TY - JOUR T1 - Inhibition of expression of the multidrug resistance-associated P-glycoprotein of by phosphorothioate and 5' cholesterol-conjugated phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides. JF - Molecular Pharmacology JO - Mol Pharmacol SP - 808 LP - 819 VL - 50 IS - 4 AU - S K Alahari AU - N M Dean AU - M H Fisher AU - R Delong AU - M Manoharan AU - K L Tivel AU - R L Juliano Y1 - 1996/10/01 UR - http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/50/4/808.abstract N2 - Multiple drug resistance (MDR) as a result of overexpression of the P-glycoprotein drug transporter, a product of the MDR1 gene, is a significant problem in cancer therapeutics. We demonstrate that phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides can reduce levels of MDR1 message, inhibit expression of P-glyco protein, and affect drug uptake in MDR mouse 3T3 fibroblasts. An obligonucleotide (5995) directed against a sequence overlapping the AUG start codon was effective in reduction MDR1 transcript and protein levels when used at submicromolar concentrations in conjunction with cationic liposomes, whereas a scrambled control oligonucleotide (10221) was ineffective. Substantial and specific antisense effects could also be attained with a 5' cholesterol conjugate of the 5995 sequence. In this case, use of cationic liposomes was unnecessary. The 5' cholesterol 5995, but the not 5' cholesterol 10221, reduced MDR1 message and P-glycoprotein levels by 50-60% when used at low micromolar concentrations. In parallel, treatment with 5' cholesterol 5995 also enhanced cellular accumulation of rhodamine 123, a well-known substrate of the P-glycoprotein transporter. The effectiveness of the cholesterol-conjugated 5995 may be due to its rapid and extensive cell uptake, as indicated in flow cytometry and confocal microscopy studies. These observations suggest that cholesterol-conjugated anti-sense oligonucleotides may offer a novel approach to inhibition of P-glycoprotein-mediated MDR and to the modulation of other tumor cell genes whose overexpression contributes to the neoplastic state or to resistance to therapy. ER -