than in sensitive cells; (ii) LY294,002 alone did not induce apoptosis or necrosis in both sensitive and resistant cells; (iii) LY294,002 applied together with vincristine significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells. Transport activity of P-gp in resistant cells was monitored using calcein/AM as substrate and was depressed by LY294,002 in a concentration dependent manner. Significant differences in calcein retention were not observed when cells were preincubated with LY294,002 at different times from 0.5 to 24h. Sensitive and resistant cells contain similar amounts of uncleaved (i.e., unactivated) caspase-3 but in latter cells the activation of caspase-3 by proteolytic cleavage was decreased. The reversal of vincristine resistance by LY294,002 was associated with marked activation of caspase-3. Western blot analysis revealed that the development of MDR phenotype in L1210/VCR cells was also associated with increased level of Bcl-2 protein. All the above findings point to the possible involvement of PI3K/Akt kinase pathway in modulation of P-gp mediated multidrug resistance in L1210/VCR mouse leukemic cell line. MDR reversal effect of LY294,002 is accompanied with this compound's influence on vincristine-induced apoptosis.