MRPs mediate the ATP-dependent efflux of a structurally diverse array of compounds. Certain MRPs, including MRP1, MRP2 and MRP4, are involved in multidrug resistance in tumour cells, while in non-malignant cells these MRPs can influence the distribution and/or elimination of many clinically important drugs. In addition, these MRPs mediate the efflux of physiological metabolites, many of which are conjugated organic anions. Modulation of the drug transporting activity of MRP1 (and to a lesser extent MRP2 and MRP4) has been a long sought after therapeutic objective. In this study, the modulatory abilities of five structurally distinct classes (I-V) of chalcogenopyrylium dyes (CGPs) were examined utilizing an in vitro assay which measures inhibition of radiolabeled estradiol glucuronide ([3H]E217βG) (a prototypical MRP substrate) uptake into inside-out membrane vesicles prepared from MRP-transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. Additionally, some CGPs were tested in a calcein efflux assay using intact MRP1-transfected HEK cells. Sixteen of 34 CGPs initially tested at a single concentration (≤30 μM) inhibited MRP1-mediated uptake by >50%, with IC50’s ranging from 0.7-7.6 μM. Of the 9 CGPs with IC50’s ≤2 μM, five belonged to Class I, two to Class II, and two to Class IV. When tested in the calcein efflux assay, only 4 of 16 CGPs inhibited MRP1-mediated cellular efflux by >50% (I-3, -4, -6, IV-1) while a fifth (II-5) inhibited efflux by 23%. These five CGPs were then tested as modulators of [3H]E217βG uptake by MRP2 and MRP4. Their effects on MRP2 transport activity were differential with two (I-4, I-6) inhibiting transport (IC50’s 2.0, 7.1 μM), two (I-3, IV-1) stimulating transport (>2-fold), while II-5 had no effect. On the other hand, all five CGPs inhibited [3H]E217βG uptake by MRP4, but less effectively than by MRP1. Finally, five analogs of CGP IV-1 were tested for their effects on MRP1, MRP2 and MRP4 [3H]E217βG uptake, but none were more efficacious than CGP IV-1. The CGPs tested here represent novel MRP1, MRP2 and MRP4 modulators with variable effects on transport activities. These CGPs may represent a new avenue for the development of clinically applicable modulators of MRP proteins involved in multidrug resistance. / Thesis (Master, Pathology & Molecular Medicine) -- Queen's University, 2011-11-28 17:50:49.432

Le mélanome malin (MM) est un cancer très réfractaire aux thérapies anticancéreuses, dont les vincalcaloïdes (VAs). Afin d'étudier le rôle de la GSTM1 (glutathion S-transférase 1) et la MRP1 (multidrug resistance protein 1) dans la résistance acquise du MM aux VAs, nous avons établi 4 modèles cellulaires de résistance à la vincristine (CAL1R-VCR), à la vindésine (CAL1R-VDS), à la vinorelbine (CAL1R-VRB) et à la vinflunine (CAL1R-VFL), par exposition continue de cellules du MM (CAL1-wt), pendant un an, à ces anticancéreux. L'expression d'ne GSTM1 fonctionnelle est spécifiquement observée (RT-PCR, western blot, activité GST totale) dans les cellules résistantes. Le curcumin (inhibiteur de GSTM1), la BSO (inhibiteur de synthèse de glutathion) et le MK571 (inhibiteur de MRP1), réduisent considérablement le résistance acquise à la VCR et à la VDS mais pas à la VRB ou à la VFL. Toutefois, tous ces VAs réduisent spécifiquement l'activité GSTM1. Ces données montrent l'implication différentielle de GSTM1 et MRP1 dans la résistance aux VAs. Pour déterminer les mécanismes moléculaires de cette chimiorésistance, nous avons réalisé une étude pangénomique (biopuces Affymetrix HG-U133 Plus 2.00) sur les lignées CAL1 (wt et R). Le regroupement hiérarchique (par Cluster et TreeView) des données des puces a révélé une similarité entre les profils d'expression génique de CAL1R-VRB et CAL1-wt mais aussi entre ceux de CAL1R-VCR et CAL1R-VDS. L'analyse bioinformatique (par IPA) des transcrits les plus différemment exprimés entre les lignées cellulaires, a mis en évidence 6 réseaux géniques connus pour leur rôle dans la chimiorésistance tumorale. Le programme FatiGO a révélé 3 termes biologiques sur-représentés (> 60%) dans CAL1R (ribosome, filaments intermédiaires du cytosquelette, récepteurs olfactifs) tandis que l'étude fonctionnelle (invalidation génique par siRNA, test de viabilité) de GPR143, KIT et SLC45A2 (gènes interagissant avec NF-κB et CCND1 (facteurs de la chimiorésistance tumorale), très exprimés dans CAL1-wt et muets dans CAL1R) a montré la faible tendance des deux premiers à être impliqués dans la résistance aux VAs. / Malignant melanoma (MM) is a very refractory tumor to anticancer therapies, including vinca alkaloïds (VAs). To investigate the role of GSTM1 (glutathione S-transferase μ1) and MRP1 (multidrug resistance protein 1) in MM acquired resistance to VAs, we established 4 cellular models of resistance to vincristine (CAL1R-VCR), to vindesine (CAL1R-VDS), to vinorelbine (CAL1R-VRB) and to vinflunine (CAL1R-VFL), by continuous exposure of MM cells (CAL1-wt), for one year, to these anticancer agents. The expression of a functional GSTM1 is specifically observed (RT-PCR, western blot, total GST activity) in resistant cells. Curcumin (GSTM1 inhibitor), BSO (glutathione synthesis inhibitor) and MK571 (MRP1 inhibitor), considerably reduce the acquired resistance to VCR and VDS but not that to VRB or VFL. However, all these VAs specifically reduce GSTM1 activity. These data show the differential involvement of GSTM1 and MRP1 in resistance to VAs. To determine the molecular mechanisms of this chemoresistance, we performed a pangenomic study (Affymetrix HG-U133 Plus 2.00 microarrays) on the CAL1 lines (wt and R). The hierarchical clustering (by Cluster and TreeView) of array data revealed a similarity between the gene expression profiles of CAL1R-VRB and CAL1-wt, but also between those of CAL1R-VCR and CAL1R-VDS. The bioinformatic analysis (by IPA) of the most differentially expressed transcripts between cell lines, highlighted 6 gene networks known for their role in tumor chemoresistance. FatiGO program revealed 3 biological terms overrepresented (>60%) in CAL1R (ribosome, intermediate filaments of cytoskeleton, olfactory receptors), while functional study (gene invalidation by siRNA, viability test) of GPR143, KIT and SLC45A2 (genes interacting with NF-kB and CCND1 (tumor chemoresistance factors), highly expressed in CAL1-wt and mute in CAL1R) showed the weak trend of the two formers to be involved in resistance to VAs.

Background: Strategies to maintain BBB integrity in diseases with a hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) component involve preventing glutathione (GSH) loss from endothelial cells. GSH efflux transporters include multidrug resistance proteins (Mrps). Therefore, characterization of Mrp regulation at the BBB during H/R is required to advance these transporters as therapeutic targets. Our goal was to investigate, in vivo, regulation of Abcc1, Abcc2, and Abcc4 mRNA expression (i.e., genes encoding Mrp isoforms that transport GSH) by nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2) using a well-established H/R model. Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were subjected to normoxia (Nx, 21% O-2, 60 min), hypoxia (Hx, 6% O-2, 60 min) or H/R (6% O-2, 60 min followed by 21% O-2, 10 min, 30 min, or 1 h) or were treated with the Nrf2 activator sulforaphane (25 mg/kg, i.p.) for 3 h. Abcc mRNA expression in brain microvessels was determined using quantitative real-time PCR. Nrf2 signaling activation was examined using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) respectively. Data were expressed as mean +/- SD and analyzed via ANOVA followed by the post hoc Bonferroni t test. Results: We observed increased microvascular expression of Abcc1, Abcc2, and Abcc4 mRNA following H/R treatment with reoxygenation times of 10 min, 30 min, and 1 h and in animals treated with sulforaphane. Using a biotinylated Nrf2 probe, we observed an upward band shift in brain microvessels isolated from H/R animals or animals administered sulforaphane. ChIP studies showed increased Nrf2 binding to antioxidant response elements on Abcc1, Abcc2, and Abcc4 promoters following H/R or sulforaphane treatment, suggesting a role for Nrf2 signaling in Abcc gene regulation. Conclusions: Our data show increased Abcc1, Abcc2, and Abcc4 mRNA expression at the BBB in response to H/R stress and that Abcc gene expression is regulated by Nrf2 signaling. Since these Mrp isoforms transport GSH, these results may point to endogenous transporters that can be targeted for BBB protection during H/R stress. Experiments are ongoing to examine functional implications of Nrf2-mediated increases in Abcc transcript expression. Such studies will determine utility of targeting Mrp isoforms for BBB protection in diseases with an H/R component.

As one of the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, bacteria use several families of membrane-embedded α-helical transporters to remove cytotoxic molecules from the cell. The small multidrug resistance protein family (SMR) is one such group of drug transporters that because of their relative small size [ca. 110 residues with four transmembrane (TM) helices] must form at the minimum dimers to efflux drugs. We have used the SMR homologue Hsmr from Halobacterium salinarum to investigate the oligomerization properties of the protein family at TM helix 4. We produced point mutations along the length of the TM4 helix in the full length Hsmr protein and assayed their dimerization and functional properties via SDS-PAGE and bacterial cell growth assays. We found that Hsmr forms functionally dependent dimers via an evolutionarily conserved 90GLxLIxxGV98 small residue heptad repeat. Upon investigation of the large hydrophobic residues in this motif by substituting each large residue to Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, and Val, we determined that Hsmr efflux function relies on an optimal level of dimerization. While some substitutions led to either decreased or increased dimer and substrate-binding strength, several Ile94 and Val98 mutants were equal to wild type dimerization levels but were nonfunctional, leading to the hypothesis of a mechanistic role at TM4 in addition to the locus of dimerization. The functionally sensitive TM4 dimer represents a potential target for SMR inhibition using a synthetic TM4 peptide mimetic. Using exponential decay measurements from a real-time cellular efflux assay, we observed the efflux decay constant was decreased by up to ~60% after treatment with the TM4 peptide inhibitor compared to control peptide treatments. Our results suggest that this approach could conceivably be used to design hydrophobic peptides for disruption of key TM-TM interactions of membrane proteins, and represent a valuable route to the discovery of new therapeutics.

As one of the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, bacteria use several families of membrane-embedded α-helical transporters to remove cytotoxic molecules from the cell. The small multidrug resistance protein family (SMR) is one such group of drug transporters that because of their relative small size [ca. 110 residues with four transmembrane (TM) helices] must form at the minimum dimers to efflux drugs. We have used the SMR homologue Hsmr from Halobacterium salinarum to investigate the oligomerization properties of the protein family at TM helix 4. We produced point mutations along the length of the TM4 helix in the full length Hsmr protein and assayed their dimerization and functional properties via SDS-PAGE and bacterial cell growth assays. We found that Hsmr forms functionally dependent dimers via an evolutionarily conserved 90GLxLIxxGV98 small residue heptad repeat. Upon investigation of the large hydrophobic residues in this motif by substituting each large residue to Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, and Val, we determined that Hsmr efflux function relies on an optimal level of dimerization. While some substitutions led to either decreased or increased dimer and substrate-binding strength, several Ile94 and Val98 mutants were equal to wild type dimerization levels but were nonfunctional, leading to the hypothesis of a mechanistic role at TM4 in addition to the locus of dimerization. The functionally sensitive TM4 dimer represents a potential target for SMR inhibition using a synthetic TM4 peptide mimetic. Using exponential decay measurements from a real-time cellular efflux assay, we observed the efflux decay constant was decreased by up to ~60% after treatment with the TM4 peptide inhibitor compared to control peptide treatments. Our results suggest that this approach could conceivably be used to design hydrophobic peptides for disruption of key TM-TM interactions of membrane proteins, and represent a valuable route to the discovery of new therapeutics.

Background: Negative outcomes from fetal exposure to maternal dug use include Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and altered development, the unpredictability of which suggests a biological element as yet not accounted for. The manner in which the human placenta protects the fetus from xenobiotics such as drugs of misuse is not completely characterised. However, Adenosine Triphosphate Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters in placentae have demonstrated their ability to efflux xenobiotics away from the fetal vascular compartment leading to lower concentrations than in the maternal compartment and some commonly used drugs have been shown to be substrates for these proteins, e.g. methadone. It is suggested that polymorphisms in the genes that encode these transporter proteins may alter their expression and/or function. Hypothesis- Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ABC transporters ABCB1, ABCG2, ABCC1 and ABCC2 change protein expression and/or function leading to increased fetal exposure demonstrated by increased signs of NAS and/or altered development. Objectives: To determine if genotype alters protein expression and whether there is a relationship between the level of placental multidrug resistance protein P-glycoprotein (P-gp), Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP), Multidrug Resistance Associated Proteins (MRP1 and MRP2) expression and neonatal and/or developmental outcomes. Methods: Drug using women were recruited. In the immediate postnatal period placental tissue, cord blood and maternal hair samples were taken. Hair was analysed to determine drug use in the preceding 3 months, immunoblotting determined the level of P-gp, BCRP, MRP1 and MRP2 protein expression. Sequenom MassExtend Array produced genotypes from DNA obtained from cord blood. Infants were assessed for NAS at birth, 3 days and 3 weeks. At 8 months and 1 year development was assessed using the Griffiths Mental Development Scales. Plink was used to determine statistically significant associations between genotype and outcome phenotypes. Results- The level of fetal drug exposure did not predict the need for pharmacological treatment for NAS. 32 polymorphisms with significant associations to outcome measures were identified: 4 SNPs significantly altered protein expression, (3 for P-gp and 1 for MRP1). 41 SNPs were associated with changes across 4 of the 5 GMDS subscales. Discussion: No clear relationship between MDRP protein expression and neonatal outcome was noted. However, fetal genotype did influence the expression of P-gp and MRP1 and genotype across all four proteins was associated with significant changes in the measures of infant development. This was a small study and as such generation of susceptible haplotypes was not possible. However the data generated do support the concept. Further larger and longer term prospective studies, building on the experience reported in this thesis, are necessary to generate more data in order to identify haplotypes leading to increased fetal susceptibility to drug exposure.

BACKGROUND:Active HIV infection within the central nervous system (CNS) is confined primarily to microglia. The glial cell compartment acts as a viral reservoir behind the blood-brain barrier. It provides an additional roadblock to effective pharmacological treatment via expression of multiple drug efflux transporters, including P-glycoprotein. HIV/AIDS patients frequently suffer bacterial and viral co-infections, leading to deregulation of glial cell function and release of pro-inflammatory mediators including cytokines, chemokines, and nitric oxide.METHODS:To better define the role of inflammation in decreased HIV drug accumulation into CNS targets, accumulation of the antiretroviral saquinavir was examined in purified cultures of rodent microglia exposed to the prototypical inflammatory mediator lipopolysaccharide (LPS).RESULTS:3H]-Saquinavir accumulation by microglia was rapid, and was increased up to two-fold in the presence of the specific P-glycoprotein inhibitor, PSC833. After six or 24 hours of exposure to 10 ng/ml LPS, saquinavir accumulation was decreased by up to 45%. LPS did not directly inhibit saquinavir transport, and did not affect P-glycoprotein protein expression. LPS exposure did not alter RNA and/or protein expression of other transporters including multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 and several solute carrier uptake transporters.CONCLUSIONS:The decrease in saquinavir accumulation in microglia following treatment with LPS is likely multi-factorial, since drug accumulation was attenuated by inhibitors of NF-kappabeta and the MEK1/2 pathway in the microglia cell line HAPI, and in primary microglia cultures from toll-like receptor 4 deficient mice. These data provide new pharmacological insights into why microglia act as a difficult-to-treat viral sanctuary site.

La pollution croissante des milieux aquatiques nécessite la mise au point de nouvelles technologies permettant d’optimiser la surveillance de la qualité de l’eau. Dans ce contexte, nous avons développé un biomarqueur de susceptibilité du degré de la pollution globale des milieux aquatiques intitulé « Sentinelle ». Le principe du biomarqueur Sentinelle est basé sur le niveau de coexpression de deux protéines « Multidrug Resistance » (MDR), la protéine ABCG2-like et la P-gp, dans les érythrocytes de la truite Salmo trutta fario. Le biomarqueur sentinelle a été validé en conditions in vitro grâce au développement des cultures primaires d’érythrocytes de truite. Après l’exposition des globules rouges de truites à des concentrations croissantes d’un polluant modèle, le Benzo-a-pyrène, l’expression de la protéine ABCG2-like et de la P-gp augmente d’une manière dose dépendante. Le biomarqueur Sentinelle a ensuite été validé en milieu naturel sur des truites fario en provenance de différents cours d’eau d’Auvergne. En milieu naturel, les deux protéines MDR sont exprimées différemment dans les érythrocytes de truites fario selon le degré de contamination du cours d’eau. En effet, dans une rivière où la pollution est faible voire nulle, seule la protéine ABCG2-like est exprimée, alors que dans une rivière présentant une contamination plus importante, la P-gp et l’ABCG2-like sont toutes les deux coexprimées par une réponse de type relais. Les expériences menées en conditions in vitro et en milieu naturel, laissent supposer que la protéine ABCG2-like assure une fonction de garde alors que la P-gp assurerait une fonction de protection défensive. En conséquence, selon le niveau d’expression de la protéine de garde et de la protéine de défense, le degré de contamination de la rivière pourrait être évalué. L’intérêt de l’utilisation du biomarqueur Sentinelle a aussi été validé sur des Salmonidés en provenance de pisciculture. Ce nouvel outil biologique apporte des informations plus intégratives et plus précoces sur la qualité des milieux aquatiques, informations essentielles pour une meilleure gestion des ressources en eau. / Increasing aquatic pollution requires the development of new technologies for to optimize the monitoring of water quality. In this context, we have developed a “biomarker of susceptibility” designating the degree of global pollution in aquatic medium, entitled "Sentinel". The Sentinel biomarker is based on the co-expression level of two major "Multidrug resistance" (MDR) proteins, such as ABCG2-like protein and P-gp, in erythrocytes of brown trout’s in response to aquatic pollution. After developing a primary erythrocyte culture, the Sentinel biomarker was validated in a controlled medium. Trout erythrocytes exposure to increasing concentrations of Benzo-a-pyrene, a model pollutant, induced an increase expression of ABCG2-like protein and P-gp by a dose-dependent response. The Sentinel biomarker was then developed in a natural environment, using the erythrocytes of brown trout collected from the various rivers located in the Auvergne region of France. In the natural environment, both MDR proteins are differentially expressed in the erythrocytes of brown trout depending on the degree of contamination of rivers. Indeed, wild brown trout erythrocytes in an uncontaminated river, expressed only the ABCG2-like protein, whereas, in a river presenting a higher contamination, P-gp and ABCG2-like were both coexpressed with a relay response. Experiments in vitro conditions and natural environment, suggest that ABCG2-like protein acts as a vanguard protective protein, in complement to P-gp which acts as a “defensive” protective protein. Consequently, according to the expression level of the vanguard and defense proteins, the degree of contamination of the river could be evaluated. The use advantage of the Sentinel biomarker has also been validated on Salmonidae erythrocytes form farmed fish. This new tool provides biological information more early and integrative on the quality of aquatic environments. These informations are essential for better management of water resources.