Secretion of platelet-activating factor is mediated by MDR1 P-glycoprotein in cultured human mesangial cells

S Ernest1, E Bello-Reuss

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-0562, USA.

Insights

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is an endogenous substrate of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) in human kidney mesangial cells. Inhibiting Pgp may reduce glomerular damage linked to elevated PAF secretion in certain diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • P-glycoprotein (Pgp), encoded by the MDR1 gene, confers multidrug resistance and is present in normal human kidney tissues.
  • Pgp is expressed in human mesangial cells and actively transports various substances, but its role with endogenous molecules like PAF was unclear.
  • Human mesangial cells express Pgp but not multidrug resistance-related protein (MRP).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if platelet-activating factor (PAF) is an endogenous substrate of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) in cultured human mesangial cells.
  • To assess the potential therapeutic implications of inhibiting Pgp in conditions involving elevated PAF secretion.

Main Methods:

  • Assessing the effect of PAF analogs on Pgp-mediated rhodamine 123 efflux in multidrug-resistant cells and human mesangial cells.
  • Measuring the inhibition of endogenously produced PAF secretion in stimulated mesangial cells using Pgp blockers.
  • Evaluating the impact of MDR1 antisense oligonucleotides on PAF secretion and testing PAF analog effects on MRP substrates.

Main Results:

  • PAF analogs significantly inhibited Pgp-mediated efflux of rhodamine 123 in both KBV-1 cells and human mesangial cells.
  • Pgp blockers (verapamil, cyclosporin A, etc.) and MDR1 antisense oligonucleotides markedly reduced PAF secretion in mesangial cells.
  • PAF analogs did not affect MRP substrate transport, confirming Pgp specificity.

Conclusions:

  • Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is identified as an endogenous substrate of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) in human mesangial cells.
  • The findings suggest that inhibiting Pgp activity could be a therapeutic strategy to mitigate glomerular damage in pathological conditions characterized by increased PAF secretion.