Influence of exogenous ras and p53 on P-glycoprotein function in immortalized rodent fibroblasts

The ability of ras oncogenes and mutant p53 to activate reporter gene expression from human and rodent mdr1 gene promoters was described, although functional significance of this finding was unclear. We analyzed the influence of various forms of recombinant human ras and p53 on the mdr1 gene expression and P-glycoprotein (Pgp) function in rodent immortalized fibroblasts. The ras genes, in addition to activation of exogenous human mdr1 gene promoter, caused an increase in (i) expression of endogenous mdr1 mRNA, (ii) Pgp activity as determined by flow cytometry analysis of Rhodamine 123 exclusion, and (iii) resistance of cells to the cytotoxic action of colchicine and some other drugs. To elucidate whether the same signalling pathway is responsible for multidrug resistance induced by various oncogenes and protein kinase C (PKC), we tested the effects of v-mos and the PKC agonist 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Similarly to cells transformed by ras, a Rat1 subline transformed by the v-mos oncogene was characterized by decreased drug sensitivity. On the contrary, Rat1 cells treated with the protein kinase C agonist 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate showed neither increased mdr1 mRNA expression nor stimulation of Pgp function. Introduction by retrovirus-mediated gene transfer of wild-type p53 into Rat1 cells or into murine p53-deficient 10(1) and 10(3) cells did not change the Pgp function significantly, whereas in Rat1 cells transformed by activated N-ras or v-mos, expression of wild-type p53 caused partial reversion of oncogene-induced drug resistance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)