The Changes of P-glycoprotein Activity by Interferon-gamma and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha in Primary and Immortalized Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the modification of expression and functionality of the drug transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We used immortalized human brain microvessel endothelial cells (iHBMEC) and primary human brain microvessel endothelial cells (pHBMEC) as in vitro BBB model. To investigate the change of p-gp expression, we carried out real time PCR analysis and Western blotting. To test the change of p-gp activity, we performed rhodamin123 (Rh123) accumulation study in the cells. In results of real time PCR analysis, the P-gp mRNA expression was increased by TNF-alpha or IFN-gamma treatment for 24 hr in both cell types. However, 48 hr treatment of TNF-alpha or IFN-gamma did not affect P-gp mRNA expression. In addition, co-treatment of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma markedly increased the P-gp mRNA expression in both cells. TNF-alpha or IFN-gamma did not influence P-gp protein expression whatever the concentration of cytokines or duration of treatment in both cells. However, P-gp expression was increased after treatments of both cytokines together in iHBMEC cells only compared with untreated control. Furthermore, in both cell lines, TNF-alpha or IFN-gamma induced significant decrease of P-gp activity for 24 hr treatment. And, both cytokines combination treatment also decreased significantly P-gp activity. These results suggest that P-gp expression and function at the BBB is modulated by TNF-alpha or/and IFN-gamma. Therefore, the distribution of P-gp depending drugs in the central nervous system can be modulated by neurological inflammatory diseases.