Effect of knockdown of ezrin, radixin, and moesin on P-glycoprotein function in HepG2 cells

Ezrin, radixin, and moesin (ERM) proteins regulate functional expression of certain transporters, but little is known about their effect on P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Here, we investigated the influence of ERM proteins on the expression and activity of P-gp at the transcriptional, translational, and posttranslational levels, using HepG2 as a model cell line. Knockdown of ezrin with RNA interference decreased the level of P-gp messenger RNA. On the contrary, knockdown of radixin caused a decrease of the P-gp gene product at the cell surface, but not in whole cell lysate. Furthermore, a significant increase in accumulation of rhodamine123, a typical P-gp substrate, was observed in radixin knockdown cells, compared with control cells. Knockdown of moesin did not influence the expression or function of P-gp. These results indicate that ezrin influences the expression of P-gp at the translational level, whereas radixin is involved in membrane localization of P-gp in HepG2 cells.