[Mechanisms for resistance to anticancer agents and the reversal of the resistance]
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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Cancer Drug Sensitization In Vitro and In Vivo
Published on: February 6, 2015
S Akiyama1, Z S Chen, M Kitazono
1Institute for Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University.
Abstract:
MDR results from overexpression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and multidrug resistance protein (MRP or MRP1) that function as ATP-dependent efflux pumps. Lung resistance related protein (LRP) is also supposed to be involved in MDR. The human canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT) gene that is responsible for the defects in Dubin-Johnson syndrome was isolated. cMOAT is homologous to MRP1 and supposed to be involved in drug resistance. Human cMOAT cDNA transfected LLC-PK1 cells, LLC/cMOAT-1, have increased resistance to vincristine (VCR), 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38), and cisplatin. The multidrug resistance (MDR)-reversing agents, cyclosporin A (CsA) and PAK-104P, almost completely reversed the resistance to VCR, SN-38 and cisplatin of LLC/cMOAT-1 cells by interacting with the substrate binding site of cMOAT. Treatment of human colorectal carcinoma SW-620 cells with sodium butyrate(NaB) induced LRP in the cells and conferred resistance to Adrianycin(ADM), VCR, VP-16, gramicidin D and taxol. Two LRP-specific ribozymes inhibited the NaB-induced expression of LRP in SW-620 cells and almost completely abolished their acquisition of the MDR phenotype. The accumulation of ADM, VCR and taxol was not decreased in NaB-treated cells, suggesting that ATP-binding cassette transporters are not involved in the MDR of NaB-treated cells. ADM was mainly located in the nuclei of untreated and the cytoplasm of NaB-treated cells. The accumulation level of ADM in the nuclei isolated from untreated cells or those from treated cells in the presence of anti-LRP polyclonal antibody was higher than that from treated cells in the absence of the antibody. Efflux of ADM from nuclei isolated from NaB-treated cells was enhanced compared with those from untreated cells and NaB-treated cells transfected with a LRP-specific ribozyme. The polyclonal antibody against LRP inhibited the enhanced efflux of ADM from nuclei isolated from NaB-treated cells. These findings indicate that LRP is involved in resistance to ADM, VCR, VP-16, taxol and gramicidin D, and has an important role in the transport of ADM from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.
Insights
Lung resistance related protein (LRP) contributes to multidrug resistance (MDR) by facilitating drug efflux from the nucleus. Inhibiting LRP expression or function can reverse MDR, offering potential therapeutic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Multidrug resistance (MDR) is often mediated by efflux pumps like P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1).
- Lung resistance related protein (LRP) is implicated in MDR, but its precise role remains under investigation.
- Canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT) is homologous to MRP1 and its involvement in drug resistance is hypothesized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of cMOAT in drug resistance.
- To elucidate the mechanism by which LRP confers multidrug resistance.
- To assess the potential of LRP-specific interventions in reversing MDR.
Main Methods:
- Transfection of LLC-PK1 cells with human cMOAT cDNA to create LLC/cMOAT-1 cells.
- Treatment of human colorectal carcinoma SW-620 cells with sodium butyrate (NaB) to induce LRP expression.
- Utilizing LRP-specific ribozymes to inhibit NaB-induced LRP expression.
- Assessing drug accumulation and localization (e.g., Adriamycin) in treated and untreated cells.
- Employing polyclonal antibodies against LRP to study drug efflux.
Main Results:
- LLC/cMOAT-1 cells exhibited increased resistance to vincristine (VCR), SN-38, and cisplatin, which was reversed by MDR-reversing agents.
- NaB treatment induced LRP in SW-620 cells, conferring resistance to Adriamycin (ADM), VCR, VP-16, gramicidin D, and taxol.
- LRP-specific ribozymes abolished the MDR phenotype in NaB-treated cells.
- ADM accumulation was not reduced in NaB-treated cells, suggesting non-ATP-dependent transporter involvement.
- ADM localized to the cytoplasm in NaB-treated cells, contrasting with nuclear localization in untreated cells.
- Enhanced ADM efflux from nuclei of NaB-treated cells was observed, and this efflux was inhibited by anti-LRP antibodies.
Conclusions:
- cMOAT mediates resistance to VCR, SN-38, and cisplatin.
- LRP plays a significant role in conferring resistance to a range of chemotherapeutic agents, including ADM, VCR, VP-16, taxol, and gramicidin D.
- LRP is involved in the nuclear-to-cytoplasmic transport of ADM, contributing to MDR.
- Targeting LRP presents a potential strategy for overcoming multidrug resistance in cancer therapy.
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