Dexamethasone increases expression and activity of multidrug resistance transporters at the rat blood-brain barrier.
Brain edema is an important factor leading to morbidity and mortality associated with primary brain tumors. Dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, is routinely prescribed with antineoplastic agents to alleviate pain associated with chemotherapy and reduce intracranial pressure. We investigated whether dexamethasone treatment increased the expression and activity of multidrug resistance (MDR) transporters at the blood-brain barrier. Treatment of primary rat brain microvascular endothelial cells with submicromolar concentrations of dexamethasone induced significantly higher levels of drug efflux transporters such as breast cancer resistance protein (abcg2), P-glycoprotein (P-gp; abcb1a/abcb1b), and MDR protein 2 (Mrp2; abcc2) as indicted by protein and mRNA levels as well as by functional activity. The effect of dexamethasone on transporter function was significant within 6 h of treatment, was dose dependent, and was reversible. Dexamethasone-induced upregulation of Bcrp and P-gp expression and function was partially abrogated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist RU486. In contrast, RU486 had no effect on the dexamethasone-induced upregulation of Mrp2, suggesting a GR-independent regulation of Mrp2, and a GR-dependent regulation of P-gp and Bcrp. In addition to the dexamethasone-induced upregulation of MDR transporters, we measured a dose-dependent and reversible increase in the expression of the nuclear transcription factor pregnane xenobiotic receptor (PXR). Administering dexamethasone to rats caused increased expression of PXR in brain microvessels within 24 h. These results suggest that adjuvant therapy with corticosteroids such as dexamethasone in the treatment of brain tumors may increase the expression of MDR transporters at the blood-brain barrier through pathways involving GR and PXR.
Dept. of Physiology, Univ. of Tennessee Health Science Center, 894 Union Ave., Nash 426, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
Vishal S
VS
Narang
Charles
C
Fraga
Narendra
N
Kumar
Jun
J
Shen
Stacy
S
Throm
Clinton F
CF
Stewart
Christopher M
CM
Waters
D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D007192:Indenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077297:Pregnane X Receptor; D011285:Pregnenolone Carbonitrile / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007192:Indenes; D015735:Mifepristone; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins; D000077297:Pregnane X Receptor; D011285:Pregnenolone Carbonitrile; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; C423013:Abcc2 protein, rat; C489249:Abcg2 protein, rat; C024743:Fumitremorgin A