A role for P-glycoprotein in regulating cell death.
P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an energy dependent drug pump responsible for multidrug resistance (MDR) in human cancers. While it is irrefutable that P-gp can efflux xenobiotics out of cells, the biological function of P-gp in multicellular organisms has yet to be firmly established. The question of what, if anything, P-gp does when not effluxing drugs has been raised by recent reports indicating that P-gp may regulate apoptosis, chloride channel activity, cholesterol metabolism and immune cell function. There is now a lively debate regarding the possible role of P-gp in regulating cell differentiation, proliferation and survival.
Johnstone
R W
RW
Cellular Cytotoxicity Laboratory, The Austin Research Institute, Australia, Victoria. r.johnstone@ari.unimelb.edu.au
Ruefli
A A
AA
Tainton
K M
KM
Smyth
M J
MJ
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D017209:Apoptosis; D016923:Cell Death; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1