Genetically determined differences in P-glycoprotein function: implications for disease risk.

The MDR1 gene product P-glycoprotein does not only contribute to drug resistance during chemotherapy of tumors but it is also expressed in healthy tissues with excretory function (intestine, liver and kidney). It transports a wide range of structurally unrelated compounds out of cells. Intestinal expression of this transporter has been shown to determine bioavailability of orally administered P-glycoprotein substrates such as digoxin. Recently, several mutations were found in the MDR1 gene. Subjects homozygous for the C3435T mutation (24% of Caucasians) have low intestinal P-glycoprotein levels, high plasma concentrations after oral digoxin and a reduced P-glycoprotein function in peripheral blood cells in comparison to the remainder of the population. Potential implications of this reduced mechanism of detoxification will be shown for three selected diseases: (1) association of low intestinal P-glycoprotein expression with development of inflammatory bowel disease; (2) implications for disease risk and therapeutic outcome of HIV; and (3) consequences of this mutation for renal P-glycoprotein expression and risk of renal cell carcinoma.