EXPRESSION OF MULTIDRUG RESISTANCE-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN (MRP) AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) and clinicopathological factors and prognosis. Methods: The expression of MRP in 62 cases with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was detected using immunohistochemistry method. The expression of MRP in 30 cases of NSCLC and corresponding normal lung tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry and Western Blot. Results: this study of tumor tissues confirmed the plasma membrane and/or cytoplasm locations of MRP. There was apparent difference between normal lung tissues and NSCLC in MRP. The survival analysis of 62 NSCLC showed that the mean survival time of the patients with negative MRP expression was 69.8117.41 months and that of patients with positive MRP expression, 25.384.46 months. Log-rank test suggested that the difference between them was significant (P=0.0156). It was also found that in squamous cell lung cancer the statistically significant difference between the mean survival time of patients with positive MRP expression and those with negative MRP expression (P=0.0153). Multivariate Cox model analysis suggested that the survival time was significantly related to expression of MRP (P=0.035) and lymphatic metastasis (P=0.038). Conclusion: MRP expression in NSCLC is significantly higher compared with normal lung tissues. The mean survival time of patients with negative MRP was relative longer and expression of MRP was an independent factor for prognosis.

Construction of Multi-ribozyme Expression System and Its Characterization of Cleavage on the MDR1/MRP1 Double Target Substrate in vitro

To improve catalytic activity of ribozyme on its substrate, the multi-ribozyme expression system was designed and constructed from 20 cis-acting hammerhead ribozymes undergoing self-cleavage with 10 trans-acting hammerhead ribozymes inserted alternatively regularly and the plasmid of pGEM-MDR1/MRP1 used to transcribe the MDR1/MRPl（196/210） substrate containing double target sites was also constructed by DNA recombination. Endonuclease digestion analysis and DNA sequencing indicate all the recombinant plasmids were correct. The clea- vage activities were evaluated for the multi-ribozyme expression system on the MDR1/MRP1 substrate in the cell free system. The results demonstrate that the cis-acting hammerhead ribozymes in the multi-ribozyme expression system were able to cleave themselves and the 72 nt of 196Rz and the 71 nt of 210Rz trans-acting hammerhead ribozymes were liberated effectively, and the trans-acting hammerhead ribozymes released were able to act on the MDR1/MRP1 double target RNA substrate and cleave the target RNA at specific sites effectively. The multi- ribozyme expression system of the [Coat＇A196Rz/Coat＇B210Rz]5 is more significantly superior to that of the [Coat＇A 196Rz/Coat＇B210Rz] 1 in cleavage of RNA substrate. The fractions cleaved by [Coat＇A 196Rz/Coat＇B210Rz]5 on the MDR1/MRP1 substrate for 8 h at observed temperatures showed no marked difference. The studies of Mg^2＋ on cleavage efficiency indicate that cleavage reaction is dependent on Mg^2＋ ions concentration. The plot of lg（kobs） vs. lgc（Mg^2＋） displays a linear relationship between 2.5 mmol/L and 20 mmol/L Mg^2＋. It suggests that Mg^2＋ ions play a crucial role in multi-ribozyme cleavage on the substrate.

EFFECTS OF NEOADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY ON MDR1 AND MRP GENE EXPRESSION IN PRIMARY BREAST CANCER

Objective: To investigate the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the expression of drug resistance genes, multidrug resistance-1 (MDR1) and multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP), in patients with primary breast cancer. Methods: MDR1 and MRP expression were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in 20 patients with primary breast cancer, before and after chemotherapy. Results: Before chemotherapy, MDR1 and MRP expression can be detected in 15 cases (75%) and 18 cases (90%) respectively. After chemotherapy, expression of MDR1 is not significantly different from that before chemotherapy, but expression of MRP is significantly different from that before chemotherapy. Conclusion: Expression of drug resistance gene MRP, but not MDR1, is enhanced in patients with primary breast cancer submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

多药耐药相关蛋白和P-糖蛋白在口腔鳞癌中的表达及其对新辅助化疗敏感性的预测研究

目的:探讨新辅助化疗前后P-糖蛋白(P-glycoprotein,P-pg)和多药耐药相关蛋白1(Multiple resistance-associated protein-1,MRP1)在口腔鳞癌组织中的表达及其与化疗敏感性和相关临床病理因素的关系。方法:采用SP免疫组化法,对106例口腔鳞癌患者新辅助化疗前后P-pg和MRP1的表达水平进行检测,分析其表达水平与化疗疗效的关系。结果:(1)化疗后口腔鳞癌组织中P-pg阳性表达率为74.53%,显著高于化疗前41.51%(P﹤0.05);化疗前P-pg表达阴性患者有效率为56.45%,显著高于P-pg表达阳性患者的有效率34.09%(P﹤0.05);P-pg的表达水平与口腔鳞癌的分化程度呈正相关(P﹤0.05),但与临床分期和是否有颈淋巴结转移不相关(P﹥0.05);(2)MRP1在口腔鳞癌组织中的阳性表达率在化疗前后分别为49.06%、57.55%,两者间无显著性差异(P﹥0.05);化疗前MRP1表达阴性患者和阳性患者的有效率分别为50.00%、44.23%,两者间无显著性差异(P﹥0.05);MRP1的表达水平与口腔鳞癌的分化程度、临床分期和颈淋巴结转移均不相关(P﹥0.05)。结论:P-pg和MRP1在口腔鳞癌组织中均有较高的表达水平,但只有P-pg的表达水平与新辅助化疗疗效具有显著的相关性,认为P-pg的表达水平可作为预测口腔鳞癌对化疗敏感性的分子标记物。

Reversal effect of bufalin on multidrug resistance in K562/VCR vincristine-resistant leukemia cell line

OBJECTIVE: To probe insights into the reversal effect of bufalin on vincristine-acquired multidrug resistance(MDR) in human leukemia cell line K562/VCR.METHODS: Proliferative inhibition rate and the reversal index(RI) of bufalin were determined by Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. The uptake of Adriamycin(ADM) in K562/VCR cells, cell cycle and apoptosis rate were determined by flow cytometry(FCM). Cell morphologic changes were observed with Wright-Giemsa staining. The expression of P-glycoprotein(P-gp), multidrug-associated protein-1(MRP1), Bcl-x L and Bax protein were measured by immunocytochemistry.RESULTS: The human leukemia multidrug resistant K562/VCR cells showed no cross-resistance to bufalin. The RIs of bufalin at concentrations of 0.0002,0.001 and 0.005 μmol/L were 4.85, 6.94 and 14.77,respectively. Preincubation of 0.001 μmol/L bufalin for 2 h could increase intracellular ADM fluorescence intensity to 28.07%(P<0.05) and down-regulate MRP1 expression simultaneously, but no remarkable effect was found on P-gp protein. Cell cycle analysis indicated increased apoptosis rate and apparent decreased G2/M phase proportion after treatment with bufalin. When exposed to 0.01μmol/L bufalin, typical morphological changes of apoptosis could be observed. Down-regulation of Bcl-x L and up-regulation of Bax expression in K562/VCR cells could be detected by immunocytochemistry.CONCLUSION: Bufalin could partly reverse the MDR of K562/VCR cells, with a possible mechanism of down-regulating MRP1 expression and activating apoptosis pathway by altering Bcl-x L/Bax ratio.