Expression and reversion of drug resistance-and apoptosis-related genes of a DDP-resistant lung adenocarcinoma cell line

Objective: To investigate the co-expression of drug resistance- and apoptosis-related genes of cisplatin (CDDP)-selected lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549DDP for compared to the parental cell line A549, and reverse of drug resistance by antisense s-oligodeoxynucleotides (S-ODNs) of differentially expressed genes. Methods: Sense and antisense S-ODN were transferred into A549DDP cells by lipofectin. The expression of drug resistance and apoptosis related genes was examined by RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry, respectively. Apoptostic cells were identified by DNA electrophoresis and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated biotin dUTP nick end-labeling(TUNEL). Drug resistance of tumor cells was detected by a cell viability (MTT) assay. Results: The expression of bc1-2 was positive and that of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) at mRNA and protein level was increased in A549DDP compared to A549 cells. MDR1, c-myc and topoisomeras II (TOPO II) were similarly co-expressed in two cell lines. Both cell lines were negative for c-erbB-2 expression. In A549DDP cells, the expression of bc1-2 and MRP was significantly inhibited by their respective antisense S-ODNs. Antisense S-ODNs could also decrease significantly drug resistance of A549DDP cells to CDDP by promoting cell apoptosis. Conclusion: Both intrinsic and acquired drug resistance were involved in co-expression of multiple MDR-related genes in lung adenocarcinoma. Co- operation of bc1-2 and MRP genes appeared to play an important action to confer the resistance of A549DDP cells to CDDP. Their antisense S-ODNs are responsible for the decrease of drug resistance of this cell line by promoting apoptosis.