High-activity p-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance protein 2, and breast cancer resistance protein membrane vesicles prepared from transiently transfected human embryonic kidney 293-epstein-barr virus nuclear antigen cells

Drug Metab Dispos. 2010 Apr;38(4):705-14. doi: 10.1124/dmd.109.028886. Epub 2010 Jan 13.

Abstract

Membrane-bound transporter proteins play an important role in the efflux of drugs from cells and can significantly influence the pharmacokinetics of drug molecules. This study describes the production of large amounts of high-activity transporter membrane vesicles from human embryonic kidney 293-Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen cells transiently transfected using a Gateway-adapted pCEP4 plasmid. Transfections were scaled up to 10-liter cell cultures, and vesicle preparations were optimized using ultracentrifugation with a sucrose cushion, which enabled us to produce hundreds of milligrams of membrane vesicles expressing human efflux transporter proteins P-glycoprotein (P-gp)/multidrug resistance 1 (ABCB1), multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) (ABCC2), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) (ABCG2). Assays were developed and optimized for analyzing the ATP-dependent functionality of the transporters using probe substrates and specific inhibitors. Excellent signal/noise ratios of ATP-stimulated uptake for P-gp, MRP2, and BCRP vesicles were obtained, indicating high expression of functioning transporters. The uptake kinetics of the transporters was investigated by determining K(m) and V(max) using the model substrates N-methylquinidine (P-gp), estradiol-17beta-glucuronide (MRP2), and estrone-3-sulfate (BCRP). The ATP-dependent transport was inhibited by the model inhibitors verapamil (P-gp), benzbromarone (MRP2), and sulfasalazine (BCRP). The vesicles are thus well suited to screen for possible substrates and inhibitors in high throughput systems or are used for detailed mechanistic investigations of transporter kinetics of specific substances.

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / metabolism*
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism*
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Sub-Family B Member 4
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / metabolism*
  • Benzbromarone / pharmacology
  • Bioreactors
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • DNA / biosynthesis
  • DNA / genetics
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2
  • Neoplasm Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Polyethyleneimine / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sulfasalazine / pharmacology
  • Transfection
  • Verapamil / pharmacology

Substances

  • ABCC2 protein, human
  • ABCG2 protein, human
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Sulfasalazine
  • Benzbromarone
  • Polyethyleneimine
  • DNA
  • Verapamil