Canalicular Multispecific Organic Anion Transporter Research Articles

Licorice Ameliorates Cisplatin-Induced Hepatotoxicity Through Antiapoptosis, Antioxidative Stress, Anti-Inflammation, and Acceleration of Metabolism.

Cisplatin (CP) is one of the most effective antitumor drugs in the clinic, but has serious adverse reactions, and its hepatotoxicity has not been fully investigated. Licorice (GC), a traditional herbal medicine, has been commonly used as a detoxifier for poisons and drugs, and may be an effective drug for CP-induced hepatotoxicity. However, its mechanism and the effector molecules remain ambiguous. Therefore, in this study, a network pharmacology and proteomics-based approach was established, and a panoramic view of the detoxification of GC on CP-induced hepatotoxicity was provided. The experimental results indicated that GC can recover functional indices and pathological liver injury, inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis, upregulate B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 2 (Bcl-2) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, and downregulate cellular tumor antigen p53 (p53), caspase-3, malondialdehyde high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) levels. Proteomics indicated that GC regulates phosphatidylcholine translocator ABCB1 (ABCB1B), canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter 1 (ABCC2), cytochrome P450 4A2 (CYP4A2), cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2), estrogen receptor (ESR1), and DNA topoisomerase 2-alpha (TOP2A), inhibits oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory responses, and accelerates drug metabolism. In this study, we provide the investigation of the efficacy of GC against CP-induced hepatotoxicity, and offer a promising alternative for the clinic.

Lung Resistance-Related Protein (LRP) Expression in Malignant Ascitic Cells as a Prognostic Marker for Advanced Ovarian Serous Carcinoma

Ovarian serous carcinoma is an aggressive cancer that often presents with metastatic disease. Although primary tumor and established metastatic foci in the omentum are generally compared to identify proteins involved in drug resistance, we investigated a potential bridge, the malignant cells from ascites, as facilitator of drug resistance and recurrence. We evaluated the expression of drug resistance markers P-glycoprotein (P-gp), canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (MRP2), and lung resistance-related protein (LRP) in malignant cells from ascites and matched omental metastasis from 25 patients with advanced-stage ovarian serous carcinoma who were chemotherapeutic naïve and undergoing initial cytoreductive surgery. Cell viability in vitro, patient response to chemotherapy, and patient survival were correlated with these biomarkers. Of the 25 patients evaluated for a correlation of LRP to 1-year recurrence, we correctly predicted the 1-year recurrence of 24 patients based solely on the presence of LRP in ascitic tumor cells (p=0.01). P-gp and MRP2 were not expressed in malignant cells of ascites or omental metastases. Malignant cells from ascites had higher expression of LRP and were found to be more resistant to carboplatin treatment than cells from omental metastasis (p=0.00375) by in vitro assay. LRP expression in the malignant cells of ascites correlated with carboplatin resistance (p=0.001) by in vitro assay and recurrence at 1 year (p=0.0125). LRP expression in malignant cells of ascites is a promising marker to predict response to first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced ovarian serous carcinoma.

Dubin-Johnson syndrome coinciding with colon cancer and atherosclerosis

Hyperbilirubinemia has been presumed to prevent the process of atherogenesis and cancerogenesis mainly by decreasing oxidative stress. Dubin-Johnson syndrome is a rare, autosomal recessive, inherited disorder characterized by biphasic, predominantly conjugated hyperbilirubinemia with no progression to end-stage liver disease. The molecular basis in Dubin-Johnson syndrome is absence or deficiency of human canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter MRP2/cMOAT caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutation(s) in ABCC2 located on chromosome 10q24. Clinical onset of the syndrome is most often seen in the late teens or early adulthood. In this report, we describe a case of previously unrecognized Dubin-Johnson syndrome caused by two novel pathogenic mutations (c.2360_2366delCCCTGTC and c.3258+1G>A), coinciding with cholestatic liver disease in an 82-year-old male patient. The patient, suffering from advanced atherosclerosis with serious involvement of coronary arteries, developed colorectal cancer with nodal metastases. The subsequent findings do not support the protective role of Dubin-Johnson type hyperbilirubinemia.

Immunotherapy in Elderly Transplant Recipients

Currently, >50% of candidates for solid organ transplantation in Europe and the US are aged >50 years while approximately 15% of potential recipients are aged >or=65 years. Elderly transplant candidates are characterized by specific co-morbidity profiles that compromise graft and patient outcome after transplantation. The presence of coronary artery or peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, history of malignancy, chronic obstructive lung disease or diabetes mellitus further increases the early post-transplant mortality risk in elderly recipients, with infections and cardiovascular complications as the leading causes of death. Not only are elderly patients more prone to developing drug-related adverse effects, but they are also more susceptible to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug interactions because of polypharmacy. The majority of currently used immunosuppressant drugs in organ transplantation are metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) or uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases and are substrates of the multidrug resistance (MDR)-1 transporter P-glycoprotein, the MDR-associated protein 2 or the canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter, which predisposes these immunosuppressant compounds to specific interactions with commonly prescribed drugs. In addition, important drug interactions between immunosuppressant drugs have been identified and require attention when choosing an appropriate immunosuppressant drug regimen for the frail elderly organ recipient. An age-related 34% decrease in total body clearance of the calcineurin inhibitor ciclosporin was observed in elderly renal recipients (aged >65 years) compared with younger patients, while older recipients also had 44% higher intracellular lymphocyte ciclosporin concentrations. Similarly, using a Bayesian approach, an inverse relationship was noted between sirolimus clearance and age in stable kidney recipients. Ciclosporin and tacrolimus have distinct pharmacokinetics, but both are metabolized by intestinal and hepatic CYP3A4/3A5 and transported across the cell membrane by P-glycoprotein. The most common drug interactions with ciclosporin are therefore also observed with tacrolimus, but the two drugs do not interact identically when administered with CYP3A inhibitors or inducers. The strongest effects on calcineurin-inhibitor disposition are observed with azole antifungals, macrolide antibacterials, rifampicin, calcium channel antagonists, grapefruit juice, St John's wort and protease inhibitors. Drug interactions with mycophenolic acids occur mainly through inhibition of their enterohepatic recirculation, either by interference with the intestinal flora (antibacterials) or by limiting drug absorption (resins and binders). Rifampicin causes a reduction in mycophenolic acid exposure probably through induction of uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases. Proliferation signal inhibitors (PSIs) such as sirolimus and everolimus are substrates of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein and have a macrolide structure very similar to tacrolimus, which explains why common drug interactions with PSIs are comparable to those with calcineurin inhibitors. Ciclosporin, in contrast to tacrolimus, inhibits the enterohepatic recirculation of mycophenolic acids, resulting in significantly lower concentrations and hence risk of underexposure. Therefore, when switching from tacrolimus to ciclosporin and vice versa or when reducing or withdrawing ciclosporin, this interaction needs to be taken into account. The combination of ciclosporin with PSIs requires dose reductions of both drugs because of a synergistic interaction that causes nephrotoxicity when left uncorrected. Conversely, when switching between calcineurin inhibitors, intensified monitoring of PSI concentrations is mandatory. Increasing age is associated with structural and functional changes in body compartments and tissues that alter absorptive capacity, volume of distribution, hepatic metabolic function and renal function and ultimately drug disposition. While these age-related changes are well-known, few specific effects of the latter on immunosuppressant drug metabolism have been reported. Therefore, more clinical data from elderly organ recipients are urgently required.

High-dose methotrexate in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Impact of ABCC2 polymorphisms on plasma concentrations

The adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette (ABC) class transporter ABCC2 (MRP2 [multidrug resistance related protein 2] or cMOAT [canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter]) is involved in the cellular outward transport and elimination of methotrexate. We hypothesized that common genetic variations may contribute to the variability of high-dose methotrexate pharmacokinetics. Polymorphisms in all 32 exons of the ABCC2 gene were analyzed in a reference group of 59 healthy white subjects by polymerase chain reaction, single-strand conformation polymorphism, and sequencing. Subsequently, we assessed the association of polymorphisms with the methotrexate plasma concentrations in 44 pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (29 male and 15 female patients; mean age, 6.8+/-4.8 years). Patients received 4 cycles of 5000 mg/m2 body surface area according to the ALL-Berlin-Frankfurt-Muenster (BFM) 95 or ALL-BFM 2000 protocol. In the reference group we detected 8 frequent single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Five of these were in complete linkage disequilibrium. Overall, 5 new polymorphisms are described. The genotype distribution of the patient cohort was not significantly different from the reference collective. The mean plasma methotrexate area under the curve from 36 to 48 hours after the start of the infusion was significantly 2-fold higher in female patients carrying at least 1 -24T allele as compared with all other patients (14.2+/-12.8 h.micromol/L versus 6.9+/-4.2 h.micromol/L, P<.001). The risk to have 2 or more cycles necessitating an intensification of folinate rescue was 9-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.8- to 44-fold) in female patients carrying at least 1 T allele (P=.0067). The data suggest a hitherto unknown gender-specific impact of the -24C>T ABCC2 gene polymorphism on high-dose methotrexate pharmacokinetics. Whereas a nonfunctional MRP2 variant has been described in a patient with severe impairment of methotrexate excretion, our study is the first to suggest that a frequent ABCC2 polymorphism contributes to variability of methotrexate kinetics.

Retention of structural and functional polarity in cultured skate hepatocytes undergoing in vitro morphogenesis

The present study characterized a primary culture model of hepatocytes isolated from the little skate, Leucoraja erinacea, that maintain remarkable structural and functional polarity over 7 days in culture. Skate hepatocytes were isolated as clusters of 3–20 hepatocytes surrounding a bile canaliculus, rather than as single cells. Trypan blue and propidium iodide exclusion was found to be > 98%, and the cells maintained high intracellular concentrations of K +, ATP, and reduced glutathione (GSH), and high ratios of ATP/ADP and GSH/GSSG. Glutathione S-transferase activity remained constant, whereas cytochrome P450 activity declined to 16% of initial levels after 7 days. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the mRNA levels of several genes remained constant over the 7-day period, whereas Bsep, the canalicular bile salt export pump, levels declined slowly to 30% of initial values. In the presence of dexamethasone, the cells underwent a morphogenesis in which the clusters reannealed into a three-dimensional network of chords. During this morphogenesis, skate hepatocytes clusters maintained a polarized distribution of actin filaments and microtubules, as well as apical and basolateral membrane domains. Polarity of membrane transport systems was confirmed both morphologically, using antibodies raised against Bsep and Mrp2, the canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter, and functionally, by monitoring secretion of the fluorescent organic anions NBD-taurocholate, a Bsep substrate, and fluorescein-methotrexate, an Mrp2 substrate, into the bile canalicular spaces. Overall, the results indicate that in contrast with mammalian hepatocytes, isolated skate hepatocyte clusters retain polarity in culture, and provide an excellent system for investigating long-term effects of drugs and xenobiotics on hepatobiliary functions, and for studying in vitro morphogenesis.

Different accumulation of temocapril and enalapril during repeated dosing in elderly patients

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, temocapril and enalapril, are prodrugs that are converted to the active metabolites, temocaprilat and enalaprilat, respectively. Temocaprilat is eliminated by renal and biliary routes, while enalaprilat is mainly excreted in urine [1, 2]. This difference explains a 2-fold increase in plasma temocaprilat and a 13-fold increase in plasma enalaprilat in patients with renal insufficiency [3]. Because renal function is physiologically decreased with age, it is hypothesized that, compared with temocaprilat, accumulation of enalaprilat during repeated dosing is greater and blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect is enhanced in elderly hypertensive patients. In this study, temocapril or enalapril was given once daily for 14 days to elderly hypertensive patients. Pharmacokinetic profiles and BP-lowering effects after single and repeated dosings of these drugs were determined.

A Potential Dubin-Johnson Syndrome Imaging Agent: Synthesis, Biodistribution, and MicroPET Imaging

Dubin-Johnson syndrome (DJS) is caused by a deficiency of the human canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT). A new lipophilic copper-64 complex of 1,4,7-tris(carboxymethyl)-10-(tetradecyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazadodecane (5) was prepared and evaluated for potential as a diagnostic tool for DJS. The prepared ligand was labeled with (64)Cu citrate in high radiochemical purity. In vivo uptake and clearance of the complex was determined through biodistribution studies using normal Sprague-Dawley rats and mutant cMOAT-deficient (TR(-)) rats. In normal rats, the radioactive copper complex was cleared quickly from the body exclusively through the hepatic pathway. The (64)Cu complex was taken up rapidly by the liver and quickly excreted into the small intestine and then the upper large intestine, whereas <1% ID/organ was found in the kidney at all time points post injection. Whereas activity was accumulated continuously in the liver of TR(-) rats, it was not excreted into the small intestine. MicroPET studies of normal and TR(-) rats were consistent with biodistribution data and showed dramatically different images. This study strongly suggests that cMOAT is involved in excretion of (64)Cu-5. The significant difference between the biodistribution data and microPET images of the normal and TR(-) rats demonstrates that this new (64)Cu complex may allow noninvasive diagnosis of DJS in humans.

A common ABCC2 promoter polymorphism is not a determinant of the risk of spina bifida.

There is compelling evidence that the risk of spina bifida, a malformation of the caudal neural tube, is associated with maternal and/or embryonic disturbances in folate/homocysteine metabolism. Hence, functional variants of genes that influence folate/homocysteine metabolism constitute a biologically plausible group of candidate risk factors for spina bifida and other neural tube defects. One such candidate is ABCC2, the gene encoding ABCC2, (a.k.a. canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter [cMOAT], multidrug resistance related protein 2 [MRP2]), a member of the ABC transporter family that effluxes natural folates and anti-folate drugs such as methotrexate. The association between the risk of spina bifida and both the maternal and embryonic ABCC2 C(-24)T genotype was evaluated by using the transmission disequilibrium test and log-linear modeling. These analyses provided no evidence that the risk of spina bifida was significantly related to either the maternal or embryonic ABCC2 C(-24)T genotype. The results of the present analyses suggest that the C(-24)T variant of the ABCC2 gene is not a major determinant of spina bifida risk.

Cyclosporin A, but Not Tacrolimus, Inhibits the Biliary Excretion of Mycophenolic Acid Glucuronide Possibly Mediated by Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2 in Rats

The onset of diarrhea after the administration of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is possibly associated with the biliary excretion of its metabolite, mycophenolic acid glucuronide (MPAG). This study was undertaken to clarify the mechanism underlying the biliary excretion of MPAG. Intravenously administered mycophenolic acid (MPA, 5 mg/kg) rapidly disappeared from plasma and was efficiently excreted as MPAG in the bile of Wistar (26% of dose) and Sprague-Dawley rats (21% of dose) over 1 h. On the other hand, in spite of the rapid disappearance of MPA from plasma, the biliary excretion of MPAG was very limited in Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rats (EHBRs), which display mutations in multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2)/canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter, and constituted only 0.5% of dose. Instead, high levels of MPA were noted in the plasma of EHBRs. Intravenous administration of CsA (5 mg/kg) to Wistar rats significantly lowered the biliary excretion of MPAG. However, intravenously administered tacrolimus (0.1 mg/kg) failed to produce such effect. In conclusion, it is suggested that there is an efficient MPAG transport mediated by Mrp2 on the bile canalicular membrane of rat hepatocytes and that the therapeutic range of CsA potentially interferes with Mrp2. However, the therapeutic range of tacrolimus does not inhibit the transporter. Thus, it should be noted that MMF coadministered with tacrolimus instead of CsA might increase the occurrence of diarrhea related to the biliary excretion of MPAG in transplant recipients.

Neuroprotection against focal ischemia in the hyperbilirubinemic rat model

Recent studies suggest that oxidative stress participate in the neurodegeneration associated with aging and related disorders. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO1) catalyzes the oxidation of the heme molecule in concert with NADPH–cytochrome P450 reductase following the specific cleavage of heme into carbon monoxide, iron, and biliverdin, which is rapidly metabolized to bilirubin. HO1 is a stress-inducible protein that protects cells against oxidative injury, but its protective mechanism is not fully understood. The Eizai hyperbilirubinemic rat (EHBR), a mutant strain derived from the Sprague–Dawley rat (SDR), has a mutation in the gene for the canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT), which results in a phenotype of hyperbilirubinemia, and thus is a model of Dubin–Johnson syndrome in humans. In the present study, we compared EHBR and SDR with regard to neuronal death induced by 2-h occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and reperfusion. In EHBR, the area that was immunoreactive for microtubule-associated protein-2 was significantly reduced and the HO1-immunoreactive area was smaller than that in SDR. These results suggest that bilirubin has essentially a neuroprotective effect against focal ischemia and may participate in HO1-induced neuroprotection.

Hyperbilirubinemia protects against focal ischemia in rats

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO1) catalyzes oxidation of the heme molecule in concert with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase following the specific cleavage of heme into carbon monoxide, iron, and biliverdin, which is rapidly metabolized to bilirubin. HO1 is a stress-inducible protein that protects cells against oxidative injury, but its protective mechanism is not fully understood. The Eizai hyperbilirubinemic rat (EHBR), a mutant strain derived from the Sprague-Dawley rat (SDR), has a mutation in the gene for the canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter, which results in a phenotype of hyperbilirubinemia, and thus is a model of Dubin-Johnson syndrome in humans. In this study, we compared EHBR and SDR with regard to neuronal death induced by 2 hr of occlusion of the middle cerebral artery and reperfusion. In EHBR, the area that was immunoreactive for microtubule-associated protein-2 was significantly reduced, and the HO1-immunoreactive area was smaller than that in SDR. These results suggest that bilirubin has essentially a neuroprotective effect against focal ischemia and may participate in HO1-induced neuroprotection.

Direct evidence that saquinavir is transported by multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) and canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (MRP2).

To determine if saquinavir mesylate (saquinavir) is a substrate of human multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (hMRP1 [ABCC1]) or hMRP2 (cMOAT, or ABCC2), MDCKII cells that overexpress either hMRP1 (MDCKII-MRP1) or hMRP2 (MDCKII-MRP2) were used to investigate saquinavir's cytotoxicity and transport in comparison with those of control MDCKII wild-type (MDCKII/wt) cells. Cytotoxicity was assessed with the mitochondrial marker MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium], and saquinavir transport was measured directly through the cell monolayers. GF120918 (an inhibitor of P glycoprotein, but not of the MRP family) and MK-571 (an MRP family inhibitor) were used to delineate the specific contributions of these transporters to saquinavir cytotoxicity and transport. In the presence of GF120918 and increasing saquinavir concentrations, the MDCKII-MRP1 (50% lethal dose [LD(50)] = 10.5 micro M) and MDCKII-MRP2 (LD(50) = 27.1 micro M) cell lines exhibited statistically greater viability than the MDCKII/wt cells (LD(50) = 7.8 micro M). Saquinavir efflux was directional, not saturable, and was inhibited by MK-571 (35 and 75 micro M) in all cell lines. The ratios of saquinavir (3 micro M) basolateral to apical permeability (i.e., efflux ratios) for the MDCKII/wt, MDCKII-MRP1, and MDCKII-MRP2 cell monolayers were 2.6, 1.8, and 6.8, respectively. The MDCKII-MRP1 cells have a significantly reduced saquinavir efflux ratio relative to MDCKII/wt cells, due to basolaterally directed transport by hMRP1 competing with endogenous, apically directed canine MRP2. The MDCKII-MRP2 cells have a significantly increased saquinavir efflux ratio relative to MDCKII/wt cells, due to the additive effects of the apically directed transport by hMRP2 and endogenous MRP2. Collectively, the cytotoxicity and transport results provide direct evidence that saquinavir is transported by MRP1 and MRP2.

Organ-specific alterations in RARα:RXRα abundance regulate rat Mrp2 (Abcc2) expression in obstructive cholestasis

Background & Aims: Obstructive cholestasis is associated with adaptive changes in expression of hepatocyte transport proteins. These include a significant reduction in hepatic expression of Mrp2 (Abcc2), the principal canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter. Renal Mrp2 expression is preserved under these conditions. We have recently reported that the rat Mrp2 promoter is activated by RARα:RXRα, and that interleukin 1β (IL-1β) repressed promoter activity via this element. We hypothesized that cytokines, which are up-regulated in obstructive cholestasis, would reduce nuclear RARα:RXRα levels, and that this would be associated with suppression of hepatic Mrp2 expression. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL) or sham surgery, and liver and kidney RNA and protein were isolated. Primary rat hepatocytes were treated with bile acids, retinoids, or cytokines, and RNA and protein were isolated. Mrp2 and RARα:RXRα protein abundance and activity were assessed by using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and immunoblots. IL-1β abundance was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RARα, RXRα, and Mrp2 RNA levels were determined by using ribonuclease protection assays (RPA). Results: Mrp2 down-regulation and IL-1β up-regulation were observed in liver after BDL. This was temporally associated with down-regulation of liver RARα:RXRα nuclear protein levels and binding to the Mrp2 promoter cis element. Renal RARα:RXRα and Mrp2 expression were preserved under these conditions. IL-1β treatment of primary hepatocytes reduced Mrp2 and RXRα expression. Conclusions: Organ-specific regulation of Mrp2 expression in obstructive cholestasis is associated with cytokine-dependent alterations in RARα:RXRα nuclear receptors. Preservation of renal Mrp2 expression may permit urinary excretion of toxic organic anions and xenobiotics under conditions in which biliary excretion is impaired.GASTROENTEROLOGY 2002;123:599-607

Intestinal transport of irinotecan in Caco-2 cells and MDCK II cells overexpressing efflux transporters Pgp, cMOAT, and MRP1.

Irinotecan (CPT-11) is a water-soluble camptothecin (CPT) derivative that has been recently approved in the United States for patients as a first-line therapy in advanced colorectal cancer. Phase I clinical trials using oral CPT-11 have shown poor and variable oral bioavailability. The present study was designed to investigate the intestinal absorption and efflux mechanisms of CPT-11 using in vitro cell culture models, Caco-2 cells, and engineered Madine-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) II cells overexpressing P-glycoprotein (Pgp), canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT), and multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1). The intestinal absorptive and secretory transport of CPT-11 was investigated using Caco-2 cell monolayers. Secretory transport was concentration-dependent and saturable. The secretory efflux permeability (P(eff)) of CPT-11 decreased with decreasing temperature, with an estimated activation energy of 19.6 +/- 2.9 kcal/mol suggesting the involvement of active transporters. The involvement of potential secretory transporters was further characterized in MDCK II cells. The secretory efflux carrier permeability (P(c)) was approximately 4- and approximately 2-fold greater in MDCK II/Pgp and MDCK II/cMOAT cells than that in MDCK II/wild-type cells. Furthermore, the secretory efflux P(eff) of CPT-11 was significantly decreased by Pgp inhibitors, elacridar (GF120918) (IC50 = 0.38 +/- 0.06 microM) and verapamil (IC(50) = 234 +/- 48 microM) in MDCK II/Pgp cells and by cMOAT inhibitor 3-([(3-(2-[7-chloro-2-quinolinyl]ethyl)phenyl]-[(3-dimethylamino-3-oxoprphyl)-thio)-methyl]-thio) propanoic acid (MK571) (IC50) = 469 +/- 60 micro;M) in MDCK II/cMOAT cells. Overall, the current study suggests that Pgp and cMOAT are capable of mediating the efflux of CPT-11 in vitro. Since both Pgp and cMOAT are expressed in the intestine, liver, and kidney, it is likely that these efflux transporters play a significant role limiting the oral absorption and disposition of this important anticancer drug.

Role of glutathione conjugate efflux in cellular protection against benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide–induced DNA damage

Glutathione (GSH) conjugation of (+)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide [(+)-anti-BPDE], the activated metabolite of benzo[a]pyrene, is believed to be an important mechanism in detoxification of this environmental and dietary carcinogen. Here, we demonstrate that the intracellular accumulation of GSH conjugate of (+)-anti-BPDE (BPD-SG) caused a statistically significant increase in (+)-anti-BPDE–induced DNA adduction. The relationship between intracellular accumulation of BPD-SG and (+)-anti-BPDE–induced DNA adduction was studied using a canine kidney epithelial cell line (MDCKII) and its variants overexpressing multidrug resistance transporter (MDR1) or canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT; also known as multidrug resistance protein 2). MDR1 and cMOAT are implicated in ATP-dependent efflux of anticancer drugs or GSH-xenobiotic conjugates, or both. The GST activity toward (+)-anti-BPDE in parental MDCKII cells did not differ from that in subline overexpressing MDR1 (MDCKII-MDR1) or cMOAT (MDCKII-cMOAT). Intracellular accumulation of BPD-SG, after a 5- or 10-min incubation with 1 μM (+)-anti-BPDE, was significantly higher in parental (41- to 67-fold) and MDCK II-MDR1 cells (31- to 43-fold) than in the MDCKII-cMOAT cells. Interestingly, the levels of DNA adducts of (+)-anti-BPDE, after a 30-min incubation with 0.1 or 0.5 μM [3H](+)-anti-BPDE, were significantly higher (about 2.1- and 1.7-fold, respectively) in parental cells than in the MDCKII-cMOAT cells. The results of the present study indicate that in addition to GSH conjugation, the efflux of BPD-SG may be essential for cellular protection against (+)-anti-BPDE–induced DNA damage. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Role of glutathione conjugate efflux in cellular protection against benzo[a]pyrene‐7,8‐diol‐9,10‐epoxide–induced DNA damage

Glutathione (GSH) conjugation of (+)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide [(+)-anti-BPDE], the activated metabolite of benzo[a]pyrene, is believed to be an important mechanism in detoxification of this environmental and dietary carcinogen. Here, we demonstrate that the intracellular accumulation of GSH conjugate of (+)-anti-BPDE (BPD-SG) caused a statistically significant increase in (+)-anti-BPDE-induced DNA adduction. The relationship between intracellular accumulation of BPD-SG and (+)-anti-BPDE-induced DNA adduction was studied using a canine kidney epithelial cell line (MDCKII) and its variants overexpressing multidrug resistance transporter (MDR1) or canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT; also known as multidrug resistance protein 2). MDR1 and cMOAT are implicated in ATP-dependent efflux of anticancer drugs or GSH-xenobiotic conjugates, or both. The GST activity toward (+)-anti-BPDE in parental MDCKII cells did not differ from that in subline overexpressing MDR1 (MDCKII-MDR1) or cMOAT (MDCKII-cMOAT). Intracellular accumulation of BPD-SG, after a 5- or 10-min incubation with 1 microM (+)-anti-BPDE, was significantly higher in parental (41- to 67-fold) and MDCK II-MDR1 cells (31- to 43-fold) than in the MDCKII-cMOAT cells. Interestingly, the levels of DNA adducts of (+)-anti-BPDE, after a 30-min incubation with 0.1 or 0.5 microM [(3)H](+)-anti-BPDE, were significantly higher (about 2.1- and 1.7-fold, respectively) in parental cells than in the MDCKII-cMOAT cells. The results of the present study indicate that in addition to GSH conjugation, the efflux of BPD-SG may be essential for cellular protection against (+)-anti-BPDE-induced DNA damage.

Metabolism and disposition of the novel antileukaemic drug, benzamide riboside, in the isolated perfused rat liver

Benzamide riboside (BR) is a novel anticancer agent exhibiting pronounced activity against several human tumor cells, however, little is known about its biotransformation. To analyze for BR and its metabolites, livers of Wistar and mutant TR − rats were perfused with BR in a single pass system. In bile, native BR and its deamination product, benzene carboxylic acid riboside (BR-COOH) was quantified by HPLC. Total excretion of BR and BR-COOH into bile of Wistar rats was low (< 0.2 %) whereas cumulative efflux of BR and its metabolite BR-COOH was high, representing 79 % and 1.6 % of infused BR, respectively. Biliary excretion of BR and BR-COOH in TR − rats, deficient in canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter, a membrane protein identical to MRP2 in tumor cells, was only slightly lower than in Wistar rats, indicating that BR and BR-COOH are non-substrates of MRP2. Experiments using rat hepatocytes incubated with BR did show a linear uptake of BR and a subsequent metabolism to BR-COOH that was largely excreted into the cellular supernatant. Examination of the cytotoxic activity against the human HL60 and K562 leukemia cells in a clonogenic assay demonstrated an IC 50 of 619 μM and 1013 μM for BR-COOH compared to the IC 50 of 0.21 μM and 0.46 μM for BR, suggesting the inertness of the metabolite. In summary, we found that deamination of BR to BR-COOH is the main metabolic pathway in rat liver. BR-COOH formation should also be considered in human liver during cancer therapy.

Expression of drug resistance genes in VP-16 and mAMSA-selected human carcinoma cells.

The cell lines described in the present study were isolated as part of an effort to understand resistance to topoisomerase (topo) II inhibitors. To that end, 50 sublines were isolated from four human breast cancer cell lines, i.e., MCF‐7, T47D, MDA‐MB‐231, and ZR‐75B. As an initial step, a concentration that would be lethal to the majority of cells (IC99) was selected for both VP‐16 and mAMSA, for each cell line. The identification of an increasing number of putative drug resistance‐related proteins provided the opportunity to examine expression of the corresponding genes in the selected cell lines. Northern blot analysis revealed different responses to the selecting agents in the different cell lines. Previous studies examining expression of multidrug resistance (MDR)‐l in resistant cell lines had found undetectable levels in all cells. In the ZR‐75B sublines, increased expression of MDR‐associated protein (MRP) and canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT) was observed, and when the relative levels of overexpression were compared, a high correlation was found. In contrast, increased expression of MRP was observed in some of the MDA‐MB‐231 sublines, without a concomitant increase in cMOAT expression. Finally, in both T47D and MCF‐7 sublines, increased expression of cMOAT or MRP was observed infrequently, and where it occurred, was of a much smaller magnitude. In the analysis of expression of MRP, the highest levels were found in the ZR‐75B and MDA‐MB‐231 sublines, with lower levels in the MCF‐7 and T47D clones. Similarly, differences in the expression of topo IIα were observed among the sublines. Although the differences in expression appear to depend on the parental cell line from which the resistant sublines were derived, a strong correlation was observed between the expression of MRP and the levels of topo IIα. Cell lines with low levels of MRP had lower levels of topo IIα, while those with high levels of MRP maintained higher levels of topo IIα. While a reduced topo IIα level was common, there did not appear to be a compensating increase in the expression of topo IIβ or topo I or casein kinase (CK) IIα in any of the cell lines. While the possibility that such compensation could occur has been discussed and even reported in some cell lines, such an adaptation was not observed in the present study, suggesting that it is not common.

Identification of the Apical Membrane-targeting Signal of the Multidrug Resistance-associated Protein 2 (MRP2/cMOAT)

The human canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT), known as the multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2), is normally expressed in the liver and to a lesser extent in the kidney proximal tubules. In these tissues MRP2 specifically localizes to the apical membrane. The construction of MRP2 fused to the green fluorescent protein, and subsequent site-directed mutagenesis enabled the identification of a targeting signal in MRP2 that is responsible for its apical localization in polarized cells. The specific apical localization of MRP2 is due to a C-terminal tail that is not present in the basolaterally targeted MRP1. Deletion of three amino acids from the C-terminal of MRP2 (DeltaMRP2) causes the protein to be localized predominantly in the basolateral membrane in polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Interestingly, MRP2 expressed in a mouse leukemia cell line (L1210 cells) predominantly accumulates intracellularly with minimal cell membrane localization. In contrast, DeltaMRP2 was shown to predominantly localize in the cell membrane in L1210 cells. Increased transport of 2,4-dinitrophenyl glutathione from L1210 cells expressing DeltaMRP2 showed that the re-targeted protein retains its normal function.