[Immunological effector cells enhance apoptosis induced by adriamycin in a multi-drug resistant human breast cancer cell line].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of immunologic effector cells to enhance apoptosis induced by adriamycin (ADR) in multi-drug resistant human breast cancer cell line MCF7/ADR.


METHODS
The immunologic effector cells were induced and expanded by IFN-gamma, McAb CD3, IL-1 and IL-2. The expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and its relation to apoptosis in target cells were detected by TUNEL technique and immunohistochemical staining. Flow cytometry (FCM) was carried out to determine the expression level of human breast cancer related P185 antigen and the positive rate of Annexin V-FITC/PI expression. The subcellular distribution of ADR and Annexin V expression in the target cells were detected by fluorescence microscopy.


RESULTS
The immunologic effector cells down-regulated the expression of P185 and P-gp in MCF7/ADR cells. The accumulation and subcellular distribution of ADR in MCF7/ADR cells were increased after co-culture with the immunologic effector cells. After treatment with the immunologic effector cells in combination with ADR, apoptosis rate of the target cells was 10 times higher than that induced by ADR alone, and 13 times higher than that induced by the immunologic effector cells alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunologic effector cells can simultaneously down-regulate the expression of P185 and P-gp in MCF7/ADR cell line, and increase the apoptosis rate of MCF7/ADR cells in combination with ADR.
Shi
Yong-jin
YJ
Department of Hematology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China. shyj517@sina.com
Ren
Han-yun
HY
Cen
Xi-nan
XN
Zhu
Qiang
Q
Yu
Ji-ren
JR
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004317:Doxorubicin; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases