Reduced ouabain-sensitive potassium entry as a possible mechanism of multidrug-resistance in P388 cells

Structural recognition of tubulysin B derivatives by multidrug resistance efflux transporters in human cancer cells

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major hindrance to curative chemotherapy of various human malignancies. Hence, novel chemotherapeutics must be evaluated for their recognition by MDR efflux transporters. Herein we explored the cytotoxic activity of synthetic tubulysin B (Tub-B, EC1009) derivatives (Tub-B-hydrazide/EC0347 and Tub-B bis-ether/EC1820), and their recognition by the MDR efflux transporters P-glycoprotein 1 (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). Originally isolated from Myxobacteria, tubulysins exhibited potent cytotoxic activity via microtubule depolymerization, and evaded recognition by these MDR efflux pumps. We show that subtle modifications in the natural Tub-B structure enhance its cytotoxicity and drug efflux efficiency. Whereas increasing the lipophilicity of Tub-B drugs enhanced their diffusion into the cell and consequently decreased the IC₅₀ values (≥ 0.27 nM), increasing drug polarity enhanced their recognition by P-gp (>200-fold resistance in P-gp-overexpressing cells). Furthermore, restricting drug exposure time to the clinically relevant 4 h pulse, markedly enhanced efflux by P-gp, resulting in a 1000-fold increased resistance, which was further enhanced upon increased P-gp levels (i.e. an additional 3-fold increase in P-gp levels resulted in >6,000-fold resistance). The unique ability of EC1009 to evade recognition by MDR efflux pumps warrants drug development of tubulysin B derivatives as potent antitumor agents which overcome MDR in cancer.

Reversal effect of ouabain on multidrug resistance in esophageal carcinoma EC109/CDDP cells by inhibiting the translocation of Wnt/β-catenin into the nucleus

The incidence of esophageal carcinoma is increasing throughout the world. A major obstacle to its treatment is acquired multidrug resistance (MDR) which results in the failure of chemotherapy and patient relapse. Here, we identified that ouabain is capable of reversing MDR to cisplatin (CDDP) in EC109/CDDP cells and explore the possible mechanisms of action. The parental and the MDR cell lines were both sensitive to ouabain with 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 258.11 and 710.63 nM, respectively. Cisplatin cytotoxicity increased in the EC109/CDDP cells by the addition of ouabain which helps promote CDDP-induced apoptosis. Ouabain at 20 nM effectively reduced the IC50 of CDDP in EC109/CDDP cells from 36.54 to 3.39 μM. This represents a 10.78-fold increase in sensitization to CDDP. We also found that ouabain was capable of down regulating the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and Bcl-2 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Finally, the results indicated that ouabain suppressed Wnt luciferase report (TOPFlash) activity obviously in EC109/CDDP and depressed the translocation of β-catenin into the nucleus. Moreover, ouabain showed reversal effect of MDR to CDDP in nude mouse xenograft model, and reduced the protein level of β-catenin (Y333) in tumor tissue of CDDP plus ouabain group. All data proved that ouabain has a potent β-catenin-dependent anti-MDR effect.

Contrasting cellular uptake pathways for chlorido and iodido iminopyridine ruthenium arene anticancer complexes

The pathways involved in cellular uptake and accumulation of iminopyridine complexes of general formula [Ru(η(6)-p-cymene)(N,N-dimethyl-N'-[(E)-pyridine-2-ylmethylidene]benzene-1,4-diamine)X]PF(6) bearing two different halido ligands X = Cl or I, have been explored. The ratio of passive/active cellular accumulation of Ru in A2780 human ovarian cancer cells is compared and contrasted with cisplatin. Also, saturation of cellular uptake, time-dependence of cellular influx/efflux equilibria, together with endocytotic pathways such as caveolae and facilitated diffusion are investigated and discussed. Temperature dependence studies of Ru accumulation in the A2780 cells show that in contrast to cisplatin (CDDP) and chlorido complex , which are taken up largely through active transport, the iodido complex enters cells via passive transport. The cellular efflux of Ru is slow (ca. 25% retained after 72 h) and is partially inhibited by verapamil, implicating the P-gp protein in the efflux mechanism. Ouabain inhibition experiments suggest that the cellular uptake of these ruthenium complexes relies at least in part on facilitated diffusion, and in particular is dependent on the membrane potential. In addition the finding that depletion of cellular ATP with antimycin A had little effect on cellular Ru accumulation from iodido complex is consistent with passive diffusion. In contrast, ATP depletion caused a major increase in cellular accumulation of ruthenium from chlorido complex .

From delocalized lipophilic cations to hypoxia: blocking tumor cell mitochondrial function leads to therapeutic gain with glycolytic inhibitors

An unexpected similarity between cancer and cardiac muscle cells in their sensitivity to anthracyclines and delocalized lipophilic cations (DLC) prompted a series of studies in which it was shown that the positive charge of these compounds is central to their selective accumulation and toxicity in these two distinct cell types. An initial finding to explain this phenomenon was that cancer and cardiac muscle cells exhibit high negative plasma membrane potentials resulting in increased uptake of these agents. However, the p-glycoprotein efflux pump was shown to be another factor underlying differential accumulation of these compounds, since it recognizes positively charged drugs and thereby actively reduces their intracellular concentrations. The delocalized positive charge and lipophilicity of DLCs leads to their retention and inhibition of ATP synthesis in mitochondria. Years later it was realized that cancer cells in the hypoxic portions of solid tumors were similar to those treated with DLCs in relying mainly on anaerobic metabolism for survival and could thus be targeted with a glycolytic inhibitor, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG). This hypothesis has lead to a Phase I clinical trial in which 2-DG is used to selectively kill the hypoxic tumor cell population which are resistant to standard chemotherapy or radiation.

Haptotactic and growth stimulatory effects of fibrin(ogen) and thrombin on cultured fibroblasts

We tested the ability of purified, ultraviolet C virally inactivated components of human fibrin sealant (FS) to modulate the chemotaxis, adherence, and proliferation of cultured cells. A fibrin clot formed on a near-confluent layer of human fibroblasts (HFs) recruited cells from the surrounding area. Thrombin (Thr) enhanced HF proliferation by a factor of 1.5 to 1.8, whereas fibrinogen (Fib) exerted only a minimal proliferative effect. We developed a new cell haptotactic/attachment assay by using Thr and Fib covalently bound to Sepharose beads (SBs). The kinetics of cell binding were approximately equivalent for beads coated with either protein. Uncoated SBs or fibrinogen-bound SBs (Fib-SB) pretreated with plasmin did not attract HFs. AlphaThr-SB induced a positive migratory response that was not affected by blocking its proteolytic site, whereas gammaThr-SB elicited no response. X irradiation of HFs at a dose of 6 Gy showed that the migratory response of HF is independent of proliferation, as confirmed by a bromodeoxyuridine uptake assay. Several types of cultured cells (murine fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, aortic endothelial cells, and murine mammary carcinoma cells) also attached to Fib-SB. By contrast, human keratinocytes, human ovarian carcinoma cells, murine macrophage-like cells, leukemic cells, and murine mast cells did not attach. Our results provide some mechanistic insights into the haptotactic and proliferative effects of Fib and Thr on different cells.

On the use of ion-pair chromatography to elucidate doxorubicin release mechanism from polyalkylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles at the cellular level

The major hypothesis underlying the remarkable efficiency of polyalkylcyanoacrylate particles loaded with doxorubicin against multidrug resistant tumor cells in vitro, is based on the ion-pair association of doxorubicin with soluble hydrolysis products of polyalkylcyanoacrylate. In an attempt to demonstrate the validity of this hypothesis, we have used ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and a laboratory-synthetized compound, i.e., the 2-cyano-2-butylhexanoic acid, as a model for polyalkylcyanoacrylate highly polydispersed degradation products. It is shown that, compared to a counter-ion, like heptane sulfonic acid, 2-cyano-2-butylhexanoic acid exhibits an effective ion-pairing effect at different pH values and organic mobile phase conditions. Moreover, at pH close to physiological conditions and at low mobile phase organic modifier percentage, this effect is experimentally observed, which strongly supports the initial hypothesis.

Reversion of multidrug resistance with polyalkylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles: towards a mechanism of action

Polyalkylcyanoacrylate (PACA) nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin allowed multidrug resistance to be overcome in vitro. However, increased cytotoxicity is not always correlated with an increased level of intracellular drug. Although we have previously shown that PACA nanoparticles are not endocytosed by tumour cells, we report here that a direct interaction between nanoparticles and cells is a necessary requirement for overcoming resistance. In addition, the results showed that the degradation products of PACA (mainly polycyanoacrylic acid) in the presence of doxorubicin are able to increase both accumulation and cytotoxicity, thus suggesting the formation of a doxorubicin-polycyanoacrylic acid ion pair. It is therefore concluded that resistance is overcome as a result of both the adsorption of nanoparticles to the cell surface and increased doxorubicin diffusion by the accumulation of an ion pair at the plasma membrane.

Interaction of multidrug-resistant Chinese hamster ovary cells with the peptide ionophore gramicidin D

A major form of multidrug resistance results from the overexpression of P-glycoprotein, a 170 kDa membrane protein. Multidrug resistant (MDR) Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and mdrl transfectants displayed cross-resistance to the channel-forming peptide ionophore gramicidin D, which was reversed by various chemosensitizers, thus directly implicating P-glycoprotein as the mediator of resistance. However, gramicidin D was not able to inhibit [3H]azidopine photolabelling of P-glycoprotein. MDR cells were not resistant to other pore-forming ionophores, but showed a modest level of cross-resistance to the mobile ionophore valinomycin. There was no difference in 125I-gramicidin D uptake by resistant and sensitive cells. Resistant cells showed lower 86Rb+ uptake, relative to the drug-sensitive parent. Addition of GmD increased both the rate and the level of 86Rb+ uptake in sensitive cells, but had no effect on MDR cells. MDR cells also showed much lower rates of gramicidin D-dependent 86Rb+ efflux than sensitive cells, and this was greatly increased by verapamil. These results suggest that P-glycoprotein interferes with the formation of ion-conducting gramicidin D channels. In contrast, valinomycin had the same effect on gramicidin D-dependent cation efflux in MDR and sensitive cells. Gramicidin D is thus unique among the ionophores is being a substrate for P-glycoprotein, which appears to greatly reduce the formation of active dimeric channels in the plasma membrane of MDR cells.

Interaction of multidrug-resistant Chinese hamster ovary cells with amphiphiles

The interaction of membrane-active amphiphiles with a series of MDR Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines was investigated. Cross-resistance to cationic amphiphiles was observed, which was effectively sensitised by verapamil. MDR cells showed collateral sensitivity to polyoxyethylene amphiphiles (Triton X-100/Nonidet P-40), which reached a maximum at 9-10 ethylene oxide units. Resistant lines were also highly collaterally sensitive (17-fold) to dibutylphthalate. mdrl transfectants showed cross-resistance to cationic amphiphiles, but no collateral sensitivity to nonionic species. Triton X-100/Nonidet P-40 inhibited 3H-azidopine photoaffinity labelling at low concentrations, perhaps reflecting a specific interaction with P-glycoprotein. Further investigation of the molecular basis of collateral sensitivity revealed that association of 3H-Triton X-100 with MDR cells reached steady state levels rapidly, and occurred by a non-mediated mechanism. The equilibrium level of X-100 uptake was inversely related to drug resistance. Collateral sensitivity is thus not a result of decreased Triton X-100 association with the cell. The fluorescent probe merocyanine 540 was used to examine the MDR plasma membrane microenvironment for physicochemical changes. Increasing levels of drug resistance correlated with a progressive shift in the mean cell fluorescence to lower levels, which suggests that the packing density in the outer leaflet of MDR cells is increased relative to that of the drug-sensitive parent.

Resistance to lipophilic cationic compounds in multidrug resistant leukemia cells

Previously we have shown that multidrug resistant cells are cross-resistant to certain permanently charged cationic lipophilic compounds. In the present study we extend these observations to additional cationic lipophilic compounds with unrelated chemical structures. Study of the growth inhibitory activity of series of triphenylalkyl-phosphonium and alkyl-ammonium compounds revealed that cross-resistance to these compounds in multidrug resistant P-388 murine leukemia cells, was related to the presence of cationic charge but not to the molecular size/degree of lipophilicity.