EFEMP2 Mediates GALNT14-Dependent Breast Cancer Cell Invasion

N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-14 (GALNT14) is a member of acetylgalactosaminyltransferases family. We have shown that GALNT14 could promote breast cancer cell invasion. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is unclear. Here, using yeast two hybrid, we find that EGF-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 2 (EFEMP2) interacts with GALNT14. Both in vitro and in vivo binding assays show that EFEMP2 is associated with GALNT14. Moreover, we find that GALNT14 mediates glycosylation of EFEMP2. EFEMP2 significantly increased the invasion ability of breast cancer cells including MCF-7 and MBA-MD-231 cells, and this phenomenon is suppressed by knockdown expression of GALNT14. In addition, the GALNT14-dependent O-glycosylation of EFEMP-2 regulates the stability of EFEMP-2 protein in breast cancer cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate a novel molecular mechanism underlying breast cancer invasion.     

P-gp 和MDR1 在三种乳腺癌细胞中表达差异研究

目的:比较P-gp和MDR1在人乳腺癌敏感细胞(MCF-7/S)和耐药细胞(MCF-7/ADR、MCF-7/TAM)中的表达差异,初步探讨乳腺癌细胞对阿霉素与对三苯氧胺产生耐药机制的区别。方法:采用免疫细胞化学法、流式细胞术检测P-gp,采用实时荧光定量PCR法检测MDR1在三种乳腺癌细胞中的表达情况。结果:在MCF-7/ADR细胞中P-gp和MDR1均呈高表达,阳性表达率与MCF-7/S细胞比较,有统计学意义(P<0.01)。在MCF-7/TAM细胞中P-gp、MDR1均呈低表达,与MCF-7/S细胞比较,无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:P-gp和MDR1的高表达是乳腺癌细胞对阿霉素产生耐药的主要机制,而并非是乳腺癌细胞对三苯氧胺产生耐药的机制。     

Suppression of multidrug resistance by treatment with TRAIL in human ovarian and breast cancer cells with high level of c-Myc

In this study, we investigated the role of c-Myc in overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR) in human ovarian and breast cancer cells by TRAIL. We showed that P-gp expressing MDR variants (Hey A8-MDR and MCF7-MDR cells) with high level of c-Myc were highly susceptible to TRAIL treatment when compared to their drug-sensitive parental human ovarian cancer Hey A8 and breast MCF-7 cells, respectively. Up-regulation of DR5 TRAIL receptor and down-regulation of c-FLIP and the promotion of caspase-dependent cell death, which contribute to TRAIL sensitization of MDR cells, were regulated by the over-expressed c-Myc in the MDR cells. After targeted inhibition of c-Myc with specific siRNA, these responses to TRAIL disappeared and TRAIL-induced apoptosis was also suppressed in MCF7-MDR cells. Treatment with TRAIL significantly reduced P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated efflux of rhodamine123 in both Hey A8-MDR and MCF7-MDR cells. Furthermore, TRAIL significantly potentiated the cytotoxicity of vinblastine, vincristine, doxorubicin and VP-16 that are P-gp substrate anticancer drugs in both MDR cells, which resulted in the reversal effect of TRAIL on the MDR phenotype. The present study shows for the first time that elevated c-Myc expression in the MDR cells plays a critical role in overcoming MDR by TRAIL that can act as a specific sensitizer for P-gp substrate anticancer drug.     

Chloride channel-3 mediates multidrug resistance of cancer by upregulating P-glycoprotein expression

Chloride channel-3 (ClC-3), a member of the ClC family of voltage-gated Cl⁻ channels, is involved in the resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. Here, we report a new mechanism for ClC-3 in mediating multidrug resistance (MDR). ClC-3 was highly expressed in the P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-dependent human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549)/paclitaxel (PTX) and the human breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7)/doxorubicin (DOX) resistant cells. Changes in the ClC-3 expression resulted in the development of drug resistance in formerly drug-sensitive A549 or MCF-7 cells, and drug sensitivity in formerly drug-resistant A549/Taxol and MCF-7/DOX cells. Double transgenic MMTV-PyMT/CLCN3 mice with spontaneous mammary cancer and ClC-3 overexpression demonstrated drug resistance to PTX and DOX. ClC-3 expression upregulated the expression of MDR1 messenger RNA and P-gp by activating the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-signaling pathway. These data suggest that ClC-3 expression in cancer cells induces MDR by upregulating NF-κB-signaling-dependent P-gp expression involving another new mechanism for ClC-3 in the development of drug resistance of cancers.     

Fractionated irradiation can induce functionally relevant multidrug resistance gene and protein expression in human tumor cell lines

The molecular basis of radiotherapy-related multidrug resistance (MDR) is still unclear. Here we report on a study investigating the effect of fractionated irradiation on expression of the MDR-associated proteins P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP), and lung resistance-related protein (LRP), the respective mRNAs, and the functional consequences. Cells of six colon and five breast cancer cell lines were irradiated with a total dose of 27 Gy, five fractions of 1.8 Gy per week. The mRNA expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR, protein levels and drug sensitivity to cisplatin, doxorubicin and bendamustine were assessed by flow cytometry. Breast cancer cell lines showed enhancement of the mRNAs encoding for P-gp, MRP1 and LRP in comparison to nonirradiated cells. No up-regulation of the three mRNA species was observed in the colon cancer cell lines. After irradiation, three breast cancer cell lines showed an up-regulation of LRP, one line an up-regulation of MRP1, and four lines a small up-regulation of P-gp. In the colon cancer cell lines, radiation induced significant enhancement of all three proteins. In comparison to controls, the irradiated cells lines showed a significant resistance to cisplatin, doxorubicin and bendamustine. This study confirms the prior reports of enhancement of P-gp and MRP1 after irradiation, which is accompanied by a multidrug resistance phenomenon, but in addition proposes a novel mechanism in the appearance of MDR after radiation-induced enhancement of LRP.     

Novel approaches to reversing anti-cancer drug resistance using gene-specific therapeutics.

One of the underlying mechanisms of multidrug resistance (MDR) is cellular overproduction of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which acts as an efflux pump for various anti-cancer drugs. P-gp is encoded by a group of related genes termed MDR; only MDR1 is known to confer the drug resistance, and its overexpression in cancer cells has been a therapeutic target to circumvent the resistance. To overcome P-gp-mediated drug resistance, we have developed six anti-MDR1 hammerhead ribozymes and delivered them to P-gp-overproducing human leukemia cell line by a retroviral vector containing RNA polymerase III promoter. These ribozyme-transduced cells became vincristine-sensitive, concomitant with the decreases in MDR1 expression, P-gp amount and efflux pump function. Among the ribozymes tested, the anti-MDR1 ribozyme against the translation-initiation site exhibited the highest efficacy. The retrovirus-mediated transfer of this most potent anti-MDR1 ribozyme into a human lymphoma cell line, which was made resistant by infection of pHaMDR1/A retroviral vector and thus possessed a low degree of MDR due to P-gp expression relevant to clinical MDR, resulted in a complete reversal of MDR phenotype. In addition to retrovirus-mediated transfer of ribozymes, we evaluated the efficacy of cationic liposome-mediated transfer of ribozyme. Treatment of a P-gp-producing human breast cancer cell line with the liposome-ribozyme complex resulted in reversal of resistance, concomitant with the decreases in both MDR1 expression and P-gp amount. Confocal microscopic imaging of the cells after treatment with liposome/FITC-dextran showed cytoplasmic fluorescence that was abolished by cytochalasin B, indicating a high endocytotic activity in these cells. The endocytotic activity was well correlated with the success of cationic liposome-mediated transfer of MDR1 ribozyme. These distinct approaches using either retrovirus- or liposome-mediated transfer of anti-MDR1 ribozyme may be selectively applicable to the treatment of MDR cells with different properties such as endocytotic activity as a specific means to reverse resistance.     

Breast Cancer-Derived Microparticles Display Tissue Selectivity in the Transfer of Resistance Proteins to Cells

Microparticles (MPs) play a vital role in cell communication by facilitating the horizontal transfer of cargo between cells. Recently, we described a novel “non-genetic” mechanism for the acquisition of multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells by intercellular transfer of functional P-gp, via MPs. MDR is caused by the overexpression of the efflux transporters P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 1 (MRP1). These transporters efflux anticancer drugs from resistant cancer cells and maintain sublethal intracellular drug concentrations. By conducting MP transfer experiments, we show that MPs derived from DX breast cancer cells selectively transfer P-gp to malignant MCF-7 breast cells only, in contrast to VLB₁₀₀ leukaemic cell-derived MPs that transfer P-gp and MRP1 to both malignant and non-malignant cells. The observed transfer selectivity is not the result of membrane restrictions for intercellular exchange, limitations in MP binding to recipient cells or the differential expression of the cytoskeletal protein, Ezrin. CD44 (isoform 10) was found to be selectively present on the breast cancer-derived MPs and not on leukaemic MPs and may contribute to the observed selective transfer of P-gp to malignant breast cells observed. Using the MCF-7 murine tumour xenograft model we demonstrated the stable transfer of P-gp by MPs in vivo, which was found to localize to the tumour core as early as 24 hours post MP exposure and to remain stable for at least 2 weeks. These findings demonstrate a remarkable capacity by MPs to disseminate a stable resistant trait in the absence of any selective pressure.     

Small-molecule synthetic compound norcantharidin reverses multi-drug resistance by regulating Sonic hedgehog signaling in human breast cancer cells

Multi-drug resistance (MDR), an unfavorable factor compromising treatment efficacy of anticancer drugs, involves upregulated ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters and activated Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling. By preparing human breast cancer MCF-7 cells resistant to doxorubicin (DOX), we examined the effect and mechanism of norcantharidin (NCTD), a small-molecule synthetic compound, on reversing multidrug resistance. The DOX-prepared MCF-7R cells also possessed resistance to vinorelbine, characteristic of MDR. At suboptimal concentration, NCTD significantly inhibited the viability of DOX-sensitive (MCF-7S) and DOX-resistant (MCF-7R) cells and reversed the resistance to DOX and vinorelbine. NCTD increased the intracellular accumulation of DOX in MCF-7R cells and suppressed the upregulated the mdr-1 mRNA, P-gp and BCRP protein expression, but not the MRP-1. The role of P-gp was strengthened by partial reversal of the DOX and vinorelbine resistance by cyclosporine A. NCTD treatment suppressed the upregulation of Shh expression and nuclear translocation of Gli-1, a hallmark of Shh signaling activation in the resistant clone. Furthermore, the Shh ligand upregulated the expression of P-gp and attenuated the growth inhibitory effect of NCTD. The knockdown of mdr-1 mRNA had not altered the expression of Shh and Smoothened in both MCF-7S and MCF-7R cells. This indicates that the role of Shh signaling in MDR might be upstream to mdr-1/P-gp, and similar effect was shown in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and BT-474 cells. This study demonstrated that NCTD may overcome multidrug resistance through inhibiting Shh signaling and expression of its downstream mdr-1/P-gp expression in human breast cancer cells.     

Acquisition of MDR phenotype by leukemic cells is associated with increased caspase-3 activity and a collateral sensitivity to cold stress

The acquisition of a multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype by tumor cells that renders them unsusceptible to anti-neoplasic agents is one of the main causes of chemotherapy failure in human malignancies. The increased expression of P-glycoprotein (MDR1, P-gp, ABCB1) in tumor cells contributes to drug resistance by extruding chemotherapeutic agents or by regulating programmed cell death. In a study of MDR cell survival under cold stress conditions, it was found that resistant leukemic cells with P-gp over-expression, but not their sensitive counterparts, are hypersensitive to cold-induced cell death when exposed to temperatures below 4 °C. The transfection of parental cells with a P-gp-expressing plasmid makes these cells sensitive to cold stress, demonstrating an association between P-gp expression and cell death at low temperatures. Furthermore, we observed increased basal expression and activity of effector caspase-3 at physiological temperature (37 °C) in MDR cells compared with their parental cell line. Treatment with a caspase-3 inhibitor partially rescues MDR leukemic cells from cold-induced apoptosis, which suggests that the cell death mechanism may require caspase-3 activity. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that P-gp expression plays a role in MDR cell survival, and is accompanied by a collateral sensitivity to death induced by cold stress. These findings may assist in the design of specific therapeutic strategies to complement current chemotherapy treatment against cancer.     

Lymphokine-activated killer cell susceptibility and adhesion molecule expression of multidrug resistant breast carcinoma

Reports showing susceptibility of multidrug resistant (MDR) cancer cells to immune effectors, together with P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression in immune effector subsets, including immature natural killer (NK) cells, and some activated T cells, suggest P-gp or some changes associated with it, have implications in immune-mediated mechanisms. A series of experiments were done to determine the nature of alterations associated with susceptibility to immune effector cells of MDR tumor cells. A cell line isolated from the malignant pleural effusion of a breast cancer patient was transfected with human and murine MDR1 genes, and four variants with different levels of MDR were obtained. Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity was measured by a ⁵¹Chromium release, and conjugate formation assays. MDR1 transfectant P-gp⁺ breast carcinoma lines had increased LAK susceptibility compared to their parent line. Some part of the increased LAK susceptibility of drug-resistant cell lines was at the binding/recognition level as shown by conjugate formation assays. This suggests that differences may exist between paired cell lines with respect to the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to CAMs and flow cytometry were used to quantitate these antigens. The CAMs studied were those previously found to be upregulated by stimulating NK cells with (interleukin-2) IL-2; ICAM-1 (CD54), LFA-3 (CD58), N-CAM (CD56), and the β chain of LFA-1 (CD18). Although no differences in these CAMs were found between the breast carcinoma line and its MDR1-transfected variants, the target susceptibility results given above suggest that IL-2 treatment could be effective in combination with current protocols using chemotherapeutics, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and stem cell transplantation.     

Different modalities of intercellular membrane exchanges mediate cell-to-cell p-glycoprotein transfers in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Multi-drug resistance (MDR) is a phenomenon by which tumor cells exhibit resistance to a variety of chemically unrelated chemotherapeutic drugs. The classical form of multidrug resistance is connected to overexpression of membrane P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which acts as an energy dependent drug efflux pump. P-glycoprotein expression is known to be controlled by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Until now processes of P-gp gene up-regulation and resistant cell selection were considered sufficient to explain the emergence of MDR phenotype within a cell population. Recently, however, "non-genetic" acquisitions of MDR by cell-to-cell P-gp transfers have been pointed out. In the present study we show that intercellular transfers of functional P-gp occur by two different but complementary modalities through donor-recipient cells interactions in the absence of drug selection pressure. P-glycoprotein and drug efflux activity transfers were followed over 7 days by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry in drug-sensitive parental MCF-7 breast cancer cells co-cultured with P-gp overexpressing resistant variants. An early process of remote transfer was established based on the release and binding of P-gp-containing microparticles. Microparticle-mediated transfers were detected after only 4 h of incubation. We also identify an alternative mode of transfer by contact, consisting of cell-to-cell P-gp trafficking by tunneling nanotubes bridging neighboring cells. Our findings supply new mechanistic evidences for the extragenetic emergence of MDR in cancer cells and indicate that new treatment strategies designed to overcome MDR may include inhibition of both microparticles and Tunneling nanotube-mediated intercellular P-gp transfers.     

Increased expression of sorcin is associated with multidrug resistance in leukemia cells via up-regulation of MDR1 expression through cAMP response element-binding protein

Sorcin, a 22 kDa Ca²⁺ binding protein, was first identified in a vincristine-resistant Chinese hamster lung cell line, and was later demonstrated to be involved in the development of multidrug-resistance (MDR) phenotypes in a variety of human cancer cell lines. However, the exact role of sorcin in MDR cells is yet to be fully elucidated. Here we explored the role of sorcin in the development of MDR in leukemia cells, and revealed that the expression level of sorcin was directly correlated to the expression of MDR1/P-glycoprotein (P-gp). In addition, it was shown that sorcin induced the expression of MDR1/P-gp through a cAMP response element (CRE) between −716 and −709 bp of the mdr1/p-gp gene. Furthermore, overexpression of sorcin increased the phosphorylation of CREB1 and the binding of CREB1 to the CRE sequence of mdr1/p-gp promoter, and induced the expression of MDR1/P-gp. These findings suggested that sorcin induces MDR1/P-gp expression markedly through activation of the CREB pathway and is associated with the MDR phenotype. The new findings may be helpful for understanding the mechanisms of MDR in human cancer cells, prompting its further investigation as a molecular target to overcome MDR.     

长春新碱诱导建立人结肠癌多药耐受性小鼠模型及MDR1和MRP1基因表达

目的建立人结肠癌多药耐受性动物模型并初步探索其耐药机制。方法结合体内外诱导方法建立人结肠癌多药耐受性动物模型,利用VCR和CTX的肿瘤抑制实验评价其MDR特性;利用real-time PCR和West-ern blotting等方法分析其P-gp/MDR1和MRP1基因和蛋白的表达。结果肿瘤抑制实验结果显示,MDR和敏感型结肠癌模型的肿瘤生长速度差异不显著,MDR结肠癌动物模型对于VCR和CTX的耐药性均有较大程度的提高;表达分析结果显示,人结肠癌MDR动物模型的P-gp/MDR1表达水平有较大提高,而MRP1表达没有显著变化。结论人结肠癌多药耐受性动物模型具有较好的多药耐受性,其多药耐受性表型主要是由于P-gp/MDR1过量表达所导致。     

Ceramide and glucosylceramide upregulate expression of the multidrug resistance gene MDR1 in cancer cells

In the present study we used human breast cancer cell lines to assess the influence of ceramide and glucosylceramide (GC) on expression of MDR1, the multidrug resistance gene that codes for P-glycoprotein (P-gp), because GC has been shown to be a substrate for P-gp. Acute exposure (72 h) to C8-ceramide (5 microg/ml culture medium), a cell-permeable ceramide, increased MDR1 mRNA levels by 3- and 5-fold in T47D and in MDA-MB-435 cells, respectively. Acute exposure of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells to C8-GC (10 microg/ml culture medium), a cell-permeable analog of GC, increased MDR1 expression by 2- and 4- fold, respectively. Chronic exposure of MDA-MB-231 cells to C8-ceramide for extended periods enhanced MDR1 mRNA levels 45- and 390-fold at passages 12 and 22, respectively, and also elicited expression of P-gp. High-passage C8-ceramide-grown MDA-MB-231 (MDA-MB-231/C8cer) cells were more resistant to doxorubicin and paclitaxel. Incubation with [1-(14)C]C6-ceramide showed that cells converted short-chain ceramide into GC, lactosylceramide, and sphingomyelin. When challenged with 5 mug/ml [1-(14)C]C6-ceramide, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-435, MCF-7, and T47D cells took up 31, 17, 21, and 13%, respectively, and converted 82, 58, 62, and 58% of that to short-chain GC. Exposing cells to the GCS inhibitor, ethylenedioxy-P4, a substituted analog of 1-phenyl-2-hexadecanoylamino-3-pyrrolidino-1-propanol, prevented ceramide's enhancement of MDR1 expression. These experiments show that high levels of ceramide and GC enhance expression of the multidrug resistance phenotype in cancer cells. Therefore, ceramide's role as a messenger of cytotoxic response might be linked to the multidrug resistance pathway.     

Regulation of volume-sensitive Cl- channels in multi-drug resistant MCF7 cells

The P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is thought to be involved in the regulation of volume-sensitive chloride channels. In this study, the possible coupling between P-gp and swelling-activated chloride channels has been examined in MCF7 cells with sensitive (MDR-), resistant (MDR+), and reversed resistant (MDR(REV)) phenotypes. Western blot analysis showed that incubation of cells with doxorubicin induced P-gp expression in a reversible manner. Exposure of MDR+ cells to hypotonicity resulted in an inhibition of P-gp activity while hypotonic challenges induced swelling-activated chloride currents (I(Cl-swell)) in MDR-, MDR+, and MDR(REV) MCF7 cells. While verapamil inhibited I(Cl-swell) in all cell types, doxorubicin and vincristine rapidly and reversibly inhibited I(Cl-swell) uniquely in MDR+. Intracellular dialysis of MDR+ cells with C219 anti-P-gp antibody abolished the sensitivity of I(Cl-swell) to doxorubicin and led to a response pattern very close to that of MDR- cells. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that the P-glycoprotein regulates I(Cl-swell) in resistant MCF7.