Transfer and expression of the human multidrug resistance gene in mouse erythroleukemia cells

Gene therapy in humans requires the transplantation of genetically modified cells, and it is important to select only those cells capable of expressing high levels of protein from the transferred gene. Expression of the human multiple drug resistance (MDR) gene confers resistance to a variety of compounds in vitro and in vivo. To determine the feasibility of conferring recipient erythroid cells with the MDR phenotype, we have transduced mouse erythroleukemia cells (MELC) with the MDR gene in a retroviral vector. We show here that MELC clones resistant to exposure to colchicine (an MDR-responsive agent) can be isolated, and demonstrate high levels of MDR RNA and protein expression. Increasing doses of colchicine increase the level of MDR RNA and protein expression significantly. These results indicate that it is possible to transfer and express the human MDR phenotype in mouse erythroid cells by retrovirally mediated gene transfer, and that drug selection can be used to enrich or purify populations of cells containing and expressing this gene.