Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes recognizing P-glycoprotein in murine multidrug-resistant leukemias

A multidrug-resistant murine lymphoid leukemia P388/ADR overexpresses P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an active transporter that pumps cytotoxic drugs out of cells and a product of mdr1 gene. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) that showed cytotoxicity against P388/ADR were generated from mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture. CTL do not kill drugsensitive parental P388 (P388/parent) that does not express P-gp. Monoclonal antibody against P-gp inhibited cytotoxic activity. Similar results were obtained in another multidrug-resistant cell line P388/VP-16. Cytotoxic activity was mediated by Thy1+ CD4- CD8+ T-cells. When P388/ADR was treated with murine IL-4, expression of P-gp was downregulated. Monoclonal antibody against interleukin-4 (IL-4) abrogated the IL-4-induced suppression of P-gp. Cytolytic activity of CTL against IL-4-treated P388/ADR was dose dependently inhibited. These results suggest that P-gp is immunogenic and can be a target of CTL in this murine leukemia model.