Multiple physiological functions for multidrug transporter P-glycoprotein?
Multidrug resistance mediated by the drug-efflux protein P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is one mechanism that tumor cells use to escape death induced by chemotherapeutic drugs. Although it is irrefutable that P-gp can efflux xenobiotics out of cells, biological regulatory functions for P-gp in multicellular organisms have yet to be established firmly. Recent observations have challenged the notion that P-gp has evolved merely to efflux xenotoxins out of healthy cells and raised the possibility that P-gp and related transporter molecules might play a fundamental role in regulating cell differentiation, proliferation and survival.
Johnstone
R W
RW
Cellular Cytotoxicity Laboratory, The Austin Research Institute, Austin Hospital, Studley Road, Heidelberg 3084, Victoria, Australia. r.johnstone@ari.unimelb.edu.au
Ruefli
A A
AA
Smyth
M J
MJ
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D002784:Cholesterol