NRF2/ABCB1-mediated efflux and PARP1-mediated dampening of DNA damage contribute to doxorubicin resistance in chronic hypoxic HepG2 cells

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)-induced hypoxia can trigger residual liver cancer cells to present a more aggressive phenotype associated with chemoresistance, but the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. In this study, the human liver cancer cell line HepG2 was pre-cultured in different oxygen environments to examine the possible mechanisms of hypoxia-induced doxorubicin resistance. Our study showed that HepG2 cells pre-cultured in a chronic intermittent hypoxic environment exhibited significant resistance to doxorubicin, evidenced by increased intracellular doxorubicin efflux, relatively higher cell proliferation, lower apoptosis, and decreased DNA damage. These changes were accompanied by high levels of NRF2 and ABCB1 under conditions of both chronic and acute hypoxia and PARP1 gene expression only under conditions of chronic hypoxia. SiRNA-mediated silencing of NRF2 gene expression downregulated the expression of ABCB1 and increased the intracellular doxorubicin accumulation and cell apoptosis both in acute and chronic hypoxic HepG2 cells. Moreover, silencing of PARP1 gene expression increased the doxorubicin-induced DNA damage and cell apoptosis in chronic hypoxic cells. On the basis of these findings, we concluded that NRF2/ABCB1-mediated efflux and PARP1-mediated DNA repair contribute to doxorubicin resistance in chronic hypoxic HepG2 cells.     

WAVE1基因在K562/A02白血病细胞多药耐药中的作用

目的 探讨WASP家族Verprolin同源蛋白1（WAVE1）基因在K562／A02白血病细胞多药耐药机制中的作用。方法 将pEFBOS—WAVE1真核表达质粒转染K562细胞构建WAVE1高表达的K562细胞，将WAVE1基因的特异性小片段干扰RNA（WAVE1siRNA）转染K562／A02细胞构建WAVE1低表达的K562／A02细胞。Western blot和RT-PCR法检测基因转染前后K562／A02细胞及K562细胞WAVE1基因及蛋白的表达；可溶性噻唑盐WST-8染色法检测阿霉素对转染前后细胞的半数抑制浓度（IC50）；Hoechest33258染色法检测细胞形态学改变并计算凋亡细胞百分率；RT—PCR检测多药耐药基因mdrl mRNA表达；Western blot检测Bcl-2表达。结果 ①与K562细胞相比，K562／A02细胞WAVE1 mRNA表达水平增加70％，蛋白表达水平增加63％。②转染WAVE1基因的K562细胞WAVE1过表达，并降低了对阿霉素的药物敏感性，使IC50从转染前的（0．05±0．00）μg／ml，增加到（2．99±0．12）μg／ml，在阿霉素浓度为1.5μg／ml时，凋亡细胞分别下降30％、35％。③转染WAVE1 siRNA的K562／A02细胞WAVE1蛋白表达水平与未转染组相比明显降低，并可增强对阿霉素的药物敏感性，使IC50从转染前的（4．29±0．15）μg／ml下降到（1．85±0．07）μg／ml，阿霉素浓度为1.5μg／ml时，凋亡细胞分别增加24％、21％。④转染WAVE1的K562细胞mdr1基因和Bcl-2蛋白表达水平均增高，而转染WAVE1 siRNA的K562／A02细胞mdr1基因和Bcl-2蛋白表达水平比转染前明显降低。结论 WAVE1参与了K562／A02细胞多药耐药的形成，其机制可能与调控mdr1和Bcl-2水平有关。     

雷公藤甲素对K562/A02细胞阿霉素敏感性的影响

本研究旨在探讨雷公藤甲素(TPL)对K562/A02细胞阿霉素敏感性的影响。采用MTT法检测TPL细胞毒性和阿霉素药物敏感性;流式细胞术检测P-糖蛋白表达和细胞内阿霉素浓度;双荧光素酶报告基因系统检测MDR1启动子活性。结果表明:TPL增强K562/A02细胞阿霉素敏感性。TPL作用后,K562/A02细胞P-糖蛋白表达相关平均荧光强度(MFI)由123±13下降到39±13(P<0.05);K562/A02细胞内阿霉素相关MFI由18±5上升到34±6(P<0.05),TPL能够有效抑制K562/A02细胞的药物外排。TPL降低MDR1启动子转录活性约75%。结论:TPL通过下调P-糖蛋白表达增强K562/A02细胞对阿霉素的敏感性,其有可能成为一种耐药逆转剂。     

伊马替尼耐药K562/G的microRNA表达谱分析及与FOXO3/Bcl-6信号通路关系的研究

目的:探讨CML耐药细胞株K562/G耐药相关的FOXO3/Bcl-6信号通路及相关microRNA(miRNA)机制。方法:采用MTT法检测伊马替尼对K562/G的耐药性;采用Western blot法检测耐药株和敏感株细胞中FOXO3和Bcl-6蛋白的表达情况,实时荧光定量PCR检测FOXO3及Bcl-6 mRNA的表达。运用miRNA芯片技术筛查K562与K562/G细胞之间差异表达的miRNA,进一步筛选FOXO3/Bcl-6信号通路的靶向miRNA。结果:K562/G较K562细胞株的FOXO3及Bcl-6蛋白表达均明显升高(P<0.01);Bcl-6 mRNA的表达水平无明显差异,而K562/G细胞中FOXO3 mRNA表达明显升高(P<0.05)。miRNA芯片结果显示,K562/G与K562细胞之间有109条miRNA存在显著的差异,其中上调miRNA为81个,下调miRNA有28个。经生物信息学反向预测,其中miR-6718-5p、miR-5195-5p、miR-4711-3p、miR-4763-5p、miR-4664-5p和miR-3176与该信号通路相关。结论:伊马替尼耐药与FOXO3/Bcl-6信号通路相关,并且K562/G与K562细胞存在miRNA表达显著差异。     

Quantitation of doxorubicin uptake, efflux, and modulation of multidrug resistance (MDR) in MDR human cancer cells

P-glycoprotein (Pgp), a membrane transporter encoded by the MDR1 gene in human cells, mediates drug efflux from cells, and it plays a major role in causing multidrug resistance (MDR). Confocal microscopy was used to study in vitro and in vivo drug accumulation, net uptake and efflux, and MDR modulation by P-glycoprotein inhibitors in MDR1-transduced human MDA-MB-435mdr (MDR) cancer cells. The MDR cells were approximately 9-fold more resistant to the anticancer drug doxorubicin than their parental wild-type MDA-MB-435wt (WT) cells. Doxorubicin accumulation in the MDR cells was only 19% of that in the WT cells. The net uptake of doxorubicin in the nuclei of the MDR cells was 2-fold lower than that in the nuclei of the WT cells. Pgp inhibitors verapamil, cyclosporine A, or PSC833 increased doxorubicin accumulation in the MDR cells up to 79%, and it reversed drug resistance in these cells. In living animals, doxorubicin accumulation in MDA-MB-435mdr xenograft tumors was 68% of that in the wild-type tumors. Administration of verapamil, cyclosporine A, or PSC833 before doxorubicin treatment of the animals increased doxorubicin accumulation in the MDR tumors up to 94%. These studies have added direct in vitro and in vivo information on the capacity of the transporter protein Pgp to efflux doxorubicin and on the reversal of MDR by Pgp inhibitors in resistant cancer cells.     

Reversal of multidrug resistance by small interfering RNA (siRNA) in doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Purpose

Resistance to anticancer drugs is a serious obstacle to cancer chemotherapy. A common form of multidrug resistance (MDR) is caused by the overexpression of transmembrane transporter proteins P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and multidrug resistance-associated protein-1 (MRP1), encoded by MDR1 and MRP1 genes, respectively. These proteins lead to reduced intracellular drug concentration and decreased cytotoxicity by means of their ability to pump the drugs out of the cells. Breast cancer tumor resistance is mainly associated with overexpression of P-gp/MDR1. Although some chemical MDR modulators aim to overcome MDR by interfering functioning of P-gp, their toxicities limit their usage in clinics. Consequently, RNA interference mediated sequence specific inhibition of the expression of P-gp/MDR1 mRNA may be an efficient tool to reverse MDR phenotype and increase the success of chemotherapy. Aim of this study was resensitizing doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer cells to anticancer agent doxorubicin by selective downregulation of P-gp/MDR1 mRNA.

Methods

The effect of the selected MDR1 siRNA, and MRP1 expression after MDR1 silencing was determined by qPCR analysis. Intracellular drug accumulation and localization was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy after treatment with MDR1 siRNA. XTT cell proliferation assay was performed to determine the effect of MDR1 silencing on doxorubicin sensitivity.

Results

The results demonstrated that approximately 90% gene silencing occurred by the selected siRNA targeting MDR1 mRNA. However, the level of MRP1 mRNA did not change after MDR1 downregulation. Silencing of P-gp encoding MDR1 gene resulted in almost complete restoration of the intracellular doxorubicin accumulation and relocalization of the drug in the nuclei. Introduction of siRNA resulted in about 70% resensitization to doxorubicin.

Conclusions

Selected siRNA duplex was shown to effectively inhibit MDR1 gene expression, restore doxorubicin accumulation and localization, and enhance chemosensitivity of resistant cells, which makes it a suitable candidate for therapeutic applications.     

A novel dual function retrovirus expressing multidrug resistance 1 and O6-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase for engineering resistance of haemopoietic progenitor cells to multiple chemotherapeutic agents.

Following transduction with a retrovirus (SF1MIH) expressing both the multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) and O6-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase (ATase) proteins, human erythroleukaemic progenitor (K562) cells were isolated which were resistant to killing by the MDR1 substrate, colchicine. In colony-forming survival assays, K562-SF1MIH cells exhibited resistance to colchicine and doxorubicin, as well as to the O6-alkylating agents N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and temozolomide. Furthermore, the resistance to doxorubicin was abolished by preincubation with the MDR1 inhibitor verapamil while resistance to MNU was ablated by the specific ATase inactivator, O6-benzylguanine (O6-beG) confirming that resistance to doxorubicin and MNU was conferred by MDR1 and ATase, respectively. When K562-SF1MIH were exposed to combinations of colchicine and MNU or doxorubicin and temozolomide, simultaneous resistance to these agents was observed. Thus, transduction of K562 with SF1MIH conferred dual resistance to these cells. These data offer the prospect of designing vectors that will confer resistance to entire regimens of chemotherapy rather than just to individual components of such drug cocktails, thereby substantially increasing the efficacy of therapy. Furthermore, the use of such dual expression constructs is likely to be highly informative for the design of effective in vivo selection protocols, an issue likely to make a major impact in a clinical context in gene therapy in the near future.     

siRNA逆转K562/A02细胞多药耐药的研究

目的　研究小分子干扰RNA片段 (smallinterferingRNAs,siRNA)对白血病多药耐药细胞系K5 6 2 A0 2mdr1基因和P 糖蛋白 (P gp)表达及功能的影响。方法　根据mdr1基因已知序列设计 3条含 2 1个碱基的siRNA(si mdr1 1,si mdr1 2 ,si mdr1 3)及阴性对照 (si neg) ,在脂质体的介导下转染K5 6 2 A0 2细胞 ;用RT PCR分析mdr1mRNA的表达 ;流式细胞术检测P gp表达和细胞内柔红霉素积累量 ;MTT法检测阿霉素对K5 6 2 A0 2细胞的半数抑制浓度 (IC50 )。结果　 3条siRNA均能不同程度地逆转K5 6 2 A0 2细胞的多药耐药。第 3条序列能更有效地封闭mdr1基因 ,使mdr1mRNA相对水平下降(5 8.0± 1 5 4 ) % ;P gp表达由处理前的 (76 .0± 1.0 ) %降到处理后的 (19.6± 1.9) % ;对阿霉素药物敏感性的相对逆转效率为 70 .4 % ;同时使K5 6 2 A0 2细胞内柔红霉素积累量增加。结论　siRNA可逆转mdr1基因编码蛋白P gp介导的多药耐药。     

Chemoprotection of hematopoietic cells by a mutant P-glycoprotein resistant to a potent chemosensitizer of multidrug-resistant cancers

Cancers are frequently chemoresistant because of overexpression of P-glycoprotein. Two different approaches to improve cancer treatment are currently being investigated in clinical trials: inhibition of P-glycoprotein function by reversing agents, and alleviation of leukocytopenia by MDR1 gene transfer to normal bone marrow of patients. We report here that retroviral vectors encoding a mutant P-glycoprotein (MDR1-F983A) protect hematopoietic cells from anticancer drugs even in the presence of trans-(E)-flupentixol, an inhibitor of P-glycoprotein. Transfer of either mutant or wild-type MDR1 to K562 erythroleukemia cells or primary murine bone marrow resulted in reduced accumulation of daunomycin and vinblastine because of increased drug efflux.trans-(E)-Flupentixol at concentrations up to 10 microM failed to reverse drug efflux mediated by the product of the mutant MDR1 while wild-type P-glycoprotein was inhibited. In the presence of 2 microM trans-(E)-flupentixol chemoresistance to daunomycin was circumvented only in K562 cells transduced with wild-type, but not with mutant, MDR1. Moreover, drug resistance of KB-8-5 epidermoid cancer cells, which express the wild-type MDR1 gene at levels comparable to clinical specimens from multidrug-resistant cancers, was fully overcome in the presence of trans-(E)-flupentixol. Vectors expressing mutant P-glycoprotein may help improve chemotherapy by allowing safe dose intensification under conditions in which multidrug-resistant cancers are rendered drug sensitive by reversing agents.     

kir3dl1启动子表达调控载体的构建及其在K562细胞中的活性

为了分析kir3dl1基因核心启动子区域的功能并明确其表达调控机制，构建了kir3dl1基因启动子．荧光素酶报告载体，分析其在K562细胞中的活性。采用PCR方法从含有kit3dl1基因转录起始位点5’侧翼区的质粒中扩增kir3dl1基因核心启动子序列，插入经Bg1II和NcoI双酶切的荧光素酶报告载体pGL3-Basic；采用阳离子脂质体SuperFect包裹荧光素酶报告重组子转染K562细胞，应用双荧光素酶检测试剂盒测定荧光素酶活性；采用MTT法检测脂质体-DNA复合物对细胞存活率的影响。结果表明：成功构建了含有254bp的kir3dl1基因核心启动子序列的荧光素酶报告重组子3DL1-luc254并通过酶切及基因测序方法的鉴定；荧光素酶报告重组子在K562细胞中的荧光素酶活性明显高于阴性对照，且荧光素酶活性、相对活性持续3天无明显衰减。转染了3DLl-luc254报告质粒的K562细胞存活率在76％-92％之间。结论：成功构建了kir3dl1基因启动子-荧光素酶报告载体，本研究采用的转染系统能够有效地在K562细胞中进行基因转染，kir3dl1基因核心启动子在K562细胞中具有较高活性。     

环孢霉素A对K562／DOX细胞药物积聚和外排的影响

目的：寻找克服肿瘤细胞多药耐药的方法。方法：以环孢霉素Ａ（ＣｓＡ）作为耐药逆转剂，用ＭＴＴ法体外药物敏感试验，观察ＣｓＡ对多药耐药白血病细胞株Ｋ５６２／ＤＯＸ的药物敏感性、细胞内药物的积聚和外排的影响。结果：ＣｓＡ可增强阿霉素（ＤＯＸ）对Ｋ５６２／ＤＯＸ的细胞毒作用，且存在剂量依赖关系。ＣｓＡ≥２μｇ／ｍｌ能较明显提高Ｋ５６２／ＤＯＸ对ＤＯＸ的敏感性。用２μｇ／ｍｌＣｓＡ处理后，Ｋ５６２／ＤＯＸ细胞内ＤＯＸ外排速度明显减慢，ＤＯＸ含量仅减少１２．３％，但对Ｋ５６２细胞内药物外排无影响。结论：ＣｓＡ能有效地减慢Ｋ５６２／ＤＯＸ细胞内ＤＯＸ外排速度，增加细胞内ＤＯＸ积聚。ＣｓＡ对Ｋ５６２细胞药物敏感性、细胞内药物外排和积聚均无影响。     

Reversal effect of substituted 1,3-dimethyl-1H-quinoxalin-2-ones on multidrug resistance in adriamycin-resistant K562/A02 cells

QA1 and QA3 are the derivatives of substituted 1,3-dimethyl-1H-quinoxalin-2-ones that may selectively antagonize P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in multidrug resistance (MDR) cancer cells. Herein, we examined the reversal effect of two compounds on MDR in adriamycin (Adr)-induced resistant K562/A02 cells. MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assay showed that QA1 and QA3 weakly inhibited the growth of tumor cells. However, the compounds increased Adr-induced cytotoxicity toward K562/A02 cells. The IC₅₀ values of Adr toward K562/A02 were decreased in the presence of QA1 or QA3. The maximal reversal fold (RF) of QA1 and QA3 was reached 6.9 and 9.0, respectively. The action of QA1 and QA3 was also confirmed by the increase of intracellular Adr accumulation in K562/A02 cells. In mechanism study, the intracellular accumulation and efflux of Rh123 were measured using multilabel counter with excitation/emission wavelengths of 485/535 nm. An increase of intracellular Rh123 and the decrease of efflux were observed in K562/A02 cells incubation with QA1 or QA3, indicating that the activity of P-gp was blocked. These results suggested that the derivatives of substituted 1,3-dimethyl-1H-quinoxalin-2-ones might reverse MDR in K562/A02 cells via inhibition activity of P-gp. QA1 and QA3 might be the candidate agents for reversing MDR of cancer.     

Enhanced therapeutic effects on the multi-drug resistant human leukemia cells in vitro and xenograft in mice using the stealthy liposomal vincristine plus quinacrine

The multi-drug resistance (MDR) could be caused by the over-expression of adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporters such as p-glycoprotein, thereby resulting in the efflux of anti-cancer drugs from the cells. An anti-resistant stealthy liposomal vincristine plus quinacrine was defined in this study. Human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 and MDR K562 cells were included for comparisons. Anti-tumor activity studies were performed on female BALB/c nude mice with MDR K562 cell xenografts. Results showed that quinacrine was effective in reversing the resistance in the MDR K562 cells, and enhanced the anti-tumor effect of vincristine in K562 cells. The caspase-9 and -3 activities in the MDR K562 and K562 cells were increased with the dose rise of quinacrine. In the MDR K562 cell xenografts in mice, the anti-resistant tumor effect of the stealthy liposomal vincristine plus quinacrine was evidently observed. The enhanced anti-tumor effects of vincristine by quinacrine in the resistant/non-resistant K562 cells could be because of the direct injury and the potentiating apoptotic effect of vincristine via activating the initiator caspase-9 and subsequently the effector caspase-3, and the long circulatory effect of stealthy liposomes. The stealthy liposomal encapsulation of vincristine plus quinacrine could be a potential therapeutic approach for resistant human leukemia.     

5溴汉防己甲素逆转多药耐药的体内体外研究

本研究旨在探讨5一溴汉防己甲素（BrTet）和汉防己甲素（Tet）对K562／A02细胞多药耐药性的逆转作用。采用MTT法检测阿霉素（ADM）联合应用BrTet、TeL,对K562／A02细胞和K562细胞增殖的影响;采用流式细胞术（FCM）检测细胞内ADM浓度和P糖蛋白（P—gp）的表达;采用RT—PCR测定细胞mdrl基因mRNA表达水平。建立裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型,比较BrTet、Tet在体内的逆转耐药作用。结果发现,BrTet在0．25、0．5以及1μmol／L浓度条件下对K562／A02细胞多药耐药性的逆转作用呈剂量依赖性。流式细胞术检测提示,BrTet显著增加K562／A02细胞内ADM浓度,并呈剂量依赖性,同时抑制P—gp的表达,下调mdrl mRNA的表达。在荷瘤鼠模型中,BrTet明显增加ADM对K562／A02移植瘤的抗肿瘤作用,从单用ADM的5．8％上升至26．1％,而在K562移植瘤中没有显著差异。结论：BrTet在体内体外试验中均显示出显著的逆转MDR作用,其活性可能与抑制P—gp的过度表达和增加抗肿瘤药物的积聚有关。     

靶向siRNA沉默mdr1基因表达及对白血病耐药细胞系K562/ADM的耐药逆转作用

目的 研究小干扰RNA（siRNA）对白血病多药耐药细胞系K562／ADM细胞mdr1基因表达的沉默作用和凋亡抑制的逆转效应。方法 K562／ADM为靶细胞，设计、筛选和合成2对针对mdr1基因mRNA的siRNA（mdr1 siRNA-1和mdr1siRNA-2），用脂质体介导转染K562／ADM细胞；实时荧光定量PCR（real—time PCR）法检测mdr1 mRNA的表达；流式细胞术测定P-糖蛋白（P—gP）水平和caspase-3活性；细胞形态学和FITC标记的膜联蛋白V／碘化丙锭（Annexin V—FITC／PI）双染色法检测细胞的凋亡。结果 筛选出的mdr1 siRNA-1和mdr1 siRNA-2显著抑制K562／ADM细胞mdr1的表达，mdr1 mRNA的表达分别降低91．2％和82．0％，P-gp水平下降74．1％和84．4％；增强caspase-3活性，活化caspase-3增加约40％；K562／ADM耐药细胞对阿霉素诱导凋亡的敏感性增强，Annexin V—FITC／PI染色检测细胞凋亡率提高约60％。结论 siRNA通过沉默mdr1 ／P—gp表达而逆转K562／ADM多药耐药细胞的凋亡抑制现象。