Effect of organic isothiocyanates on the P-glycoprotein- and MRP1-mediated transport of daunomycin and vinblastine

Purpose. Organic isothiocyanates (ITCs), or mustard oils, are non-nutrient components present in the diet, especially in cruciferous vegetables. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of ITCs on P-glycoprotein (P-gp)- and multidrug resistance-associated Protein (MRP1)-mediated transport in multidrug resistant (MDR) human cancer cell lines. Methods. The direct effect of ITCs on the 2-h cellular accumulation of daunomycin (DNM) and vinblastine (VBL), substrates for both P-gp and MRP1, were measured in sensitive and resistant MCF-7 cells and in PANC-1 cells. Resistant MCF-7 cells (MCF-7/ADR) overexpress P-gp whereas PANC-1 cells overexpress MRP1. The following compounds were evaluated: allyl-, benzyl-(BITC), hexyl-, phenethyl-(PEITC), phenyl-, 1-naphthyl-(NITC), phenylhexyl-, phenylpropyl-, and phenylbutyl-ITC, sulforaphane, erucin, and erysolin. Results. NITC significantly increased the accumulation of DNM and VBL in both resistant cell lines, but had no effect on DNM accumulation in sensitive MCF-7 cells. VBL accumulation in resistant MCF-7 cells was increased 40-fold by NITC whereas that in PANC-1 cells was increased 5.5-fold. Significant effects on the accumulation of DNM and VBL in resistant MCF-7 cells were also observed with benzyl-isothiocyanate whereas PEITC, erysolin, phenylhexyl-ITC, and phenylbutyl-ITC increased the accumulation of DNM and/or VBL in PANC-1 cells. Overall, the inhibitory activities of these compounds in MCF-7 cells and PANC-1 cells were significantly correlated (r²= 0.77 and 0.86 for DNM and VBL, respectively). Significant effects on accumulation were generally observed with the ITCs at 50 M concentrations, but not at 10 M concentrations. Conclusions. One strategy to enhance the effectiveness of cancer chemotherapy is to reverse the MDR phenomena. Our results indicate that certain dietary ITCs inhibit the P-gp- and the MRP1-mediated efflux of DNM and VBL in MDR cancer cells and suggest the potential for diet-drug interactions.     

Interactions between the flavonoid biochanin A and P-glycoprotein substrates in rats: In vitro and in vivo

The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo interactions between flavonoids and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrates. The inhibitory effects of flavonoids on P-gp were determined by accumulation studies in P-gp-overexpressing MCF-7/ADR cells using daunomycin (DNM) as a model substrate. Morin, phloretin, biochanin A, chalcone, and silymarin significantly increased DNM accumulation by greater than 2.5-fold, suggesting they are P-gp inhibitors. To explore potential in vivo interactions of flavonoids with P-gp, the effect of biochanin A on the pharmacokinetics of the P-gp substrates doxorubicin, cyclosporine A, and paclitaxel was investigated. In contrast to the in vitro results, intraperitoneal or oral administration of biochanin A did not significantly change the pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin and cyclosporine A. Moderate interaction was observed between biochanin A and paclitaxel, resulting in lower AUC values after both i.v. and oral administration of paclitaxel. The disconnect between the in vitro and in vivo data suggests that P-gp interactions mediated by biochanin A may be limited due to its poor bioavailability and rapid clearance. It is also possible that other transporters or metabolizing enzymes are more important in the in vivo disposition of doxorubicin, cyclosporine A, and paclitaxel than P-gp. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 99:430–441, 2010     

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.     

一种新番荔枝内酯单体atemoyacin—B克服肿瘤多药抗药性

目的 探讨ａｔｅｍｏｙａｃｉｎ－Ｂ（Ａｔｅ）克服肿瘤多药抗药性（ＭＤＲ）作用及机制。方法 Ｂｕｌｌａｔａｃｉｎ（Ｂｕｌ）为阳性对照物,细胞毒测定以ＭＴＴ法,Ｐｇｐ功能测定以Ｆｕｒａ２－ＡＭ法,细胞内药物积累测定以荧光分光光度计法;细胞凋亡测定以流式细胞仪法,结果：Ａｔｅ对ＭＣＦ－７／Ｄｏｘ,ＭＣＦ－７,ＫＢＶ２００和ＫＢ细胞的ＩＣ５０分别为１２２,１２０,１．３４,１．２７ｍｍｏｌ．Ｌ＾－１,Ａｔ     

Effects of benzyl-, phenethyl-, and alpha-naphthyl isothiocyanates on P-glycoprotein- and MRP1-mediated transport

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of two dietary isothiocyanates (ITCs), benzyl- (BITC) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), and one synthetic ITC, alpha-naphthyl isothiocyanate (1-NITC), on the P-glycoprotein (P-gp)- and multidrug-resistance protein 1 (MRP1)-mediated efflux of daunomycin (DNM), determine whether PEITC is a substrate of P-gp and/or MRP1, and elucidate the mechanism(s) involved in the inhibition of transport. BITC, PEITC, and 1-NITC significantly increased the 2-h accumulation of DNM in MCF-7/ADR (P-gp overexpression), PANC-1 (MRP1 overexpression), and human colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells (except for 1-NITC). The accumulation of (14)C-PEITC was not changed in Caco-2, human breast cancer MDA435/LCC6 and MDA435/LCC6MDR1 (P-gp overexpression) cells in the absence and presence of the P-gp inhibitor verapamil, but significantly increased with the MRP inhibitor MK571 in PANC-1 cells. The isocyanate and amine metabolites had no effect on DNM accumulation in any cell line. After 2- and 24-h ITC treatments, cellular concentrations of glutathione (GSH) in PANC-1 and Caco-2 cells were depleted by BITC and PEITC, but not by 1-NITC; glutathione-S-transferase activity exhibited small changes. Our results suggest that (1) BITC, PEITC, and 1-NITC inhibit the P-gp- and MRP1-mediated efflux of DNM; (2) PEITC and/or its conjugates do not represent P-gp substrates; (3) BITC and PEITC, but not 1-NITC, inhibit MRP1 through the depletion of intracellular GSH, which acts as a cosubstrate for DNM efflux via MRP1; and (4) PEITC and/or its conjugates are MRP1 substrates so binding interactions with DNM represent a second potential mechanism involved in MRP1 inhibition.     

N-糖基取代的邻苯二甲酰亚胺新衍生物的合成与肿瘤多药耐药逆转作用研究

沙利度胺（α-N-phthalimido-glutarimide，TLD）是一种具有抗血管生成和抗炎作用的药物，对多种实体瘤有效。本文研究了N-糖基取代的沙利度胺新衍生物（STA-35）对阿霉素（doxorubicin，ADR）引起的多药耐药（multidurg resistance，MDR）的调节作用。采用SRB法检测化合物对癌细胞的增殖抑制作用，应用流式细胞术测定P-糖蛋白（P-glycoprotein，P—gp）的功能，以免疫印迹方法考察P—gP的蛋白表达。实验结果表明，STA-35能够抑制人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7及其ADR耐药细胞MCF-7／ADR生长，耐药指数仅为1．19；并能增强MCF-7／ADR细胞对ADR的敏感性。此外，STA-35可以增加MCF-7／ADR细胞内罗丹明123（rhodamine 123，RH123）的聚积，减弱P—gP的功能，抑制P-gp的蛋白表达。该化合物具有多药耐药逆转作用，其分子机制可能与抑制P—gp的功能和蛋白表达相关。     

Role of differential drug uptake, efflux, and binding of etoposide in sensitive and resistant human tumor cell lines: implications for the mechanisms of drug resistance

In order to study the mechanism of etoposide (VP-16) resistance in human tumor cells and to assess the role of P-170 glycoprotein in VP-16 accumulation, we have examined the uptake and efflux of VP-16 in both sensitive and multidrug-resistant MCF-7 human breast and HL60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells. The drug-resistant cells, MCF-7/ADR and HL60/ADR, were selected for resistance to adriamycin and were 200- to 250-fold resistant to VP-16. Whereas MCF-7/ADR cells overexpress the P-170 glycoprotein and show the multidrug-resistant phenotype, HL60/ADR cells do not overexpress the P-170 glycoprotein. Although there was a 2-fold decrease in accumulation of VP-16 in MCF-7/ADR cells, this decrease did not correlate with a 250-fold resistance to the drug. VP-16 efflux was rapid and almost complete from MCF-7 cell lines and it was decreased at 4 degrees. Further, there was a significant increase in VP-16 accumulation in the MCF-7/ADR cells in the presence of glucose-free medium supplemented with sodium azide. However, no change in the pattern of VP-16 efflux was observed. Under these conditions, addition of glucose caused release of VP-16 from MCF-7/ADR cells, suggesting energy-dependent modifications in the drug binding. Coincubation of vincristine with VP-16 also increased the drug accumulation and decreased the rate of efflux of VP-16 in both sensitive and resistant MCF-7 cells, suggesting that vincristine and VP-16 may compete for similar binding and efflux mechanisms in these cell lines. In contrast, daunorubicin increased VP-16 accumulation only in the sensitive MCF-7 cell line, whereas the efflux rate of VP-16 was not significantly changed in either cell line. HL60 sensitive cells accumulated 4- to 5-fold more VP-16 than the resistant subline. Both sensitive and resistant cells showed an important noneffluxable pool of the drug, 3-fold larger for sensitive cells (79 +/- 12 versus 25 +/- 2 pmol of VP-16/mg of protein, for sensitive and resistant cells, respectively). The efflux of VP-16 was temperature dependent only in sensitive cells. VP-16 accumulation in HL60/ADR cells was increased in glucose-free medium supplemented with sodium azide; however, the noneffluxable pool of VP-16 was not significantly changed. In contrast, although these conditions had no effect on the drug accumulation in the parental line, they caused a decrease in the noneffluxable pool of VP-16, suggesting an energy-dependent binding and retention of VP-16.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

功劳木中异汉防己碱对P-糖蛋白介导的人乳腺癌细胞多药耐药性的逆转作用

本文探讨了异汉防己碱对P-糖蛋白(P-gp)介导的人乳腺癌细胞多药耐药性的逆转作用。首先以RT-PCR和免疫组化方法分别从RNA和蛋白水平检测MCF-7/DOX细胞P-gp表达情况，以明确MCF-7/DOX细胞的耐药特征；然后采用MTT法检测异汉防己碱的内在细胞毒性及其对阿霉素(DOX)的增敏作用，并以RF(reversal fold)值评价其逆转效果；同时应用流式细胞仪(FCM)对细胞内DOX的蓄积量进行了分析；再以免疫组化方法检测异汉防己碱对MCF-7/DOX细胞P-gp表达水平的影响；最后采用罗丹明蓄积和外排试验检测了异汉防己碱对P-gp功能的影响。整个试验以维拉帕米作为阳性对照。实验结果表明：MCF-7/DOX细胞是具有多药耐药表型且P-gp表达阳性的细胞株；无毒剂量异汉防己碱可明显增强DOX对MCF-7/DOX细胞的细胞毒性(RF=3.89)，明显高于维拉帕米(RF=2.54)的逆转活性(P<0.05)，但其几乎不影响DOX对MCF-7细胞的抑制作用；异汉防己碱对MCF-7/DOX细胞P-gp表达水平无明显影响，但其可有效抑制P-gp的药物外排功能。因此，异汉防己碱可有效逆转P-gp介导的人乳腺癌细胞的多药耐药性，它可能成为有效多药耐药逆转剂的候选药物。     

Adenovirus-mediated p53 gene therapy reverses resistance of breast cancer cells to adriamycin

The aim of this study was to determine whether adenovirus-mediated p53 gene (Ad-p53) transfection can enhance adriamycin cytotoxicity and reverse adriamycin resistance in human breast cancer cells and explore its effect on the expression of MDR1 gene and permeability-glycoprotein (P-gp). Human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR, were used in in-vitro studies. After infection with Ad-p53, the cytotoxicity of adriamycin was evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The expression of MDR1 mRNA was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The expression of P-gp was analyzed using western blotting. In in-vivo studies, MCF-7/ADR tumor cells were inoculated subcutaneously in athymic nude mice. After 14 days of inoculation, tumor size was measured. Apoptosis and expression of P-gp in the tumor tissue were analyzed by fluorescence activated cell sorting and western blotting. After transfection with a multiplicity of infection of 50 for Ad-p53, chemosensitivity of MCF-7/ADR cells increased by 18.1 times (P=0.001), and 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of adriamycin decreased from 4.54 ± 0.91 to 0.26 ± 0.11 mg/l. Real-time PCR showed that MDR1 mRNA decreased from 1.32 to 0.85 (P=0.001). Western blotting analysis showed that P-gp also decreased. In in-vivo studies, Ad-p53 combined with adriamycin dramatically inhibited the growth of subcutaneous xenograft of MCF-7/ADR. The fluorescence activated cell sorting assay showed that there were more apoptotic cells in tumor tissues treated with Ad-p53 and adriamycin. The expression of P-gp was significantly decreased in tumor tissues. This study suggests that Ad-p53 can reverse MCF-7/MDR cell resistance to adriamycin. The reversal effect was associated with inhibition of P-gp expression and induction of apoptosis.     

Reversal of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance by the novel tetrandrine derivative W6

Overexpression of ATP-dependent efflux pump P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is the main cause of multidrug resistance (MDR) and chemotherapy failure in cancer treatment. Inhibition of P-gp-mediated drug efflux is an effective way to overcome cancer drug resistance. The present study investigated the reversal effect of the novel tetrandrine derivative W6 on P-gp-mediated MDR. KBv200, MCF-7/adr and their parental sensitive cell lines KB, MCF-7 were used for reversal study. The intracellular accumulation with P-gp substrates of doxorubicin was determined by flow cytometry. The expression of P-gp and ERK1/2 was investigated by western blot and real-time-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis. ATPase activity of P-gp was performed by P-gp-Glo^TM assay systems. In comparison with P-gp-negative parental cells, W6 produced a favorable reversal effect in the MDR cells, as determined using the MTT assay. W6 significantly and dose-dependently increased intracellular accumulation of P-gp substrate doxorubicin (DOX) in P-gp overexpressing KBv200 cells, and also inhibited the ATPase activity of P-gp. W6 inhibited P-gp expression in KBv200 cells in a time-dependent manner, but it had no effect on MDR1 expression. In addition, W6 significantly decreased the ERK1/2 activation in KBv200 cells. Our results showed that W6 effectively reversed P-gp-mediated MDR by inhibiting the transport function and expression of P-gp, demonstrating the potential clinical utility of W6.     

钙调素拮抗剂O-(4-乙氧基)-丁基-小檗胺增强阿霉素杀伤MCF-7/ADR细胞的机制研究

目的研究钙调素拮抗剂0-4-乙氧基-丁基-小檗胺(EBB)增强阿霉素诱导乳腺癌多药耐药细胞系MCF-7/ADR细胞的杀伤作用及其相关机制。方法用MTT法测定阿霉素、EBB单独及联合用药对阿霉素杀伤乳腺癌多药耐药细胞系(MCF-7/ADR)及其亲代细胞系(MCF-7)的作用的IC50值,用不同浓度EBB处理MCF-7/ADR细胞后用FACS法分析EBB对阿霉素诱导细胞凋亡及对mdr1mRNA和P-gp蛋白水平表达的影响,通过激光共聚焦显微镜观察EBB处理前后及用EBB预处理24和48h后MCF-7/ADR和MCF-7细胞内阿霉素浓度的改变。结果MTT结果显示EBB对MCF-7和MCF-7/ADR都具有抗肿瘤活性;EBB还能协同提高阿霉素的细胞毒作用,MCF-7组两药相互作用指数(CDI)值为0.73,MCF-7/ADR组CDI值为0.49,其对耐药细胞的协同作用更为明显。随EBB剂量增加,低剂量阿霉素诱导MCF-7/ADR细胞凋亡增加而且P-gp蛋白表达水平逐渐下降,细胞内阿霉素浓度逐渐提高,而且用EBB预处理MCF-7/ADR细胞24和48h后细胞内阿霉素和罗丹明浓度也逐渐提高。结论EBB是有效的肿瘤细胞化疗药物,它不但能直接抑制P-gp功能还具有下调P-gp蛋白表达的作用,从而有效逆转MCF-7/ADR细胞的耐药现象,协同增强化疗药物对耐药细胞的杀伤作用。     

P-glycoprotein-independent mechanism of resistance to VP-16 in multidrug-resistant tumor cell lines: pharmacokinetic and photoaffinity labeling studies

The interaction of etoposide (VP-16), Vinca alkaloids, and verapamil with the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) was studied in human breast (MCF-7) and Chinese hamster lung (DC3F) cell lines and the corresponding multidrug-resistant MCF-7/ADR and DC3F/ADX tumor cell lines, selected for resistance to Adriamycin and actinomycin D, respectively, and overexpressing P-gp. Verapamil (10 microM) markedly reversed resistance to vincristine (11-fold in DC3F/ADX and 125-fold in MCF-7/ADR; 1-hr exposure), but it had a very modest effect on resistance to VP-16 (3- to 4-fold; 1-hr exposure). Resistant cells accumulated 2- to 4-fold less VP-16 and vincristine than the parental cell lines. Verapamil (10 microM) significantly increased accumulation and retention of vincristine, but not of VP-16, in resistant cell lines. Photoaffinity labeling of resistant cell lines with radioactive analogs of verapamil [N(p-azido-3-125I-salicyl)-N'-beta-aminoethylverapamil (NASVP)] and vinblastine[N-(p-azido-3-125I-salicyl)-N'-beta-aminoethylvindesine (NASV)] showed distinctly labeled P-gp bands in both resistant cell lines, compared with wild-type cells. Excess nonradioactive vinblastine or verapamil effectively competed with the P-gp photolabeling by either NASVP or NASV, with IC50 levels of 0.6 and 10 microM, respectively. In contrast, nonradioactive VP-16 was 100- to 500-fold less potent than vinblastine in competing with P-gp photolabeling, suggesting that VP-16 has significantly lower affinity for P-gp than Vinca alkaloids have. Taken together, our data indicate that P-gp glycoprotein by itself may not be important in the transport/efflux of VP-16 and, thus, in the mechanism of resistance to VP-16 in these cells.     

Reversal of MDR1 gene-dependent multidrug resistance using low concentration of endonuclease-prepared small interference RNA

Multidrug resistance following initial chemotherapy is commonly associated with MDR1 gene encoding for P-glycoprotein (P-gp). RNA interference of MDR1 gene expression was used as a strategy to reverse MDR1-mediated multidrug resistance phenotypes. Here we report that endonuclease-prepared small interfering RNA (esiRNA) at concentrations as low as 10 ng/ml (about 0.7 nM) can decrease MDR1 expression and increase chemosensitivity in the Adriamycin-induced resistant MCF-7/R cells. When MCF-7/R cells were transiently transfected with esiRNA of MDR1 (esiMDR1), the MDR1 mRNA was reduced by about 50%, drug accumulation increased by about 30%, and the IC50 for daunorubicin was reduced from 4.5 to 1.2 microM. These results provide evidence that esiRNA of MDR1 could be an alternative to P-gp inhibitors with the advantage of avoiding non-specific suppression with a lower effective dosage than using a single siRNA duplex, offering a potential therapeutic application of siRNA.     

基因mdr1高表达多药耐药肿瘤细胞对力达霉素的药物敏感性

目的利用经药物诱导获得的mdr1基因高表达细胞株以及通过mdr1基因转染建立的稳定高表达细胞株，研究多药耐药肿瘤细胞对力达霉素(C-1027)的药物敏感性。方法构建mdr1重组真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1/mdr1，利用脂质体转染技术，获得mdr1高表达HepG2肝癌细胞。经RT-PCR、细胞荧光免疫化学及罗丹明外排实验，鉴定了细胞的mdr1表达水平和药物外排活性。MTT方法测定敏感细胞及相对应的多药耐药细胞对力达霉素等多种抗肿瘤药物的药物敏感性。结果mdr1稳定转染细胞株HepG2/mdr1、多药耐药KBv200细胞和MCF-7/ADR细胞对力达霉素的IC₅₀值分别为(0.020±0.011) nmol·L^-1，(0.24±0.20) nmol·L^-1和(0.028±0.011) nmol·L^-1。相对于各自的敏感细胞，多药耐药细胞HepG2/mdr1，KBv200和MCF-7/ADR对力达霉素的抗药倍数分别是1.3，6.8和1.6倍，对阿霉素的抗药倍数分别是8.8， 37.2和181.3倍，对紫杉醇的抗药倍数分别是40.3， 336.8和49.2倍。结论 mdr1高表达的多药耐药肿瘤细胞对力达霉素仍高度敏感，未表现出抗药性。     

Effects of a new triazinoaminopiperidine derivative on adriamycin accumulation and retention in cells displaying P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance.

A new triazinoaminopiperidine derivative, Servier 9788 (S9788), was investigated for its ability to increase Adriamycin (ADR) accumulation and retention in two rodent (P388/ADR and DC-3F/AD) and three human (KB-A1, K562/R and COLO 320DM) cell lines displaying the P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. Depending on the cell line S9788 was shown to be two to five times more active and five to 15 times more potent than Verapamil (VRP) in increasing ADR accumulation in resistant cells. ADR retention in KB-A1 cells maintained in a concentration of 10 microM S9788 was twice that in VRP-treated cells, and similar to that measured in the untreated sensitive KB-3-1 cells. Although 5 microM S9788 and 50 microM VRP gave the same values of ADR uptake in KB-A1 cells, S9788 was shown to induce a greater ADR retention following cell wash and post-incubation in resistance modifier- and ADR-free medium. Taking into account that S9788 had no effects on ADR accumulation and retention in sensitive KB-3-1 cells, it can be suggested that S9788 inhibits specifically the P-gp dependent ADR efflux, and in a manner less reversible than that observed with VRP. Moreover, [3H]azidopine photolabeling of P-gp, in P388/ADR plasma membranes, was completely inhibited by 100 microM S9788. Although S9788, as VRP, had no effect on the cell cycle of P388 cells, 5 microM S9788 increased 700-fold the efficacy of ADR to block P388/ADR cells in the G2+M phase of the cell cycle. Together, these results show that the sensitization, by S9788, of cell lines resistant to ADR is mainly due to an increase in ADR accumulation and retention, leading to an increase in the number of resistant cells blocked in the G2+M phase.     

Reversal of P-gp mediated multidrug resistance in-vitro and in-vivo by FG020318

Overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) by tumours results in multidrug resistance (MDR) to structurally and functionally unrelated chemotherapeutic drugs. Combined therapy with MDR-related cytotoxins and MDR modulators is a promising strategy to overcome clinical MDR. This study was performed to explore the MDR reversal activity of a novel compound 2-[4-(2-pyridin-2-yl-vinyl) phenyl]-4,5-bis-(4-N,N-diethylaminophenyl)-1(H)-imidazole (FG020318) in-vitro and in-vivo. Tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to evaluate the ability of FG020318 to reverse drug resistance in two P-gp-expressing tumour cell lines, KBv200 and MCF-7/adr. Intracellular doxorubicin accumulation was determined by fluorescence spectrophotometry in MCF-7/adr cell line. The effect of FG020318 on P-gp function was demonstrated by rhodamine 123 (Rh123) accumulation in KBv200 cells. KBv200 cell xenograft models were established to study the in-vivo effect of FG020318 on reversing MDR. FG020318 was not cytotoxic by itself against P-gp expressing KBv200 cells and MCF-7/adr cells and their parental drug-sensitive KB cells and MCF-7 cells. FG020318 could significantly increase the sensitivity of MDR cells to antitumour drugs including doxorubicin and vincristine in MCF-7/adr cells and KBv200 cells, respectively. It was much stronger than the positive control verapamil in reversal of MDR. FG020318 also increased the intracellular accumulation of doxorubicin in a concentration-dependent manner in MCF-7/adr cells, but did not affect the accumulation of doxorubicin in drug-sensitive MCF-7 cells. The Rh123 accumulation in resistant KBv200 cells was also increased by the addition of FG020318, but Rh123 accumulation was not affected by FG020318 in drug-sensitive KB cells. FG020318 potentiated the antitumour activity of vincristine to KBv200 xenografts and was an efficacious modulator in-vivo. Our results suggested that FG020318 was a highly potent, efficacious MDR modulator not only in-vitro but also in-vivo. The reversal of drug resistance by FG020318 was probably related to the increased anticancer drug accumulation and its inhibition of P-gp function of MDR tumour cells.     

2—ASG —3—（3‘,5’—双吗啉甲基—4‘—羟基）—苯甲酰吲哚（HWL—12）逆转肿…

AIM: To explore the reversal of multidrug resistance (MDR) by indole derivative HWL-12. METHODS: Cytotoxicity was determined by tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The function of P-gp was examined by Fura 2-AM assay. Cellular accumulation of doxorubicin (Dox) was measured by fluorescence spectrophotometry. RESULTS: HWL-12 10 mumol.L-1 markedly increased Fura-2 accumulation and was 17.2-fold reversal of MDR in MCF-7/ADR cells. The cellular Dox accumulation in MDR cells was increased in the presence of HWL-12 on the MCF-7/ADR cells. No effect was observed for Dox accumulation in the presence of high Ca2+ (addition of CaCl2) or low Ca2+ (addition of egtazic acid). CONCLUSION: HWL-12 has a potent MDR reversal action which was associated with the increase of cellular Dox accumulation in MDR cells and not related with calcium ion concentration.     

华蟾素对人乳腺癌细胞阿霉素多药耐药性的逆转作用

目的以耐阿霉素人乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7/ADM为对象,验证华蟾素(cinobufacine,Cino)能否逆转其对阿霉素(ADM)的耐药性。方法采用MTT法检测药物细胞毒性作用及耐药细胞逆转倍数,高效液相色谱法检测细胞内ADM的浓度,流式细胞术测定P-糖蛋白(permeability glycoprotein,P-gp)的表达。结果Cino15mg·L-1能增加MCF-7/ADM细胞对ADM的敏感性,使ADM的半数抑制浓度(IC50)由38.14mg·L-1降至12.93mg·L-1;能提高ADM在MCF-7/ADM细胞内的浓度,降低MCF-7/ADM细胞P-gp的表达。结论研究表明Cino能部分逆转MCF-7/ADM细胞的MDR,其机制与抑制P-gp的功能与表达,增加细胞内ADM的含量有关。     

Anthrapyridones, a novel group of antitumour non-cross resistant anthraquinone analogues. Synthesis and molecular basis of the cytotoxic activity towards K562/DOX cells

1. Multidrug resistance (MDR) to antitumour agents, structurally dissimilar and having different intracellular targets, is the major problem in cancer therapy. MDR phenomenon is associated with the presence of membrane proteins which belong to the ATP-binding cassette family transporters responsible for the active drug efflux leading to the decreased intracellular accumulation. 2. The search of new compounds able to overcome MDR is of prime importance. 3. Recently we have synthesized a new family of anthrapyridone compounds. The series contained derivatives modified with appropriate hydrophobic or hydrophylic substituents at the side chain. 4. The interaction of these derivatives with erythroleukemia K562 sensitive and K562/DOX resistant (overexpressing P-glycoprotein) cell lines has been examined. The study was performed using a spectrofluorometric method which allows to continuously follow the uptake and efflux of fluorescent molecules by living cells. 5. It was demonstrated that the increase in the lipophilicity of anthrapyridones favoured the very fast cellular uptake exceeding the rate of P-gp dependent efflux out of the cell. For these derivatives, very high accumulation (the same for sensitive and resistant cells) was observed and the in vitro biological data confirmed that these compounds exhibited comparable cytotoxic activity towards sensitive and P-gp resistant cell line. In contrast, anthrapyridones modified with hydrophylic substituents exhibited relatively low kinetics of cellular uptake. 6. For these derivatives decreased accumulation in resistant cells was observed and the in vitro biological data demonstrated that they were much less active against P-gp resistant cells in comparison to sensitive cells. 7.We also studied, using confocal microscopy, the intracellular distribution of anthrapyridones in NIH-3T3 cells. Our data showed that these compounds were strongly accumulated in the nucleus and lysosomes.