Modulation of uptake of organic cationic drugs in cultured human colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells by an ecto-alkaline phosphatase activity

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) refers to a group of nonspecific phosphomonoesterases located primarily in cell plasma membrane. It has been described in different cell lines that ecto-ALP is directly or indirectly involved in the modulation of organic cation transport. We aimed to investigate, in Caco-2 cells, a putative modulation of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) apical uptake by an ecto-ALP activity. Ecto-ALP activity and (3)H-MPP(+) uptake were evaluated in intact Caco-2 cells (human colon adenocarcinoma cell line), in the absence and presence of a series of drugs. The activity of membrane-bound ecto-ALP expressed on the apical surface of Caco-2 cells was studied at physiological pH using p-nitrophenylphosphate as substrate. The results showed that Caco-2 cells express ALP activity, characterized by an ecto-oriented active site functional at physiological pH. Genistein (250 micro M), 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (1 mM), verapamil (100 micro M), and ascorbic acid (1 mM) significantly increased ecto-ALP activity and decreased (3)H-MPP(+) apical transport in this cell line. Orthovanadate (100 micro M) showed no effect on (3)H-MPP(+) transport and on ecto-ALP activity. On the other hand, okadaic acid (310 nM) and all trans-retinoic acid (1 micro M) significantly increased (3)H-MPP(+) uptake and inhibited ecto-ALP activity. There is a negative correlation between the effect of drugs upon ecto-ALP activity and (3)H-MPP(+) apical transport (r = -0.9; P = 0.0014). We suggest that apical uptake of organic cations in Caco-2 cells is affected by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanisms, and that ecto-ALP activity may be involved in this process.