Activation of beta-catenin signalling by GSK-3 inhibition increases p-glycoprotein expression in brain endothelial cells.

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Lim JC, Kania KD, Wijesuriya H, Chawla S, Sethi JK, Pulaski L, Romero IA, Couraud PO, Weksler BB, Hladky SB, Barrand MA

Activation of beta-catenin signalling by GSK-3 inhibition increases p-glycoprotein expression in brain endothelial cells.

J Neurochem. 2008 Aug;106(4):1855-65. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2008.05537.x. Epub 2008 Jul 4.

PubMed ID
18624906 [ View in PubMed
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Abstract

This study investigates involvement of beta-catenin signalling in regulation of p-glycoprotein (p-gp) expression in endothelial cells derived from brain vasculature. Pharmacological interventions that enhance or that block beta-catenin signalling were applied to primary rat brain endothelial cells and to immortalized human brain endothelial cells, hCMEC/D3, nuclear translocation of beta-catenin being determined by immunocytochemistry and by western blot analysis to confirm effectiveness of the manipulations. Using the specific glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) inhibitor 6-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime enhanced beta-catenin and increased p-gp expression including activating the MDR1 promoter. These increases were accompanied by increases in p-gp-mediated efflux capability as observed from alterations in intracellular fluorescent calcein accumulation detected by flow cytometry. Similar increases in p-gp expression were noted with other GSK-3 inhibitors, i.e. 1-azakenpaullone or LiCl. Application of Wnt agonist [2-amino-4-(3,4-(methylenedioxy) benzylamino)-6-(3-methoxyphenyl)pyrimidine] also enhanced beta-catenin and increased transcript and protein levels of p-gp. By contrast, down-regulating the pathway using Dickkopf-1 or quercetin decreased p-gp expression. Similar changes were observed with multidrug resistance protein 4 and breast cancer resistance protein, both known to be present at the blood-brain barrier. These results suggest that regulation of p-gp and other multidrug efflux transporters in brain vasculature can be influenced by beta-catenin signalling.