Overexpression of a transporter gene in a multidrug-resistant human lung cancer cell line.

The doxorubicin-selected lung cancer cell line H69AR is resistant to many chemotherapeutic agents. However, like most tumor samples from individuals with this disease, it does not overexpress P-glycoprotein, a transmembrane transport protein that is dependent on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and is associated with multidrug resistance. Complementary DNA (cDNA) clones corresponding to messenger RNAs (mRNAs) overexpressed in H69AR cells were isolated. One cDNA hybridized to an mRNA of 7.8 to 8.2 kilobases that was 100- to 200-fold more expressed in H69AR cells relative to drug-sensitive parental H69 cells. Overexpression was associated with amplification of the cognate gene located on chromosome 16 at band p13.1. Reversion to drug sensitivity was associated with loss of gene amplification and a marked decrease in mRNA expression. The mRNA encodes a member of the ATP-binding cassette transmembrane transporter superfamily.

Characterization of the M(r) 190,000 multidrug resistance protein (MRP) in drug-selected and transfected human tumor cell.

Overexpression of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) has been detected in resistant cell lines derived from a variety of tumor types. The deduced amino acid sequence of MRP suggests that it is a member of the ATP-binding cassette transmembrane transporter superfamily that may be glycosylated and/or phosphorylated [S. P. C. Cole et al., Science Washington, DC), 258: 1650-1654, 1992]. Recently, transfection of HeLa cells with MRP expression vectors has demonstrated that the protein is capable of increasing resistance to natural product drugs such as anthracyclines, Vinca alkaloids, and epipodophyllotoxins (C. E. Grant et al., Cancer Res., 54: 357-361, 1994). Although the resistance phenotype of the transfectants is similar to that of the human small cell lung cancer cell line, H69AR, from which MRP was originally cloned, the transfectants differ in their drug accumulation characteristics, relative resistance to certain drugs, and MRP mRNA:protein ratio. Such differences have also been observed among drug-selected cell lines that overexpress MRP, and the underlying causes of these variable phenotypes are presently not known. We have utilized polyclonal anti-MRP-peptide antibodies to compare MRP post-translational modification, stability, processing, and subcellular distribution in the HeLa transfectants and in the drug-selected H69AR cells. These studies establish that MRP in both the transfected and selected cells is an ATP-binding, integral membrane glycophosphoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 190,000. No obvious differences were detected in the extent or type of glycosylation or the kinetics of processing and turnover of the protein that might contribute to the different characteristics of the transfected and drug-selected cells. Analyses of the subcellular distribution of MRP by isopyknic density gradient centrifugation revealed that approximately 80% of MRP in the HeLa transfectants was associated with a low density plasma membrane fraction while the comparable fraction in the drug-selected H69AR cells contained only approximately 50% of the protein. The remaining MRP and plasma membrane markers were codistributed in higher density fractions consistent with the presence of MRP in endocytotic vesicles. The relatively high proportion of MRP associated with these fractions in H69AR cells may contribute to the lack of an observable accumulation defect in these cells when compared with the transfectants.

Synergistic induction of delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase activity by N-ethylprotoporphyrin IX and 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-isobutylpyridine .

The levels of the cellular free heme pool in chick embryo hepatocyte culture were lowered using N-ethylprotoporphyrin IX (N-ethylPP) and analogues of 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,4,6-trimethylpyridine (DDC), and the effect on delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALAS) was examined. N-EthylPP, which lowers cellular heme levels by inhibiting ferrochelatase activity, produced an induction of ALAS activity to 444% of control at 3 hr after its administration. 4-Ethyl DDC, which lowers heme levels by destroying the heme moiety of cytochrome P-450 and lowering ferrochelatase activity, caused an induction of ALAS to 565% of control at 12 hr after administration. 4-Isobutyl DDC, which lowers heme levels by destroying the heme moiety of cytochrome P-450, induced the activity of ALAS to 289% of control at 3 hr after administration. This indicates that ferrochelatase inhibition is a more important mechanism of heme lowering than alkylation of cytochrome P-450 heme when both heme-depleting mechanisms are acting in chick embryo liver cells. It was anticipated that administration of a combination of 4-isobutyl DDC plus N-ethylPP would mimic the effect of 4-ethyl DDC. However, this combination induced ALAS activity to levels that were much greater than those observed after 4-ethyl DDC (1257% of control at 12 hr). This synergistic induction may be attributable to lowering of free heme levels to the point where transcription, translation, and translocation of ALAS are all derepressed.

Effects of 3-(2-phenylethyl)-4-methylsydnone and related sydnones on heme biosynthesis.

3-[2-(2,4,6-Trimethylphenyl)thioethyl]-4-methylsydnone (TTMS) and 3-(2-phenylethyl)-4-methylsydnone (PEMS) cause mechanism-based inactivation of rat hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 and the formation of N-alkylprotoporphyrins in rat liver. In the present study, we have shown that both TTMS and PEMS cause mechanism-based inactivation of chick embryo hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450. TTMS also caused the inhibition of ferrochelatase activity, the accumulation of protoporphyrin IX, and an increase in the activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase in chick embryo liver cell culture. PEMS was devoid of effect on ferrochelatase activity, porphyrin accumulation, and delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase activity. There are two possible explanations for the lack of effect of PEMS on heme biosynthesis: (1) the ring-A- and/or ring-B-substituted regiosomers of the N-phenylethyl- and N-phenylethenylprotoporphyrins which are produced during the mechanism-based inactivation of cytochrome P-450 by PEMS are too bulky to fit into the active site of ferrochelatase to inhibit its activity, in contrast to the N-vinylprotoporphyrin formed from TTMS; and (2) the N-alkylprotoporphyrins produced consist of the ring-C- and/or ring-D-substituted regioisomers, which are not inhibitors of ferrochelatase activity.

Elevation of delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase and cytochrome PB1 P450 messenger RNA levels by dihydropyridines, dihydroquinolines, sydnones, and N-ethylprotoporphyrin IX.

A series of compounds that increase the activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALAS) in chick embryo hepatocyte cultures were studied for their effects on steady-state levels of mRNA for ALAS and phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome PB1 P450. N-Ethylprotoporphyrin IX (N-EtPP), which is believed to lower heme levels by inhibition of ferrochelatase (FC), had little effect on steady-state ALAS mRNA levels. 3,5-Diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4- isobutylpyridine (4-isobutyl DDC), which is believed to lower heme levels by repetitive destruction of the heme moiety of cytochrome P450, increased steady-state levels of ALAS mRNA levels approximately 2-fold. 3,5-Diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-ethylpyridine (4-ethyl DCC) which inhibits FC activity and destroys the heme moiety of cytochrome P450, increased ALAS mRNA levels approximately 4-fold. A combination of N-EtPP and 4-isobutyl DDC produced a synergistic increase in ALAS mRNA levels to approximately 6-fold over control levels. The synergistic increase in ALAS activity observed previously with this combination can be explained, at least in part, by a synergistic increase in ALAS mRNA levels. Other porphyrinogenic agents, which function as mechanism-based inactivators of cytochrome P450 and elevate ALAS activity, were found to elevate ALAS mRNA. These compounds included 3-[2-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)thioethyl]-4-methylsydnone (TTMS), 2,4-diethyl-2-methyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (DMDQ), and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2,dihydroquinoline (TMDQ). The elevation of ALAS mRNA by these porphyrinogenic agents is probably due to their lowering of cellular heme levels by a combination of ferrochelatase inhibition and repetitive destruction of the heme moiety of cytochrome P450. The lowering of heme levels should result in an enhancement of ALAS mRNA half-life as it has been demonstrated by others that heme shortens the half-life of ALAS mRNA. It was of interest that some of these drug treatments also caused an elevation in steady-state levels of cytochrome PB1 P450 mRNA; the exception was TTMS, which along with its analogue 3-(2-phenylethyl)-4-methylsydnone (PEMS), did not alter cytochrome PB1 P450 mRNA levels. Increases in steady-state levels of cytochrome PB1 P450 mRNA subsequent to increases in steady-state levels of ALAS mRNA were observed with 4-ethyl DDC, 4-isobutyl DDC, DMDQ, and TMDQ. The data obtained with N-EtPP and a combination of N-EtPP and 4-isobutyl DDC on cytochrome PB1 P450 mRNA levels do not support the contention that heme functions as a positive regulator of cytochrome P450 gene expression.

Interaction of chemicals with cytochrome P-450: implications for the porphyrinogenicity of drugs.

Our studies lead us to suggest that in order for an organic chemical to cause porphyrin accumulation in chick embryo hepatocyte culture, it must be: 1. lipophilic; 2. resistant to biotransformation by phase I or phase II reactions to compounds which are devoid of biological activity; and 3. capable of interacting with cytochrome P-450 with concomitant destruction of the heme moiety or the generation of reactive oxygen species. The interaction of porphyrin-inducing chemicals with cytochrome P-450 results in lowering of a regulatory "free heme" pool. The "free heme" pool may be lowered by inhibiting one or more of the enzymes of heme biosynthesis or by destruction of the heme moiety of cytochrome P-450. Specific chemical features enable organic chemicals to inhibit ferrochelatase activity or to destroy the heme moiety of cytochrome P-450. Chemicals with a wide variety of structures are able to inhibit uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity.

Regulation of heme biosynthesis in chick embryo liver cells.

According to current evidence heme controls the heme biosynthetic pathway primarily by controlling translocation of inactive pre-ALA-S from the cytosol into the mitochondrion, where ALA-S is active. A secondary mechanism involves inhibition by heme of transcription of the ALA-S gene. Porphyrinogenic drugs act by lowering a regulatory "free heme pool" by three different mechanisms: (a) by mechanism-based inactivation of cytochrome P-450 resulting in N-alkylprotoporphyrin formation and ferrochelatase inhibition, (b) by mechanism-based inactivation of cytochrome P-450 resulting in continuous heme destruction, (c) by enhanced generation of active oxygen species which interact with an endogenous substrate to form an inhibitor of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase. It is also possible that porphyrinogenic drugs may exert a direct effect on the nucleus to increase formation of ALA-S mRNA.

3,5-Diethoxycarbonyl-2,6-dimethyl-4-ethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine inactivates rat liver cytochrome P-450c, but not its orthologue, rabbit lung form 6.

Various rat liver cytochrome P-450 (P-450) isozymes are targets for mechanism-based inactivation by 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-2,6-dimethyl-4-ethyl-1,4- dihydropyridine (4-ethyl DDC). Unlike rat liver, which contains multiple P-450 isozymes, rabbit lung contains only three major isozymes referred to as forms 2, 5, and 6. We have examined the ability of 4-ethyl DDC to destroy P-450 heme in hepatic and pulmonary microsomes from untreated and beta-naphthoflavone (beta NF)-treated rabbits. This compound destroyed 31% of the P-450 in either hepatic microsomal preparation, but was ineffective at lowering P-450 and heme levels in pulmonary microsomes when examined at a range of concentrations (0.45-5.0 mM). These data suggest that rabbit pulmonary P-450 forms 2, 5, and 6 are not targets for destruction by 4-ethyl DDC, despite the ability of this compound to inactivate rat liver P-450c, the orthologue of rabbit lung form 6.

2,2-Dialkyl-1,2-dihydroquinolines: cytochrome P-450 catalyzed N-alkylporphyrin formation, ferrochelatase inhibition, and induction of 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase activity.

Incubation of 2,4-diethyl-1,2-dihydro-2-methylquinoline (DMDQ) with hepatic microsomes from rats pretreated with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene, pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile, or dexamethasone results in minor loss of the cytochrome P-450 chromophore and accumulation of a hepatic pigment. The hepatic pigment consists of the four regioisomers of N-ethylprotoporphyrin IX and minor amounts of the corresponding N-methyl regioisomers. Exposure of chick embryo liver cells to DMDQ results in inhibition of their ferrochelatase activity, induction of their 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase activity, and accumulation of protoporphyrin IX. 1,2-Dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline (TMDQ) causes negligible loss of cytochrome P-450 in rat liver microsomes but in vivo still produces the four N-methylprotoporphyrin IX regioisomers in low yield. Furthermore, it inhibits ferrochelatase activity, elevates 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase activity, and causes protoporphyrin IX accumulation in cultured chick embryo hepatocytes. One-electron oxidation of the 2,2-dialkyl-1,2-dihydroquinolines to radical cations is postulated to result in N-alkylation of the prosthetic heme group of cytochrome P-450. The N-alkylprotoporphyrins IX thus formed are potent inhibitors of ferrochelatase. Inhibition of ferrochelatase causes the induction of 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase and the accumulation of protoporphyrin IX. Heme alkylation and ferrochelatase inhibition may be generally associated with substrates that are subject to cytochrome P-450 mediated oxidative extrusion of alkyl radicals.

Disruption of hepatic heme biosynthesis after interaction of xenobiotics with cytochrome P-450.

Heme biosynthesis in hepatocytes is controlled by a free heme pool, which regulates delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase. Porphyrinogenic chemicals deplete the regulatory free heme pool by interacting with cytochrome P-450 thereby inhibiting heme biosynthesis and/or causing heme breakdown. Recent developments allow us to predict which groups of chemicals are likely to be porphyrinogenic. One group is exemplified by 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,4,6-trimethylpyridine. Heterocyclic compounds of this type cause mechanism-based inactivation of cytochrome P-450, leading to the formation of N-alkylporphyrins, with ferrochelatase-inhibitory activity resulting in lowering the free heme pool. Allylisopropylacetamide exemplifies a second group. Such compounds containing a terminal olefinic or acetylenic group, cause mechanism-based inactivation of cytochrome P-450. In the process, the heme moiety of cytochrome P-450 is destroyed and the free heme pool is lowered. A third group is exemplified by planar polyhalogenated or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These compounds induce specific cytochrome P-450 isozymes but are poor substrates. Active oxygen is formed, which interacts with a hepatic substrate to form a uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase inhibitor. Inhibition of this enzyme leads to depletion of the free heme pool.

Inactivation of cytochrome P450 and inhibition of ferrochelatase by analogues of 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,4,6-trimethylpyridine with 4-nonyl and 4-dodecyl substituents.

Cytochrome P450- and heme-destructive effects of the 4-nonyl and 4-dodecyl analogues of 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,4,6-trimethylpyridine (DDC) were determined using hepatic microsomal preparations obtained from untreated, beta-naphthoflavone-treated, and phenobarbital-treated chick embryos. The 4-nonyl analogue of DDC was less efficacious than 4-ethyl DDC and 4-hexyl DDC, but more efficacious than 4-dodecyl DDC with respect to cytochrome P450-destructive activity. In all hepatic microsomal preparations, cytochrome P450 destruction by 4-nonyl DDC was accompanied by loss of microsomal heme. In contrast, 4-dodecyl DDC caused loss of heme only in hepatic microsomal preparations obtained from phenobarbital-treated chick embryos. The ability of 4-nonyl DDC and 4-dodecyl DDC to lower ferrochelatase activity was compared with that of 4-ethyl DDC and 4-hexyl DDC in cultured chick embryo hepatocytes. As the length of the 4-alkyl group was increased, the ferrochelatase-lowering efficacy and potency of the DDC analogue decreased. The 4-dodecyl DDC analogue was unable to lower ferrochelatase activity, which accorded with the finding that the administration of 4-dodecyl DDC to phenobarbital-treated rats did not lead to the accumulation of an N-alkylprotoporphyrin. The ability of 4-nonyl DDC to lower ferrochelatase activity was attributed to the formation of N-nonylprotoporphyrin IX following the administration of 4-nonyl DDC to phenobarbital-treated rats.

Porphyrinogenic effects in chick embryo liver cell culture of chloramphenicol analogues that are mechanism-based inactivators of cytochrome P-450.

Structural analogues of chloramphenicol (CAP) cause mechanism-based inactivation of rat liver cytochrome P-450 (P450) either via protein acylation or destruction of the heme prosthetic group. The goal of the present work was to determine whether CAP analogues that cause loss of the P450 heme moiety also cause porphyrin accumulation in chick embryo liver cell culture. The porphyrin profiles produced by exposure of cells to CAP analogues (160 microM) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Of three CAP analogues that do not cause loss of the heme moiety of rat liver P450IIB1, two dichloroacetamides were not porphyrinogenic. The third compound, a chlorofluoroacetamide, caused porphyrin accumulation. This result may be due to the presence of P450 isozymes in chick embryo hepatocytes, distinct from rat liver P450IIB1, that are susceptible to destruction by this analogue. Of four CAP analogues that inactivate rat liver P450IIB1 with concomitant heme loss, a dichloroacetamide and two chlorofluoroacetamides caused porphyrin accumulation. The remaining compound, a monochloroacetamide, was not porphyrinogenic, perhaps because the P450 apoprotein cannot be reconstituted with fresh heme drawn from the regulatory "free heme pool" following inactivation by this analogue. Alternatively, there may be no P450 isozyme in chick embryo liver cell culture that is susceptible to inactivation by this compound.