Abnormal chloride conductance in multidrug resistant HL60/AR cells.

Chloride channel currents were measured in drug sensitive parental HL60 and multidrug resistant (MDR) subline HL60/AR cells, using a whole cell patch-clamp technique. In addition, the in vitro effects of 4,4' diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), a Cl- channel blocker, on intracellular accumulation and sensitivity to daunorubicin and intracellular pH (pH(i)) in HL60 cells were examined. Baseline DIDS blockable Cl- currents were consistently lower in HL60/AR cells (0.9 pA/pF) as compared to HL60 cells (7.0 pA/pF). Similarly cAMP-activated Cl- currents were minimal in HL60/AR cells (0.2 pA/pF) as compared to HL60 cells (8 pA/pF). In vitro treatment of drug sensitive HL60 cells with DIDS resulted in concentration-dependent decreased accumulation and increased resistance to daunorubicin and decreased pH(i). These data show that altered Cl- permeability is associated with MDR and suggest that Cl- channels may play a role in MDR.