title: P-glycoprotein expression and regulation. Age-related changes and potential effects on drug therapy.
abstract: P-Glycoprotein is a member of a superfamily of adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter proteins and plays an important role in multidrug resistance in cancer cells. P-Glycoprotein is known to transport a wide variety of substances ranging from ions to peptides. P-Glycoprotein is expressed on a variety of normal cells, however its physiological function is unclear. The apical and polar distribution on secretory cells suggests a secretory role for P-glycoprotein. More recently, cells of the immune system have been shown to express P-glycoprotein. There is evidence to suggest that P-glycoprotein may play a role in the secretion of certain cytokines (especially those lacking signal sequence) and cytotoxic molecules. In this article, the basic structure, gene regulation and expression of P-glycoprotein are reviewed. Furthermore, age-related changes in the expression of P-glycoprotein and potential effects on drug therapy in the elderly are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Irvine, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple / Q000235:genetics; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D012313:RNA