valinomycin and Adenocarcinoma

MDR1 (multidrug resistance) P-glycoprotein (Pgp; ABCB1) decreases intracellular concentrations of structurally diverse drugs. Although Pgp is generally thought to be an efflux transporter, the mechanism of action remains elusive. To determine whether Pgp confers drug resistance through changes in transmembrane potential (E(m)) or ion conductance, we studied electrical currents and drug transport in Pgp-negative MCF-7 cells and MCF-7/MDR1 stable transfectants that were established and maintained without chemotherapeutic drugs. Although E(m) and total membrane conductance did not differ between MCF-7 and MCF-7/MDR1 cells, Pgp reduced unidirectional influx and steady-state cellular content of Tc-Sestamibi, a substrate for MDR1 Pgp, without affecting unidirectional efflux of substrate from cells. Depolarization of membrane potentials with various concentrations of extracellular K(+) in the presence of valinomycin did not inhibit the ability of Pgp to reduce intracellular concentration of Tc-Sestamibi, strongly suggesting that the drug transport activity of MDR1 Pgp is independent of changes in E(m) or total ion conductance. Tetraphenyl borate, a lipophilic anion, enhanced unidirectional influx of Tc-Sestamibi to a greater extent in MCF-7/MDR1 cells than in control cells, suggesting that Pgp may, directly or indirectly, increase the positive dipole potential within the plasma membrane bilayer. Overall, these data demonstrate that changes in E(m) or macroscopic conductance are not coupled with function of Pgp in multidrug resistance. The dominant effect of MDR1 Pgp in this system is reduction of drug influx, possibly through an increase in intramembranous dipole potential.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; Biological Transport; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Membrane; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Female; Humans; Ionophores; Membrane Potentials; Organotechnetium Compounds; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Valinomycin

N-(4-Methylphenylsulfonyl)-N'-(4-chlorophenyl)urea (MPCU) is a new agent that exhibits high therapeutic activity against human and rodent tumor models. Initial studies indicated that in vitro [3H]MPCU was concentrated 4- to 6-fold in GC3/c1 human colon adenocarcinoma cells in an azide-sensitive manner. In this study the dependence of uptake and concentrative accumulation of MPCU upon temperature, plasma membrane potential, and the electrochemical potential of mitochondria has been examined. Accumulation and efflux of MPCU were temperature dependent. At 3.6 microM MPCU, initial rates of uptake (15 s) were 1.4, 38.0, and 84.2 pmol/min/10(6) cells at 2 degrees C, 23 degrees C, and 37 degrees C, respectively. The rate of uptake and concentrative accumulation within GC3/c1 cells was not altered in high K+ buffer or by 1 mM ouabain, indicating that plasma membrane potential was not significant in these processes. Concentrative accumulation, but not initial uptake, was inhibited by carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, 2,4-dinitrophenol, and sodium azide. Glucose partially antagonized the inhibition of these agents which uncouple oxidative phosphorylation. Oligomycin, an inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP synthase, did not inhibit uptake or concentrative accumulation of MPCU. However, oligomycin in the presence of 2-deoxyglucose significantly inhibited concentrative accumulation of MPCU. These results suggested that concentrative accumulation of MPCU was dependent upon the mitochondrial transmembrane gradient rather than ATP, although direct implication of ATP could not be excluded. To examine which component of this gradient was predominant in causing MPCU sequestration, the ionophores valinomycin and nigericin were used. Valinomycin, which collapses the charge gradient across the mitochondrial matrix membrane, caused only slight inhibition of MPCU accumulation, and the effect was similar at 2 or 10 mumol. In contrast, nigericin (which collapses the pH gradient and increases mitochondrial membrane potential) inhibited by approximately 90% concentrative accumulation of MPCU. These data suggested that MPCU was being concentrated in mitochondria and that this was dependent upon the pH gradient across mitochondrial membrane. In cells exposed to MPCU or the analogue N-(5-indanylsulfonyl)-N'-(4-chlorophenyl)urea, enlargement of mitochondria was observed within 24 h and appeared to be the initial morphological change associated with drug treatment. These res

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Antineoplastic Agents; Biological Transport; Cell Compartmentation; Colonic Neoplasms; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Membrane Potentials; Microscopy, Electron; Mitochondria; Nigericin; Oligomycins; Ouabain; Sulfonylurea Compounds; Uncoupling Agents; Valinomycin

Quantitative studies of MCF-7 cells (derived from human breast adenocarcinoma) and CV-1 cells (from normal African green monkey kidney epithelium), using the permeant cationic compound tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP), in conjunction with fluorescence microscopy using rhodamine 123 (Rh123), indicate that the mitochondrial and plasma membrane potentials affect both uptake and retention of these compounds. Under conditions that depolarize the plasma membrane, uptake and retention of TPP and Rh123, driven only by the mitochondrial membrane potential, is greater in MCF-7 than in CV-1. An ionophore that dissipates the mitochondrial membrane potential of MCF-7 cells causes them to resemble CV-1 cells by decreasing uptake and retention. Hyperpolarizing the mitochondrial membrane of CV-1 increases accumulation and prolongs retention; hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane further heightens this effect, causing the uptake of CV-1 cells to resemble that of MCF-7 cells even more closely. The greater uptake and retention by MCF-7 appears to be a consequence of elevated mitochondrial and plasma membrane potentials. The plasma membrane potential affects mitochondrial retention of TPP and Rh123 and its role in enhancing the effect of a difference in mitochondrial membrane potential is explained.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Line; Chlorocebus aethiops; Female; Humans; Kidney; Membrane Potentials; Mitochondria; Nigericin; Onium Compounds; Organophosphorus Compounds; Ouabain; Potassium; Rhodamine 123; Rhodamines; Sodium; Valinomycin; Xanthenes