Abstract

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) affects the transport of many drugs; including puerarin and vincristine. Our previous study demonstrated that imperatorin increased the intestinal absorption of puerarin and vincristine by inhibiting P-gp-mediated drug efflux. However; the underlying mechanism was not known. The present study investigated the mechanism by which imperatorin promotes P-gp-mediated drug transport. We used molecular docking to predict the binding force between imperatorin and P-gp and the effect of imperatorin on P-gp activity. P-gp efflux activity and P-gp ATPase activity were measured using a rhodamine 123 (Rh-123) accumulation assay and a Pgp-Glo™ assay; respectively. The fluorescent probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) was used to assess cellular membrane fluidity in MDCK-MDR1 cells. Western blotting was used to analyze the effect of imperatorin on P-gp expression; and P-gp mRNA levels were assessed by qRT-PCR. Molecular docking results demonstrated that the binding force between imperatorin and P-gp was much weaker than the force between P-gp and verapamil (a P-gp substrate). Imperatorin activated P-gp ATPase activity; which had a role in the inhibition of P-gp activity. Imperatorin promoted Rh-123 accumulation in MDCK-MDR1 cells and decreased cellular membrane fluidity. Western blotting demonstrated that imperatorin inhibited P-gp expression; and qRT-PCR revealed that imperatorin down-regulated P-gp (MDR1) gene expression. Imperatorin decreased P-gp-mediated drug efflux by inhibiting P-gp activity and the expression of P-gp mRNA and protein. Our results suggest that imperatorin could down-regulate P-gp expression to overcome multidrug resistance in tumors.

Highlights

  • Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major cause of chemotherapy failure, and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) up-regulation is a classical MDR mechanism in cancer

  • An obvious protein band of 170 kDa was observed in MDCK-MDR1 cell extracts, but no band was present at the corresponding position in MDCK extracts (Figure 1)

  • Expression levels can affect drug physical state of cell membranes affects the function of membranes, including cellabsorption

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Summary

Introduction

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major cause of chemotherapy failure, and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) up-regulation is a classical MDR mechanism in cancer. Molecules 2016, 21, 1606 administered drugs and active components, including drugs with strong pharmacological activity, e.g., doxorubicin, taxanes, vincristine, and peoniflorin, have poor bioavailability as a result of P-gp efflux, which makes oral preparation development difficult [9,10,11]. The study of these substances and tactics for overcoming or regulating P-gp efflux is important for increasing oral bioactivity and aiding in novel drug development [12,13]. This study investigated the mechanism by which imperatorin inhibits P-gp-mediated drug efflux. This study used MDCK-MDR1 cells to investigate the mechanism by which imperatorin inhibits. The research could provide a feasible method for the research and development of potential P-gp inhibitors and could offer a foundation for imperatorin to be used as a P-gp mediated MDR reversal agent in the future

Western Blotting to Detect P-gp Expression in MDCK and MDCK-MDR1 Cells
Effect of Imperatorin
Effect of Imperatorin on Membrane Fluidity
Inhibition of Rh-123 Efflux by Imperatorin
Discussion
Chemicals and Drugs
MDCK Cell Culture
Molecular Docking
P-gp ATPase Activity Assay
Membrane Fluidity
Rhodamine 123 Accumulation
Statistics

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