Dendritic cells require multidrug resistance protein 1 (ABCC1) transporter activity for differentiation.

Dendritic cells (DC) express the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) and multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1; ABCC1). Functionally, both these transporters have been described to be required for efficient DC and T cell migration. In this study, we report that MRP1 activity is also crucial for differentiation of DC. Inhibition of MRP1, but not P-glycoprotein, transporter activity with specific antagonists during in vitro DC differentiation interfered with early DC development. Impaired interstitial and Langerhans DC differentiation was characterized by 1) morphological changes, reflected by dropped side scatter levels in flow cytometric analysis and 2) phenotypic changes illustrated by maintained expression of the monocytic marker CD14, lower expression levels of CD40, CD86, HLA-DR, and a significant decrease in the amount of cells expressing CD1a, CD1c, and Langerin. Defective DC differentiation also resulted in their reduced ability to stimulate allogeneic T cells. We identified the endogenous CD1 ligands sulfatide and monosialoganglioside GM1 as MRP1 substrates, but exogenous addition of these substrates could not restore the defects caused by blocking MRP1 activity during DC differentiation. Although leukotriene C(4) was reported to restore migration of murine Mrp1-deficient DC, the effects of MRP1 inhibition on DC differentiation appeared to be independent of the leukotriene pathway. Though MRP1 transporter activity is important for DC differentiation, the relevant MRP1 substrate, which is required for DC differentiation, remains to be identified. Altogether, MRP1 seems to fulfill an important physiological role in DC development and DC functions.