Molecular changes to HeLa cells on continuous exposure to SN-38, an active metabolite of irinotecan hydrochloride

It is important to clarify the molecular characteristics of tumor cells showing multidrug resistance (MDR) and to identify the novel targets or biomarkers for chemotherapy. The aim of this study is to establish resistant HeLa sublines through exposure to SN-38, an active metabolite of irinotecan hydrochloride, and to investigate their molecular changes. HeLa cells were exposed to SN-38 at 1, 10, or 100 nM, and resistant clones were isolated and named HeLa/SN1, HeLa/SN10, and HeLa/SN100, respectively. Their cellular changes were examined based on growth inhibition assays, the function of ABCG2/BCRP, and a RT-PCR analysis of MDR-related protein. The sublines showed a decrease in sensitivity to not only SN-38 but also other chemotherapeutic agents as compared with HeLa cells. mRNA and protein levels of ABCG2/BCRP were increased, and the transport activity of ABCG2/BCRP was enhanced, in the resistant cells. In addition, the expression levels of ABCC1/MRP1, ABCC3/MRP3, and ABCC5/MRP5 were higher than in HeLa cells. The mRNA levels of GGT1 encoding a gamma-glutamyl transferase, but not GCS encoding a gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthetase, were also higher. Other factors examined, i.e., topoisomerase, SLCO1B1, and apoptosis-regulating factors, were comparable among the cells. The overexpression of ABCG2/BCRP was involved in the mechanism of resistance in SN-38-tolerant cells, and ABCC1/MRP1, ABCC3/MRP3, ABCC5/MRP5, and GGT1 may also have participated.