digitonin and Colonic-Neoplasms

P-glycoprotein (P-gp or MDR1) is an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter. It is involved in the efflux of several anticancer drugs, which leads to chemotherapy failure and multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells. Representative secondary metabolites (SM) including phenolics (EGCG and thymol), terpenoids (menthol, aromadendrene, β-sitosterol-O-glucoside, and β-carotene), and alkaloids (glaucine, harmine, and sanguinarine) were evaluated as potential P-gp inhibitors (transporter activity and expression level) in P-gp expressing Caco-2 and CEM/ADR5000 cancer cell lines. Selected SM increased the accumulation of the rhodamine 123 (Rho123) and calcein-AM (CAM) in a dose dependent manner in Caco-2 cells, indicating that they act as competitive inhibitors of P-gp. Non-toxic concentrations of β-carotene (40μM) and sanguinarine (1μM) significantly inhibited Rho123 and CAM efflux in CEM/ADR5000 cells by 222.42% and 259.25% and by 244.02% and 290.16%, respectively relative to verapamil (100%). Combination of the saponin digitonin (5μM), which also inhibits P-gp, with SM significantly enhanced the inhibition of P-gp activity. The results were correlated with the data obtained from a quantitative analysis of MDR1 expression. Both compounds significantly decreased mRNA levels of the MDR1 gene to 48% (p<0.01) and 46% (p<0.01) in Caco-2, and to 61% (p<0.05) and 1% (p<0.001) in CEM/ADR5000 cells, respectively as compared to the untreated control (100%). Combinations of digitonin with SM resulted in a significant down-regulation of MDR1. Our findings provide evidence that the selected SM interfere directly and/or indirectly with P-gp function. Combinations of different P-gp substrates, such as digitonin alone and together with the set of SM, can mediate MDR reversal in cancer cells.

Topics: Alkaloids; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; Benzophenanthridines; beta Carotene; Caco-2 Cells; Colonic Neoplasms; Digitonin; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Combinations; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Drug Synergism; Fluoresceins; Humans; Isoquinolines; Leukemia; Phenols; Phytochemicals; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Rhodamine 123; RNA, Messenger; Terpenes

Nuclear localization sequence-dependent nuclear protein import is essential for maintaining cell function and can be selectively blocked in epithelial cells by mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) lectin. Here we report that a major intracellular ligand for this lectin is an N-terminally truncated form of oxygen-regulated protein 150 (Orp150), which lacks the endoplasmic reticulum translocation signal peptide of full-length Orp150. This cytoplasmic form of Orp150 expresses the lectin carbohydrate ligand (sialyl-2,3-galactosyl-beta1,3-N-acetylgalactosamine-alpha) and is shown to be essential for nuclear localization sequence-dependent nuclear protein import.

Topics: Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; Agaricus; Binding Sites; Cell Membrane Permeability; Chromatography, Affinity; Colonic Neoplasms; Cytosol; Digitonin; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Lectins; Ligands; Proteins; Sequence Deletion; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The regulation of 15-pS Cl- channels by Ca(2+)-mobilizing agonists was investigated by simultaneous cell-attached patch and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) measurements. Cells were loaded with a synthetic peptide made from the calmodulin binding domain of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. This caused inhibition of Cl- channel activity without any corresponding effect on either agonist-induced [Ca2+]i mobilization or K+ channel activation. Calmodulin therefore confers Ca2+ sensitivity to the 15-pS channel. When patches were excised from the cell, Cl- channel activity ran down. Channel rundown was not reversed by ATP or calmodulin. When recording from cell-attached patches of detergent-treated cells, similar phenomenology was observed. Therefore, other factors that are lost upon plasma membrane permeabilization are required for the functioning of Ca(2+)-dependent Cl- channels. After rundown of these channels, a large-conductance, multistate, Ca(2+)-insensitive Cl- channel was seen. The smallest subconductance state of this channel was of similar magnitude to that of the Ca(2+)-dependent Cl- channel. Furthermore, its voltage and halide sensitivities were similar to those reported for the 15-pS Cl- channel and Ca(2+)-dependent whole cell Cl- currents. Because this channel is not observed in the intact cell, this may be a remnant conductance of the Ca(2+)-sensitive 15-pS Cl- channel.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Calcium; Calmodulin; Cell Differentiation; Cell Membrane; Chloride Channels; Colonic Neoplasms; Digitonin; Egtazic Acid; Homeostasis; Humans; Ion Channels; Ionomycin; Kinetics; Meglumine; Membrane Potentials; Membrane Proteins; Neurotensin; Tumor Cells, Cultured