Secretion of lysosomal enzymes by drug-sensitive and multiple drug-resistant cells

The multiple drug-resistant human lymphoblastic leukemic cell, CEM/VLB100, in which P-glycoprotein (P-170) is overexpressed, has a lowered content of lysosomal enzymes, such as N-acetylglucosaminidase and beta-galactosidase, and the relative rates of secretion of these enzymes are significantly greater than those of its drug-sensitive counterpart, CEM. The ability of CEM/VLB100 cells to accumulate [3H]vinblastine ([3H]-VLB) is also greatly reduced. Multiple drug-resistant cells whose mode of resistance is not associated with P-170 do not have reduced enzyme content, and their rate of secretion is the same as that of their drug-sensitive parents. Linkage of drug and enzyme elimination is suggested by the observation that verapamil inhibits both the efflux of [3H]VLB and the secretion of lysosomal enzymes in CEM/VLB100 cells; the content of both [3H]VLB and enzyme increases in these cells when chronically exposed to verapamil. Further, both secretion of N-acetylglucosaminidase and efflux of [3H]VLB by CEM/VLB100 cells are enhanced by the addition of NaCl to the suspending, sucrose-containing medium. When cells have taken up [3H]VLB and are then fractionated by means of a Percoll centrifugation gradient, the distribution of drug among the various populations of vesicles is similar to that of N-acetylglucosaminidase. Losses of both enzyme and drug take place from these vesicular populations to varying degrees, when CEM/VLB100 cells are induced to secrete. It is proposed that, in a multiple drug-resistant cell such as CEM/VLB100, the presence of P-170 in the plasma membrane may, in some indirect manner, lead to increased exocytosis of lysosomal enzyme, ultimately resulting in a significant depletion of enzyme. Further, a toxic, cationic drug such as vinblastine, accumulating in lysosomes and acidic vesicles, is also eliminated from the cell by exocytosis. This pathway may supplement the known, major mode of efflux directly involving P-170.