title: Augmented expression of P-gp/multi-drug resistance gene by all-trans retinoic acid in monocytic leukemic cells.
abstract: P-glycoprotein (P-gp)/multi-drug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene is recognized to be, at least in part, responsible for the refractoriness to chemotherapy of leukemia. The transcriptional mechanism of MDR1 gene is largely unknown. However, recent reports have clarified that early growth response 1 gene (Egr1) positively regulates MDR1 transcription, while Wilms' tumor suppressor gene (WT1) does negative regulation of MDR1 gene expression in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate treated K562 cells. In addition, Egr1 and WT1 are structurally related transcription factors and bind to quite similar DNA sequences. Our study of mRNA expression profile of Egr1, WT1 and MDR1 in fresh AML samples demonstrated that there are disease-specific patterns. Egr1 mRNA was frequently and strongly expressed in monocytic leukemia cells, especially in AML M4 cells. WT1 mRNA was undetectable in t(8;21) AML cells. mRNA expression of MDR1 was frequent in AML M1 and t(8;21) AML cells, in which the expression level was highest in AML M1 and was low in monocytic leukemia (M4 and M5). Then, expression level of MDR1 was inversely correlated with Egr1. By liquid culture of leukemia cell lines and fresh AML cells with the addition of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), modulation of P-gp/MDR1 and Egr1 was observed and the pattern of modulation was divided into four groups: (1) blastic AML type, in which distinct expression of P-gp/MDR1 and CD34 was not influenced by ATRA; (2) t(8;21)AML type, in which P-gp/MDR1 expression was augmented by ATRA, while CD34 was kept high; (3) AML M3 type, in which P-gp/MDR1 expression was reduced with granulocytic differentiation by ATRA; (4) monocytic AML type, in which P-gp/MDR1 expression was augmented by ATRA, while CD34 expression decreased, and strong Egr1 expression was downregulated just prior to the augmentation of P-gp/MDR1 expression. WT1 expression was not influenced by the addition of ATRA in each group. Previous reports have suggested that P-gp/MDR1 plays an important role in resistance to chemotherapy, and is recognized as one of the stem cell marker. However, P-gp/MDR1 expression augmented by ATRA, which was observed in monocytic AML, was recognized as a functional molecule of mature monocyte/macrophage, because CD34 expression decreased and CD13 expression increased by ATRA. Finally, expression of P-gp/MDR1 in monocytic leukemia, which was functionally confirmed by Rh123 efflux study, was thought to be closely related to the characteristic modulation of Egr1 expression by ATRA.
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, 480-1195, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokura
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shikami
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watarai
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugamura
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Hidetsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mihara
authors.forename: Yoshiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katoh
authors.forename: Kenkichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nitta
mesh_terms: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D018826:CD13 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002469:Cell Separation; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007621:Karyotyping; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497325:EGR1 protein, human; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025721:WT1 Proteins; D014212:Tretinoin; D018826:CD13 Antigens