Reversal effect of specific inhibitors of extracellular-signal regulated protein kinase pathway on P-glycoprotein mediated vincristine resistance of L1210 cells.

Effect of specific inhibitors of extracellular-signal regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway, PD98059 and U0126, on P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-mediated vincristine resistance of L1210/VCR cells was investigated. Both test inhibitors significantly reduced the survival of L1210/VCR cells in the presence of vincristine and this was associated with a decrease of LC50 values to vincristine from 2.65+/-0.43 to 0.67+/-0.28 micromol/l and to 0.69+/-0.09 micromol/l after treatment with 50 micromol/l PD98059 and 25 micromol/l UO126, respectively. Moreover, the effects of PD98059 are connected also with an increased intracellular accumulation of radiolabeled vincristine in resistant L1210/VCR cells in concentration dependent manner. The results of this study demonstrate that inhibitors of ERK signaling pathway are reversal agents of vincristine resistance in L1210/VCR cells. The precise mechanism of PD98059 and U0126 action in modulation of MDR is not resolved yet, but the role of ERK-mediated phosphorylation cascade could be considered.