Transport of human growth hormone across Caco-2 cells with novel delivery agents: evidence for P-glycoprotein involvement.

Emisphere Technologies, Inc. has synthesized a series of small molecules which have been shown to improve protein absorption through mucosal tissue. This enhancement is specific between protein and a particular delivery agent. Despite the specificity of interaction, the mechanism of enhanced tissue penetration is still unclear. The purpose of this work is to understand the enhancement mechanism(s) of these delivery agents by using Caco-2 cells as a model membrane. It was found that the bidirectional transepithelial fluxes of human growth hormone (hGH) in the presence of these delivery agents across human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cell line showed marked asymmetry. Average permeability coefficient values obtained in the apical (AP) to basolateral (BL) direction were lower than those of the reverse (BL to AP) direction. On the other hand, the fluxes for human growth hormone alone were symmetric. When P-glycoprotein inhibitors were included in the transport medium, the permeability coefficient values of BL to AP direction were significantly decreased while the transport was increased in the reverse direction in the presence of delivery agents. P-glycoprotein inhibitors had no effect on the transport of human growth hormone alone. This study shows that human growth hormone alone can be transported across Caco-2 cells in very limited quantities by passive diffusion, but in the presence of delivery agents, human growth hormone can be effluxed in a P-glycoprotein-mediated fashion. This also indirectly shows that the human growth hormone has become more lipophilic in the presence of delivery agents.     

Transport of the antibacterial agent oxazolidin-2-one and derivatives across intestinal (Caco-2) and renal (MDCK) epithelial cell lines.

The transepithelial passage of the orally bioavailable antibacterial agent oxazolidin-2-one (OXa) and 10 derivatives has been studied with human intestinal (Caco-2) and canine renal (MDCK) cell lines grown on polycarbonate filters. The transepithelial passage was assayed in the apical-to-basolateral (AP-to-BL) direction and in the opposite direction (BL to AP) in both cell lines. The observed passage rates of OXa were similar in both directions in the two cell lines, suggesting passive diffusion. This was further confirmed by the fact that transport kinetics were linear as a function of initial concentration. The rates of AP-to-BL passage of OXa and seven of the derivatives in both cell lines were linearly related to lipophilicity, whether expressed as high-passage liquid chromatography retention time or as the logarithm of the n-octanol-water partition coefficient (log P). These data suggest that the lipophilicity of OXa is important for its observed bioavailability after oral administration. Interestingly, three of the derivatives exhibited a higher passage rate than predicted by lipophilicity. Further studies indicated that this transport was saturable, similar in the two directions, and not affected by energy depletion, suggesting the presence of an additional carrier-mediated facilitated-transport mechanism.     

A mechanistic study of the intestinal absorption of cryptotanshinone, the major active constituent of Salvia miltiorrhiza

The nature of intestinal absorption of most herbal medicine is unknown. Cryptotanshinone (CTS) is the principal active constituent of the widely used cardiovascular herb Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen). We investigated the oral bioavailability of CTS in rats and the mechanism for its intestinal absorption using several in vitro and in vivo models: 1) Caco-2 cell monolayers; 2) monolayers of MDCKII cells overexpressing P-glycoprotein (PgP); and 3) single-pass rat intestinal perfusion with mesenteric vein cannulation. The systemic bioavailabilities of CTS after oral and intraperitoneal administration at 100 mg/kg were 2.05 and 10.60%, respectively. In the perfused rat intestinal model, permeability coefficients based on CTS disappearance from the luminal perfusate (Plumen) were 6.7- to 10.3-fold higher than permeability coefficients based on drug appearance in venous blood (Pblood). Pblood significantly increased in the presence of the P-gP inhibitor, verapamil. CTS transport across Caco-2 monolayers was pH-, temperature- and ATP-dependent. The transport from the apical (AP) to the basolateral (BL) side was 3- to 9-fold lower than that from the BL to the AP side. Inclusion of verapamil (50 microM) in both AP and BL sides abolished the polarized CTS transport across Caco-2 cells. Moreover, CTS was significantly more permeable in the BL to AP than in the AP to BL direction in MDCKII and MDR1-MDCKII cells. The permeability coefficients in the BL to AP direction were significantly higher in MDCKII cells overexpressing PgP. These findings indicate that CTS is a substrate for PgP that can pump CTS into the luminal side.     

hPepT1-mediated epithelial transport of bacteria-derived chemotactic peptides enhances neutrophil-epithelial interactions.

Intestinal epithelial cells express hPepT1, an apical transporter responsible for the uptake of a broad array of small peptides. As these could conceivably include n-formyl peptides, we examined whether hPepT1 could transport the model n-formylated peptide fMLP and, if so, whether such cellular uptake of fMLP influenced neutrophil-epithelial interactions. fMLP uptake into oocytes was enhanced by hPepT1 expression. In addition, fMLP competitively inhibited uptake of a known hPepT1 substrate (glycylsarcosine) in hPepT1 expressing oocytes. hPepT1 peptide uptake was further examined in a polarized human intestinal epithelial cell line (Caco2-BBE) known to express this transporter. Epithelial monolayers internalized apical fMLP in a fashion that was competitively inhibited by other hPepT1 recognized solutes, but not by related solutes that were not transported by hPepT1. Fluorescence analyses of intracellular pH revealed that fMLP uptake was accompanied by cytosolic acidification, consistent with the known function of hPepT1 as a peptide H+ cotransporter. Lumenal fMLP resulted in directed movement of neutrophils across epithelial monolayers. Solutes that inhibit hPepT1-mediated fMLP transport decreased neutrophil transmigration by approximately 50%. Conversely, conditions that enhanced the rate of hPepT1-mediated fMLP uptake (cytosolic acidification) enhanced neutrophil-transepithelial migration by approximately 70%. We conclude that hPepT1 transports fMLP and uptake of these peptide influences neutrophil-epithelial interactions. These data (a) emphasize the importance of hPepT1 in mediating intestinal inflammation, (b) raise the possibility that modulating hPepT1 activity could influence states of intestinal inflammation, and (c) provide the first evidence of a link between active transepithelial transport and neutrophil-epithelial interactions.     

Secretory transport of ranitidine and famotidine across Caco-2 cell monolayers

The secretory transport of the H(2)-antagonists, ranitidine and famotidine, across Caco-2 cell monolayers was found to be a saturable process. Both drugs exhibited greater permeability in the basolateral (BL) to apical (AP) direction than in the AP to BL direction, indicating apically directed secretion; BL to AP transport was inhibited by P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitors verapamil and cyclosporin A. The cellular uptake of ranitidine across the BL membrane was saturable and temperature dependent, indicative of carrier-mediated transport. The K(m) and V(max) for the uptake process were estimated to be 66.9 mM and 20.9 nmol/mg of protein/min, respectively. The uptake of [(14)C]ranitidine across the BL membrane was inhibited by unlabeled ranitidine and structurally diverse organic cations. The tetraethylammonium (TEA)-sensitive organic cation transporters are not involved in the uptake of ranitidine and famotidine across the BL membrane of Caco-2. This conclusion was based on the evidence that functionally active TEA-sensitive organic cation transporters did not exist in the BL membranes of the Caco-2 cells, whereas the functionally active TEA-sensitive organic cation transporter(s) in LLC-PK(1) cells did not contribute to the transport of ranitidine or famotidine across the cell monolayers. Thus, we conclude that the secretory transport of ranitidine and famotidine across Caco-2 cell monolayers is mediated by 1) a carrier in the BL membrane that is distinct from the TEA-sensitive organic cation transporter(s) and 2) P-gp in the apical membrane.     

Involvement of a receptor-mediated component in cellular translocation of riboflavin

This study addresses the transport mechanism of riboflavin (vitamin B(2)) across intestinal epithelium in the presence and absence of pharmacologically active compounds. A polarized transport process with a 6-fold higher basolateral (BL)-to-apical (AP) flux was observed in both a human intestinal cell model (Caco-2) and rat intestinal tissue. Riboflavin-specific translocation systems on both the AP and BL cell surfaces were saturable with affinity values close to most receptors (K(m): 9.72 +/- 0.85 and 4.06 +/- 0.03 nM, respectively). Pharmacological agents known to alter intracellular endocytic events were used to examine the potential involvement of receptor-mediated events. Nocodazole significantly inhibited AP uptake (58.4%), BL-to-AP riboflavin (56.7%) and fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled transferrin (FITC-Tf) (31.8%) transport without affecting mannitol or cholic acid transport, whereas AP-to-BL riboflavin (252.8%) and FITC-Tf (145.1%) transport was increased. Brefeldin A significantly enhanced AP-to-BL riboflavin (37.1%) and bidirectional FITC-Tf transport (AP-to-BL: 13-fold; BL-to-AP: 5-fold). without affecting BL-to-AP riboflavin transport. Combined, these data suggest an essential role of microtubule-dependent movement and vesicular sorting component(s) in the bidirectional transport of riboflavin. Dissociation of riboflavin from the cell surface was pH-dependent with significantly higher substrate release at acidic pH, indicating the presence of riboflavin-specific cell surface receptors. In summary, our studies provide biochemical evidence of the involvement of a receptor-mediated mechanism in the cellular translocation of riboflavin.     

In vitro transfer of clarithromycin and amoxicillin across the epithelial barrier: effect of Helicobacter pylori

The mode of absorption of amoxicillin and clarithromycin, two antibiotics used in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection, has not been completely elucidated. The aims of this study were to investigate the passage of these antibiotics across normal and infected epithelium and to measure their accumulation in HT29-19A or Caco2 epithelial cell monolayers. In non-infected cultures, basal-to-apical fluxes were significantly higher than apical-to-basal fluxes for both antibiotics, but this difference disappeared in monolayers infected with H. pylori. In 24 h studies, clarithromycin, but not amoxicillin, showed rapid intracellular accumulation. No difference was found between the transepithelial passage of amoxicillin across the HT29-19A and Caco2 monolayers.     

Intestinal permeability and P‐glycoprotein‐mediated efflux transport of ticagrelor in Caco‐2 monolayer cells

Ticagrelor is the unique reversible oral antiplatelet drug commercialized today. During this study, the intestinal permeability of ticagrelor and its potential P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp)‐mediated active transport were assessed. To this end, bidirectional transport of ticagrelor was performed across Caco‐2 (human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma) monolayer model in the presence and absence of potent P‐gp inhibitor valspodar. Ticagrelor presented an apical–basolateral apparent permeability coefficient (P_app) of 6.0 × 10^?6 cm/s. On the other hand, mean efflux ratio (ER) of 2.71 was observed for ticagrelor describing a higher efflux permeability compared to the influx component. Valspodar showed a significant inhibitory effect on the efflux of ticagrelor suggesting involvement of P‐gp in its oral disposition. Co‐incubation of the P‐gp inhibitor decreased the efflux P_app of ticagrelor from 1.60 × 10^?5 to 1.13 × 10^?5 cm/s and decreased its ER by 70%. Results suggest a modest active transport of ticagrelor by P‐gp across the Caco‐2 cell monolayer. The co‐administration of ticagrelor with a P‐gp inhibitor seems altogether unlikely to have an extended impact on pharmacokinetics of ticagrelor and cause bleeding events in patients.     

Human breast cancer resistance protein: interactions with steroid drugs, hormones, the dietary carcinogen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo(4,5-b)pyridine, and transport of cimetidine

The breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) is an ATP-binding cassette drug efflux transporter that extrudes xenotoxins from cells, mediating drug resistance and affecting the pharmacological behavior of many compounds. To study the interaction of human wild-type BCRP with steroid drugs, hormones, and the dietary carcinogen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo(4,5-b)pyridine (PhIP), we expressed human BCRP in the murine MEF3.8 fibroblast cell line, which lacks Mdr1a/1b P-glycoprotein and Mrp1, and in the polarized epithelial MDCKII cell line. We show that PhIP was efficiently transported by human BCRP in MDCKII-BCRP cells, as was found previously for murine Bcrp1. Furthermore, we show that six out of nine glucocorticoid drugs, corticosterone, and digoxin increased the accumulation of mitoxantrone in the MEF3.8-BCRP cell line, indicating inhibition of BCRP. In contrast, aldosterone and ursodeoxycholic acid had no significant effect on BCRP. The four most efficiently reversing glucocorticoid drugs (beclomethasone, 6alpha-methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, and triamcinolone) and 17beta-estradiol showed a significantly reduced BCRP-mediated transepithelial transport of PhIP by MDCKII-BCRP cells, with the highest reduction of PhIP transport ratio for beclomethasone (from 25.0 +/- 1.1 to 2.7 +/- 0.0). None of the tested endogenous steroids or synthetic glucocorticoids or digoxin, however, were transported substrates of BCRP. We also identified the H(2)-receptor antagonist drug cimetidine as a novel efficiently transported substrate for human BCRP and mouse Bcrp1. The generated BCRP-expressing cell lines thus provide valuable tools to study pharmacological and toxicological interactions mediated by BCRP and to identify new BCRP substrates.     

miR-142-3p靶向Wnt/β-链蛋白通路对结直肠癌细胞增殖的影响

目的探究miR-142-3p靶向Wnt/β-链蛋白(β-catenin)通路对结直肠癌(CRC)细胞增殖的影响。方法选取2018年1月—2020年10月收治的66例CRC的肿瘤组织及其相邻正常组织。同时培养正常人结肠上皮细胞NCM460和CRC细胞系(HT29、LoVo、HCT116、Caco2、SW480细胞)。通过qRT-PCR检测CRC肿瘤组织、正常组织、正常人结肠上皮细胞与CRC细胞系中miR-142-3p表达水平;经免疫蛋白印迹法检测CRC细胞系中β-catenin表达水平;采用CCK-8法和流式细胞术检测miR-142-3p过表达后对CRC细胞增殖的影响;经免疫蛋白印迹检测过表达miR-142-3p对Wnt/β-catenin信号通路相关蛋白的影响;采用双荧光素酶报告基因检验miR-142-3p与β-catenin编码基因CTNNB1的靶向关系。结果miR-142-3p在CRC肿瘤组织和CRC细胞系中的表达显著下降(P<0.05);β-catenin在CRC细胞系中的表达显著升高(P<0.05);过表达miR-142-3p可靶向结合CTNNB1,显著抑制Caco2、LoVo和HT29细胞的增殖和Ki67+细胞比例,抑制β-catenin、c-myc和Cyclin D1的表达(P<0.05)。结论miR-142-3p可通过靶向调节β-catenin的表达,干扰Wnt/β-catenin通路,抑制CRC细胞的增殖。     

地塞米松对组织细胞辐射旁效应及其再传递的拮抗

目的:观察地塞米松对组织细胞辐射旁效应及其再传递的拮抗作用。方法:使用6MV-X射线照射鼠卵巢癌NUTU19细胞株,其培养液制备第1代条件培养液,处理第1代效应细胞鼠源NUTU19细胞株、肠黏膜上皮IEC-6细胞株,由第1代鼠源效应细胞的分泌物为第2代条件培养液,再处理第2代效应细胞NUTU19细胞株、IEC-6细胞株和鼠淋巴细胞,检测细胞的生长活力、凋亡水平,各实验组均增加使用地塞米松作为平行处理对照。结果:地塞米松对第1代、第2代条件培养液处理的鼠卵巢癌细胞株的增殖活力没有显示出保护作用;对肠黏膜上皮细胞株的增殖活力保护明显,第1代达到23%,第2代达到33%。第1代、第2代条件培养液对鼠淋巴细胞没有显示出特别的损伤作用,地塞米松也没有显示出提高细胞活力的作用。地塞米松干预后,第1代、第2代条件培养液处理的鼠卵巢癌细胞株的凋亡水平分别减低5.8%和4.0%,肠黏膜上皮细胞减低6%和3%。鼠淋巴细胞未显示条件培养液的杀伤作用和地塞米松的保护作用。结论:在一定的条件下,地塞米松能够拮抗肠上皮细胞、淋巴细胞辐射旁效应的损伤,并可以拮抗旁效应的再传递。     

Epimorphin expression in intestinal myofibroblasts induces epithelial morphogenesis

The formation of the crypt-villus axis during gut ontogeny requires continued reciprocal interactions between the endoderm and mesenchyme. Epimorphin/syntaxin 2 (epimorphin) is a mesenchymal protein expressed in the fetal gastrointestinal tract during villus morphogenesis. To elucidate its role in gut ontogeny, the epimorphin cDNA was transfected, in sense and antisense orientations, into a rat intestinal myofibroblast cell line, MIC 216. To determine the effects of epimorphin on the epithelium, myofibroblasts were cocultured with the Caco2 cell line. Caco2 cells spread in a simple monolayer over antisense-transfected cells lacking epimorphin. In contrast, sense-transfected myofibroblasts induced Caco2 cells to form compact, round clusters with small lumens. These morphologic differences were preserved in Transwell cocultures in which cell-cell contact was prevented, suggesting that epimorphin's effects were mediated by secreted factor(s). To determine the effects of epimorphin on crypt-villus axis formation in an in vivo model, rat gut endoderm was combined with epimorphin-transfected myofibroblasts and implanted into the chick intracoelomic cavity. The grafts in which epimorphin was overexpressed revealed multiple well-formed villi with crypt-like units, whereas those in which epimorphin expression was inhibited developed into round cystic structures without crypts or villi. Of several potential secreted morphogens, only the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (Bmp4) was increased in the epimorphin-transfected cells. Incubation with noggin partially blocked the transfected myofibroblasts' effects on Caco2 colony morphology. These results indicate that mesenchymal epimorphin has profound effects on crypt-villus morphogenesis, mediated in part by secreted factor(s) including the Bmp's.     

Influence of P-glycoprotein on the transport and metabolism of indinavir in Caco-2 cells expressing cytochrome P-450 3A4

Caco-2 cells grown in the presence of 1alpha,25-di-OH vitamin D(3) (di-OH vit D(3)) were used as a model to evaluate the effects of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) efflux on CYP3A4-mediated metabolism of indinavir during intestinal absorption. Caco-2 cells grown under these conditions demonstrated significant CYP3A4 activity and maintained Pgp-mediated directional transport of indinavir. Metabolism of indinavir in the di-OH vit D(3)-treated cells correlated with the level of CYP3A activity and generated metabolites consistent with CYP3A4-mediated metabolism. During transport experiments, indinavir metabolites are selectively secreted into the apical compartment, consistent with Pgp-mediated efflux. Using formation of the most abundant metabolite, M6, as a marker for indinavir metabolism, we observed that the extent of indinavir metabolism is not significantly affected by the direction of indinavir transport or by inhibition of Pgp with cyclosporin A. However, because Pgp efflux results in higher indinavir transport in the basolateral-to-apical direction than in the apical-to-basolateral direction, the ratio of M6 produced normalized to the amount of drug transported across the monolayer was higher for apical-to-basolateral transport. Thus, Pgp efflux in a direction opposite to absorptive transport results in more metabolite produced per mole of drug that is absorbed. In summary, the results support a role of Pgp in increasing intestinal presystemic metabolism and in removal of CYP3A4-generated metabolites from the intracellular compartment.     

Drug export activity of the human canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter in polarized kidney MDCK cells expressing cMOAT (MRP2) cDNA.

The canalicular (apical) membrane of the hepatocyte contains an ATP-dependent transport system for organic anions, known as the multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT). The deduced amino acid sequence of cMOAT is 49% identical to that of the human multidrug resistance- associated protein (MRP) MRP1, and cMOAT and MRP1 are members of the same sub-family of adenine nucleotide binding cassette transporters. In contrast to MRP1, cMOAT was predominantly found intracellularly in nonpolarized cells, suggesting that cMOAT requires a polarized cell for plasma membrane routing. Therefore, we expressed cMOAT cDNA in polarized kidney epithelial MDCK cell lines. When these cells are grown in a monolayer, cMOAT localizes to the apical plasma membrane. We demonstrate that cMOAT causes transport of the organic anions S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-glutathione, the glutathione conjugate of ethacrynic acid, and S-(PGA1)-glutathione, a substrate not shown to be transported by organic anion transporters previously. Transport is inhibited only inefficiently by compounds known to block MRP1. We also show that cMOAT causes transport of the anticancer drug vinblastine to the apical side of a cell monolayer. We conclude that cMOAT is a 5'-adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporter that potentially might be involved in drug resistance in mammalian cells.     

Flavonoids with epidermal growth factor-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitory activity stimulate PEPT1-mediated cefixime uptake into human intestinal epithelial cells

We have tested 33 flavonoids, occurring ubiquitously in foods of plant origin, for their ability to alter the transport of the beta-lactam antibiotic cefixime via the H+-coupled intestinal peptide transporter PEPT1 in the human intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2. Of the flavonoids tested, quercetin, genistein, naringin, diosmin, acacetin, and chrysin increased uptake of [14C]cefixime dose dependently by up to 60%. All other flavonoids were either without effect or decreased the absorption of cefixime. Quercetin was shown to increase the Vmax of cefixime influx without changing the apparent Km for transport. However, the expected concomitant increase in intracellular acidification due to PEPT1-mediated cefixime/H+-cotransport was less pronounced in the presence of quercetin. This suggested that pH regulatory systems such as apical Na+/H+-exchange could be activated by quercetin and maintain the proton-motive driving force for cefixime uptake. Since quercetin and genistein have been shown to inhibit epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor tyrosine kinases, we applied tyrphostin 25 to prove whether such an inhibition could explain the stimulatory effects seen on cefixime uptake. It was found that tyrphostin 25 simulated the effects of quercetin by increasing cefixime absorption due to maintenance of the transmembrane pH gradient. In conclusion, our studies show that flavonoids with EGF-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitory activities enhance the intestinal absorption of the beta-lactam antibiotic cefixime in Caco-2 cells by activation of apical Na+/H+-exchange and a concomitant increase of the driving force for PEPT1.     

Transport mechanisms of nicotine across the human intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2

Ulcerative colitis is a disease more commonly seen in nonsmokers. Because nicotine was postulated to be a beneficial component of tobacco smoke for ulcerative colitis, various formulations of nicotine have been developed to improve the local bioavailability within the gastrointestinal tissue. In the present study, to characterize the disposition of nicotine in the intestines, we investigated intestinal nicotine transport using Caco-2 cells. Nicotine was predominantly transported across Caco-2 cell monolayers in a unidirectional mode, corresponding to intestinal secretion, by pH-dependent specific transport systems. The specific uptake systems appear to be distinct from organic cation transporters and the transport system for tertiary amines, in terms of its substrate specificity and the pattern of the interaction. These transport systems could play a role in the intestinal accumulation of nicotine from plasma and could also be responsible for the topical delivery of nicotine for ulcerative colitis therapy. These findings could provide useful information for the design of effective nicotine delivery.     

Nitric oxide promotes the internalization and passage of viable bacteria through cultured Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells

Nitric oxide (NO) may play an important role in the pathophysiology of intestinal barrier disruption. Our purpose was to investigate the effects of NO donors on the internalization and passage of bacteria through cultured intestinal epithelial cells. Human intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2 cells were grown on microtiter plastic plates. The cells were incubated with Escherichia coli and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP), as NO donors, at several concentrations. The numbers of viable bacteria internalized into the epithelial cells were measured. Caco-2 cells were also grown to confluency on membranes of bicameral systems. The cells were incubated with E. coli and SNP. The numbers of viable bacteria passed through the epithelial layer were determined. Viability of the bacteria and the intestinal epithelial cells after culture with SNP or SNAP were also determined. Both SNP and SNAP at .1 or 1 mmol/L increased the number of viable bacteria internalized into the enterocytes. Both 1 or 10 mmol/L SNP promoted bacterial passage through the intestinal epithelial layer. However, 10 mmol/L SNP decreased the number of viable Caco-2 cells and failed to increase the bacterial internalization into Caco-2 cells. Incubation of E. coli with SNAP at 10 mmol/L slightly decreased the number of viable bacteria and failed to increase the bacterial internalization into Caco-2 cells. We conclude that NO donors promote both the viable bacterial uptake and passage through the intestinal epithelial layer.     

Monitoring the transport of polymeric micelles across MDCK cell monolayer and exploring related mechanisms

Although some formulations based on nanotechnology are already available, the transport of nanoscale particles including polymeric micelles (PMs) across epithelial cell monolayer was barely studied. To prove the transport of PMs across the epithelial barrier and explain the mechanisms related, a typical PM system containing a fluorescent probe Coumarin 6 (C6) was prepared and the Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line was used as an epithelial cell model. Four different approaches were applied to monitor the transport of PMs prepared, including the real-time and in situ imaging by a novel approach developed by our group. And the solid evidence of PMs' transport was obtained. The mechanism related was explored by different techniques. With the absence of caveolae mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis, the clathrin mediated pathway might play a great role here, and a fraction of PMs bypassed the degradative lysosome pathway, probably due to the clathrin and caveolae independent mechanisms. Interestingly, some inhibitor was found to inhibit transcytosis of PMs significantly but not their endocytosis, suggesting different mechanisms involved in endocytosis and exocytosis. The Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) phenomenon still existed after FRET PMs were internalized by cells. Anyhow, a multiple process with active transcellular pathway was indicated.     

Role of xenobiotic efflux transporters in resistance to vincristine.

This study characterized interactions between efflux transporters (P-glycoprotein (MDR1) and multidrug resistance associated proteins (MRPs1-3)) and vincristine (VCR), using cell lines with differential transporter expression, and studied effects of P-glycoprotein inhibition on VCR transport and toxicity. Caco2 (express MDR1, MRPs 1-3), LS174T (express MDR1, MRPs 1, 3), and A549 (express MRPs 1-3) cells were used. To study VCR transport (effective permeability, P(eff)), VCR (1-500 nM) was added to the donor chambers of permeable supports containing Caco2 monolayers, and receiving chamber concentrations were measured. Cytotoxicity experiments were conducted with escalating concentrations of VCR in all cell lines. To determine the contribution of MDR1, experiments were also conducted with LY335979, a specific MDR1 inhibitor. VCR P(eff) was 2 x 10(-6)cm/s in Caco2 cells. LY335979 increased P(eff) in a dose dependent manner (up to 7-fold with 1 microM LY335979) in Caco2 cells. Caco2 and LS174T cell viability decreased significantly when co-incubated with both VCR and LY335979 (1 microM) (P<0.05), however this was not observed in A549 cells. In summary, MDR1 plays an important role in VCR efflux; MDR1 inhibition increased VCR P(eff) in Caco2 cells, and increased VCR cytotoxicity in Caco2 and LS174T cells (both express MDR1), but not A549 cells (minimal MDR1 expression). Inhibition of MDR1 may be a viable strategy to overcome VCR resistance in tumors expressing MDR1, however the presence of other efflux transporters should also be considered, as this will influence the success of such strategies.