Induction of polarized apical expression and vectorial release of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) during the process of differentiation of HT29-D4 cells

HT29-D4 clonal cells can be induced to differentiate by a simple alteration of the culture medium, that is, by the replacement of glucose by galactose [Fantini, J., et al. (1986) J. Cell Sci., 83:235-249] as reported for the nonclonal HT29 cells [Pinto, M., (1982) Biol. Cell, 44:193-196]. An essential property of the HT29-D4 cell line is the fact that no cell loss occurs after the medium change, so that the differentiated cells can be considered as the true counterpart of the undifferentiated one. This model is particularly suitable to study morphological and biochemical events associated with the progressive establishment of the differentiation state. We report here that carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a 180 kDa glycoprotein originally described as a colon tumor associated antigen, is faintly expressed at the surface of undifferentiated HT29-D4 cells. These cells release a small amount of CEA (2.5 ng/10(6) cells/24 hr) in the culture medium. Fourty-eight hours after glucose substitution by galactose, both CEA cell surface expression and release are strongly enhanced as demonstrated by immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation studies. Ten days after the medium change, the amount of CEA released reaches a maximum value of 130 ng/10(6) cells/24 hr, which remains stable for differentiated HT29-D4 cells cultured in glucose-free, galactose-containing medium (Gal-medium) for several months. HT29-D4 cells grown in Gal-medium in porous-bottom culture dishes generate leakproof epithelial monolayers. We have successfully performed an independent radioiodination of the apical and basolateral domains of these cells, followed by immunoprecipitation. We demonstrate that CEA is expressed exclusively at the apical surface of differentiated HT29-D4 cells, since the 180 kDa polypeptide was immunoprecipitated only when the radioiodination was performed at the apical side of the monolayer. Leakproof HT29-D4 monolayers cultured in permeable chambers were also used to demonstrate that CEA was exclusively released in the medium bathing the apical side of the cells. In conclusion, this study of cell surface CEA expression and CEA release during the process of differentiation of HT29-D4 cells demonstrated that 1) CEA cell surface expression and CEA release are correlated with cell differentiation; 2) CEA is expressed in the apical brush border membrane of differentiated HT29-D4 cells; and 3) CEA release is exclusively oriented toward the apical side of the polarized monolayer.     

Impaired carcinoembryonic antigen release during the process of suramin-induced differentiation of the human colonic adenocarcinoma cell clone HT29-D4

The establishment of a differentiated state of the human colic adenocarcinoma cell clone HT29-D4 can be obtained by two ways: 1) the removal of glucose and its replacement by galactose in the culture medium (Fantini et al.: Biology of the Cell 65:163-169, 1989); 2) the addition of suramin, a polyanionic compound, in the glucose-containing medium (Fantini et al.: Journal of Biological Chemistry 264:10282-10286, 1989). We investigated the release of CEA in the culture medium of glucose-deprived HT29-D4 cells (HT29-D4-Gal) and studied its alteration in suramin-treated HT29-D4 cells (HT29-D4-S). The amount of CEA released in the medium in function of time in culture of undifferentiated HT29-D4-Glu cells was very low (5 to 8 ng/10(6) cells/24 hours) and almost constant throughout the experiment whereas it increased sharply during differentiation of HT29-D4-Gal cells (380 ng/10(6) cells/24 hours after 9 days in culture). Surprisingly the amount of CEA released by differentiated HT29-D4-S cells remained very low and comparable with the one of HT29-D4-Glu cells. Moreover suramin, when added to CEA-producing HT29-D4-Gal cells, strongly inhibited its release. Radioiodination of cell surface proteins followed by immunoprecipitation using an anti-CEA monoclonal antibody showed the presence of a 180 kDa polypeptide, i.e., CEA, predominantly labeled in HT29-D4-Gal and -S cells. The total CEA cellular content was higher in HT29-D4-Glu and HT29-D4-S cells than in HT29-D4-Gal cells. When HT29-D4-Gal or -S cells were treated with the bacterial phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C (Pl-PLC) a similar level of CEA was released suggesting a similar type of CEA anchorage. The present data demonstrate that a decrease in CEA release (i.e., in HT29-D4-Glu and -S cells) corresponds to an increase in its overall cellular expression. These results are in favour of a regulatory mechanism, impaired by suramin, which determines the balance between the soluble and the membrane bound forms of CEA.     

Follicle-like structures formed by intestinal cell lines derived from the HT29-D4 adenocarcinoma cell line: morphological and functional characterization.

When cultured in high glucose containing medium, the human colon carcinoma cell line HT29-D4 and a clone derived by transfection with the MDR1 cDNA (MDR31) form multilayers of unorganized cells which are not polarized and are linked by desmosomes. Within these multilayers appear spontaneously large multicellular follicle-like-structures (FLS) where polarized cells linked by tight junctional complexes surround a lumen. Electron microscopy showed that some FLS display well developed brush borders with densely packed microvilli. Others have irregularly oriented microvilli of various lengths or are even completely devoid of apical differentiation. The lumen contains a variable amount of amorphous osmiophilic material. The apical surface of FLS forming cells express dipeptidylpeptidase IV, carcinoembryonic antigen, the mucin MUC1 and for the transfected cells the gp-170 protein. The organic anion fluorescein is transported from the cell to the lumen of FLS. Rhodamine 123, a substrate of the gp-170 ABC transporter is also concentrated in the lumen formed by MDR31 cells. Verapamil and cyclosporine A inhibited this last transport. Cyclic AMP stimulates the formation of these structures since treatment of post-confluent multilayers dramatically increased the number of FLS in HT29-D4 and MDR31 cell cultures within 24 h. The spontaneous formation of these morphologically and functionally polarized structures appeared at random and might respond to the coincidence of fluctuating parameters of the regulatory pathways (cAMP, Ca2+).     

In vitro differentiated HT 29-D4 clonal cell line generates leakproof and electrically active monolayers when cultured in porous-bottom culture dishes

HT 29-D4 is a clonal cell line, derived from the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT 29, which can be induced to differentiate into enterocyte-like cells by replacing glucose with galactose in the culture medium (Fantini et al. [1986], J. Cell Sci. 83, 235-249). Both undifferentiated and differentiated HT 29-D4 cells have been successfully grown to confluency in Costar Transwell permeable chambers. Only HT 29-D4 cells grown in glucose-free, galactose-containing medium were able to form leakproof monolayers, as demonstrated by their ability to prevent diffusion of serum proteins. These monolayers consist of highly polarized epithelial-like cells with a well organized apical brush border. Transepithelial electrical parameters have been measured under sterile conditions for both types of monolayer. Only HT 29-D4 monolayers cultured in glucose-free, galactose-containing medium were electrically active, with a transepithelial resistance R = 172 +/- 46 omega.cm2, a potential difference PD = 0.35 +/- 0.05 mV, apical negative and a short-circuit current Isc = 2.0 +/- 0.4 microA.cm-2. Apical addition of amphotericin B induced a rapid and considerable increase in Isc and PD, which was abolished by basal ouabain. In contrast, HT 29-D4 cells grown in glucose-containing medium did not generate any potential difference (PD = 0 mV) and their resistance was very low (R = 34.1 +/- 0.9 omega.cm2). It is concluded from these studies that HT 29-D4 cells grown in glucose-free, galactose-containing medium acquire functional characteristics of epithelia, compared to HT 29-D4 cells grown in glucose-containing medium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Suramin-treated HT29-D4 cells grown in the presence of glucose in permeable culture chambers form electrically active epithelial monolayers. A comparative study with HT29-D4 cells grown in the absence of glucose

The clonal cell line HT29-D4 is able to differentiate by two different ways: i) by replacing glucose by galactose in the culture medium; ii) by addition of suramin (a drug known to interfere with the growth promoting activity of growth factors) in the medium. In both cases the transition in the organization of the cell monolayer occurred without cell loss. The two ways (i.e., glucose starvation or suramin addition) lead to polarized cells which generate electrically active cell monolayers (Fantini et al., Biol. Cell 65, 163-169 (1989) and this paper). Yet several important differences can be observed at the morphological or at the electrophysiological levels. 1) The suramin-treated cells (HT29-D4-S cells) organized into monolayers of high (40-50 microns) columnar cells while glucose-starved cells (HT29-D4-Gal cells) were rather cuboidal (20-25 microns). 2) HT29-D4-S cells were highly polarized; the nucleus was rejected at the basal side of the cell and lysosomes in the upper part of the cytoplasm. Numerous lipid-like droplets surrounded with glycogen were observed underneath the nucleus. HT29-D4-Gal cells never presented such a degree of organization. 3) The transepithelial resistance and the potential difference of HT29-D4-S monolayers reached values significantly higher than those for HT29-D4-Gal monolayers, reflecting a higher degree of organization. Specific proteins such as sucrase-isomaltase, alkaline phosphatase and carcinoembryonic antigen were localized exclusively on the apical membrane while human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules were restricted to the basolateral membrane for both HT29-D4-S and HT29-D4-Gal cells. The present data demonstrate that the same cells can generate a different degree of cellular organization according to the experimental conditions of cell growth, the most elaborate state of differentiation being obtained in the presence of suramin.     

Differential mucin expression in colon carcinoma HT-29 clones with variable resistance to 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate

A current challenge is to define the biological characteristics of colon tumor cells resistant to chemotherapy. Distinct sub-populations of mucus-secreting cells were previously obtained from the colon cancer cell line HT-29 after long-term treatment with the anti-cancer drugs, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and methotrexate (MTX). Since mucins are increasingly implicated as playing a role in carcinogenesis, we studied the pattern of mucin expression in two HT-29 clones of mucus-secreting and two clones of enterocyte-like phenotype which differ in their capacity to resist to 5-FU and/or MTX. The expression of both transmembrane (MUC1, MUC3, MUC4) and secreted gel-forming (MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B, MUC6) mucins in clones was studied by northern and/or western blotting. The four HT-29 clones showed three cellular phenotypes: (1) The mucus-secreting clone HT29-5F12 consists of unpolarized cells with mucus secretions that have anti-colonic mucin immunoreactivity, and mainly expresses MUC2 and is resistant to 5-FU and sensitive to MTX; (2) The mucus-secreting clone HT29-5M21 forms a monolayer of polarized cells with strong anti-gastric mucin immunoreactivity and mainly expresses MUC5AC and MUC5B and is resistant to MTX and sensitive to 5-FU; (3) The two enterocyte-like clones, HT29-5F7 and HT29-5M12 are resistant to both MTX and 5-FU and express mainly MUC1 and MUC5B, respectively. These clones which originate from a same colorectal tumour and display different patterns of mucin expression as well as differing resistance to MTX and 5-FU will make useful in vitro models for studying the potential role of mucins or other biological markers in drug resistance pathways.     

Transport properties of P-glycoprotein in plasma membrane vesicles from multidrug-resistant Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Multidrug resistant (MDR) cells overexpress a 170-180 kDa membrane glycoprotein, the P-glycoprotein, which is believed to export drugs in an ATP-dependent manner. Plasma membrane vesicles from the MDR CHRC5 cell line, but not the AuxB1 drug-sensitive parent, showed uptake of [3H]colchicine and [3H]vinblastine that was stimulated by the presence of ATP and an ATP-regenerating system. Steady-state uptake of drugs was achieved by 10 min and was stable for greater than 30 min. Non-hydrolysable ATP analogues were unable to support drug uptake, indicating that ATP hydrolysis is essential for transport. ATP-stimulated drug uptake appeared to result from drug transport into inside-out vesicles, since uptake was osmotically sensitive and could be prevented by detergent permeabilization. Steady-state uptake was half-maximal at 100 microM colchicine and 200 nM vinblastine and was inhibited by a 10-100-fold excess of MDR drugs and chemosensitizers, in the order vinblastine greater than verapamil greater than daunomycin greater than colchicine. In addition to being vanadate-sensitive, drug uptake was inhibited by 10-200 microM concentrations of several sulfhydryl-modifying reagents, suggesting that cysteine residues play an important role in drug transport. Vesicular colchicine was rapidly exchanged by an excess of unlabelled drug, demonstrating that drug association is the net result of opposing colchicine fluxes across the membrane.     

Altered expression of sialylated carbohydrate antigens in HT29 colonic carcinoma cells

To determine whether cell growth conditions impacted carbohydrate expression, HT29 cells were gradually transferred from a conventional glucose-containing media to a glucose-free galactose containing media. Indirect immunofluorescence on acetone fixed cells showed increased expression of sialyl Lewis A antigen (CA19-9), sialyl Lewis C (DUPAN2) and Tn/sialyl-Tn on the surface of HT29 cells grown in the glucose-free galactose containing media compared to those grown in the glucose containing media. Sialyltransferases responsible for the synthesis for these sialylated epitopes were increased in the galactose-fed HT29 cells. Media overlying the cells was subjected to isopycnic ultracentrifugation in cesium chloride and the fractions derived from both glucose and galactose media with equivalent buoyant densities of 1.56 g/L, which are predicted to contain mucin glycoforms, were further separated by HPLC using a Mono-Q anion exchange column. The chromatograph of eluent from the sample derived from the cells growing in the galactose containing media showed an increased peak that reacted with the anti-sialyl Lewis A antibody, CA19-9. These results show that alteration of in vitro culture conditions may cause HT29 colonic carcinoma cells to alter the expression of sialylated carbohydrates.     

Cytokine-induced upregulation of NF-kappaB, IL-8, and ICAM-1 is dependent on colonic cell polarity: implication for PKCdelta

As described for a long time, carcinoma-derived Caco-2 cells form a polarized epithelium in culture, whereas HT29-D4 cells are nonpolarized and undifferentiated but can form a polarized monolayer when cultured in a galactose-supplemented medium. Using NF-kappaB translocation and IL-8 and ICAM-1 gene activation as an index, we have studied the relationship between the differentiation state and the cell response to cytokines. We found that differentiated Caco-2 and HT29-D4 cells were responsive to both cytokines TNFalpha- and IL-1beta-mediated activation of NF-kappaB but that undifferentiated HT29-D4 cells were unresponsive to IL-1beta. However, the expression of endogenous ICAM-1 and IL-8 genes was upregulated by these cytokines in either cell lines differentiated or not. Upregulation of ICAM-1 gene occurred when IL-1beta or TNFalpha was added to the basal, but not apical surface of the differentiated epithelia. Finally, it appeared that in polarized HT29-D4 cells, the IL-1beta-induced translocation of NF-kappaB was connected to PKCdelta translocation.     

Overexpression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in NIH 3T3 cells lowers membrane potential and intracellular pH and confers a multidrug resistance phenotype.

Because of the similarities between the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and multidrug resistance (MDR) proteins, recent observations of decreased plasma membrane electrical potential (delta psi) in cells overexpressing either MDR protein or the CFTR, and the effects of delta psi on passive diffusion of chemotherapeutic drugs, we have analyzed chemotherapeutic drug resistance for NIH 3T3 cells overexpressing different levels of functional CFTR. Three separate clones not previously exposed to chemotherapeutic drugs exhibit resistance to doxorubicin, vincristine, and colchicine that is similar to MDR transfectants not previously exposed to chemotherapeutic drugs. Two other clones expressing lower levels of CFTR are less resistant. As shown previously these clones exhibit decreased plasma membrane delta psi similar to MDR transfectants, but four of five exhibit mildly acidified intracellular pH in contrast to MDR transfectants, which are in general alkaline. Thus the MDR protein and CFTR-mediated MDR phenotypes are distinctly different. Selection of two separate CFTR clones on either doxorubicin or vincristine substantially increases the observed MDR and leads to increased CFTR (but not measurable MDR or MRP) mRNA expression. CFTR overexpressors also exhibit a decreased rate of 3H -vinblastine uptake. These data reveal a new and previously unrecognized consequence of CFTR expression, and are consistent with the hypothesis that membrane depolarization is an important determinant of tumor cell MDR.     

Multiple drug-resistance in variant of a human non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line,DLKP-A

A 300-fold adriamycin resistant variant (DLKP-A) of the human lung squamous cell carcinoma line DLKP was established by stepwise selection in increasing concentrations of adriamycin. Different levels of cross-resistance were observed towards VP-16, VM-26, colchicine, vincristine and, somewhat unexpectedly, cis-platin. Resistance was stable for at least 3 months in culture in the absence of drug. P-glycoprotein overexpression was detected by immunofluorescence and Western Blotting, and a direct causal role for P-glycoprotein overexpression in the resistant phenotype was established by transfection with an mdr1 specific antisense oligonucleotide. A modified cryopreservation procedure was necessary for the resistant variant line. The resistant population displays clonal heterogeneity with respect to resistance level. A higher frequency of double minute chromosomes was observed in DLKP-A when compared with the parental cell line.Abbreviations ADR adriamycin - COLH colchicine - C-PT cis-platin - MDR multidrug resistance - NSCLC non-small cell lung carcinoma - VCR vincristine - VP-16 etoposide - VM-26 tenoposide     

Photoassembly of the manganese cluster in mutants perturbed in the high affinity Mn-binding site of the H2O-oxidation complex of photosystem II

The light-driven, oxidative assembly of Mn2+ ions into the H2O-oxidation complex (WOC) of the photosystem II (PSII) reaction center is termed photoactivation and culminates in the formation of the oxygen-evolving (Mn4-Ca) center of the WOC. Initial binding and photooxidation of Mn2+ to the apoprotein is critically dependent upon aspartate 170 of the D1 protein (D1-D170) of the high affinity Mn site [Nixon and Diner (1992) Biochemistry 31, 942-948]. Three O2-evolving mutant strains of Synechocystis, D1-D170E, D1-D170H, and D1-D170V, were studied in terms of the kinetics of photoactivation under both continuous and flashing light. Photoactivation using single turnover flashes revealed D1-D170H and D1-D170V, but not D1-D170E, were prone to form substantial amounts ( approximately 40-50%) of inactive centers ascribed to photoligation of aberrant nonfunctional Mn based upon the reversibility of the inactivation and similarity to previous in vitro results [Chen, C., Kazimir, J., and Cheniae, G. M. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 13511-13526]. On the other hand, D1-D170E lowers the quantum efficiency of photoactivation compared to the wild-type by the largest amount (80% decrease) versus D1-D170H and D1-D170V, which do not produce measurable decreases in quantum efficiency. The low quantum efficiency of photoactivation in D1-D170E is due to the destabilization of photoactivation intermediates. Numerical analysis indicates that the PSII centers in D1-D170E are heterogeneous with respect to photoactivation kinetics and that the majority of centers are characterized by intermediates that decay approximately 10-fold more rapidly than the wild-type control. Additionally, the kinetics of O2 release during the S3-S0 transition was markedly retarded in D1-D170E, in contrast to D1-D170H and D1-D170V, which did not exhibit a discernible slow-down compared to the wild-type.     

Double minute chromosomes carrying the human multidrug resistance 1 and 2 genes are generated from the dimerization of submicroscopic circular DNAs in colchicine-selected KB carcinoma cells.

This study characterizes amplified structures carrying the human multidrug resistance (MDR) genes in colchicine-selected multidrug resistant KB cell lines and strongly supports a model of gene amplification in which small circular extrachromosomal DNA elements generated from contiguous chromosomal DNA regions multimerize to form cytologically detectable double minute chromosomes (DMs). The human MDR1 gene encodes the 170-kDa P-glycoprotein, which is a plasma membrane pump for many structurally unrelated chemotherapeutic drugs. MDR1 and its homolog, MDR2, undergo amplification when KB cells are subjected to stepwise selection in increasing concentrations of colchicine. The structure of the amplification unit at each step of drug selection was characterized using both high-voltage gel electrophoresis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) techniques. An 890-kb submicroscopic extrachromosomal circular DNA element carrying the MDR1 and MDR2 genes was detected in cell line KB-ChR-8-5-11, the earliest step in drug selection in which conventional Southern/hybridization analyses detected MDR gene amplification. When KB-ChR-8-5-11 was subjected to stepwise increases in colchicine, this circular DNA element dimerized as detected by PFGE with and without digestion with Not 1, which linearizes the 890-kb amplicon. This dimerization process, which also occurred at the next step of colchicine selection, resulted in the formation of cytologically detectable DMs revealed by analysis of Giemsa-stained metaphase spreads.     

CD4 molecules are restricted to the basolateral membrane domain of in vitro differentiated human colon cancer cells (HT29-D4)

The CD4 glycoprotein serves as a receptor for the human immunodeficiency virus HIV, the etiologic agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We have examined the expression of CD4 molecules in a clone (HT29-D4) derived from a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line. HT29-D4 cells synthesized a 60 kDa polypeptide immunoprecipitated with two anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies after metabolic or cell surface labeling. This 60 kDa polypeptide was also immunodetected using the same antibodies in human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells CEM which are known to express CD4. HT29-D4 cells can be induced to differentiate into enterocyte-like cells by removing glucose from the culture medium. Under these conditions, HT29-D4 cells form a polarized epithelial monolayer in which tight junctions separate the plasma membrane in an apical and a basolateral domain. The localization of CD4 molecules in differentiated HT29-D4 cells was exclusively restricted to the basolateral membrane domain as demonstrated by radioimmunoassay and indirect immunofluorescence studies. Therefore the HT29-D4 clonal cell line represents a unique model for polarized HIV infection of colonic epithelial cells and may be useful to understand some of the gastrointestinal disorders occurring in AIDS patients.     

Growth in serum-free medium of human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines on microcarriers: A two-step method allowing optimal cell spreading and growth

Summary Human colonic adenocarcinoma cells have been successfully grown on polystyrene microcarriers by modifying the culture conditions used in monolayer culture. The method can be divided into two culture phases: a) a phase of spreading, wherein cells were seeded in presence of serum-supplemented medium; b) a phase of active growth wherein spread cells on the beads were allowed to grow in a serum-free medium. Under these conditions, optimal spreading and growth of HT 29 and HRT 18 cells on the microcarriers were obtained. A differential propagation was observed between HT 29-D4 and HT 29-D9 cells (both clonal populations derived from HT 29 cells) on the microcarriers that is tentatively related to the discrepancy observed in the spreading efficiency of these clonal cells on serum-coated culture flasks. An index of spreading efficiency (IS index) has been defined to quantify the efficiency of spreading of each cell line on microcarriers. These data gave the opportunity to develop serum-free, scale-up methods to culture cells like HT 29 which release potentially useful products. This work was supported by CNRS (U.A. 202 and U.A. 1186), Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer (FNCLCC), INSERM (CRE, n^o 847006), CNAMTS-INSERM (8386), MRT (GBM 85M0564) and l'Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer (ARC 86-234).     

Carcinoembryonic antigen expression level as a predictive factor for response to 5-fluorouracil in colorectal cancer

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) expression has been shown to protect cancer cell lines from apoptosis and anoikis. The aim of this study was to further elucidate the role of CEA expression on resistance to anticancer drugs in human colorectal cancer (CRC). We transfected CEA negative CRC cell line SW742 as well as CHO cells to overexpress CEA and their chemoresistance were assessed by MTT assay. In comparison to the parental cell lines, transfected cells had significantly increased resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The results also showed a direct correlation between the amount of cellular CEA protein and 5-FU resistance in CEA expressing cells. We found no significant difference in sensitivity to cisplatin and methotrexate between CEA-transfected cells and their counter parental cells. We also compared the association between CEA expression and chemoresistance of 4 CRC cell lines which differed in the levels of CEA production. The CEA expression levels in monolayer cultures of these cell lines did not correlate with the 5-FU resistance. However, 5-FU treatment resulted in the selection of sub-populations of resistant cells that displayed increased CEA expression levels by increasing drug concentration. We analyzed the effect of 5-FU in a 3D multicellular culture generated from the two CRC cell lines, LS180 and HT29/219. Compared with monolayer culture, CEA production and 5-FU resistance in both cell lines were stimulated by 3D growth. In comparison to the 3D spheroids of parental CHO, we observed a significantly elevated 5-FU resistance in 3D culture of the CEA-expressing CHO transfectants. Our findings suggest that the CEA level may be a suitable biomarker for predicting tumor response to 5-FU-based chemotherapy in CRC.     

Regulation of [Ca(2+)](i) homeostasis in MRP1 overexpressing cells

Regulation of capacitative Ca(2+) entry was studied in two different multidrug resistance (MDR) protein (MRP1) overexpressing cell lines, HT29(col) and GLC4/ADR. MRP1 overexpression was accompanied by a decreased response to thapsigargin. Moreover, inhibition of capacitative Ca(2+) entry by D, L-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP) was abolished in MRP1 overexpressing cells. Both PDMP and the MRP1 inhibitor MK571 greatly reduced InsP(3)-mediated (45)Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores in HT29 cells. Again, these effects were virtually abolished in HT29(col) cells. Our results point to a modulatory role of MRP1 on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) homeostasis which may contribute to the MDR phenotype.     

Expression of transformation characters in colchicine-resistant tumor cells

Malignancy and anchorage independence of Djungarian hamster tumor cell lines resistant to different doses (0.1-5.0 micrograms/ml) of colchicine were studied. The clones with low colchicine resistance (15-20-fold) did not differ in tumorigenicity from parental cells. The TD50 for highly colchicine-resistant cells (200-800-fold) was several orders of magnitude higher than that for wild-type cells. Colchicine resistance did not affect the expression of the cells anchorage independence. The cloning efficiency in a semi-solid medium was the same both for colchicine-resistant cell lines and wild-type cells.