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F Loor

Publications and source records attributed to F Loor.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The Yaa gene-dependent B-cell deficiency worsens the generalized lymphadenopathy and autoimmunity of C57BL/6-gld male mice.

The BXSB mice are unique among murine models for systemic lupus erythematosus in that males are much more severely affected than females. The BXSB male disease is associated with a Y-chromosome-linked gene, which is an autoimmunity accelerator gene (Yaa). The Yaa mutation affects the B-cell subset, which becomes hyper-responsive to T-cell signals. The Yaa mutation was combined to the generalized lymphadenopathy disease (gld) gene in order to know whether an additional intrinsic B-cell defect might enhance gld disease in the male mice. The B6-gld-Yaa male mice were shown to display earlier and exacerbated lymphoproliferative and autoimmune features. It appeared that the milder gld syndrome observed in B6-gld male mice with a normal Y-chromosome was dependent on the mechanisms of B-cell activation and that the B cells could also accelerate the lymphoproliferation and the differentiation of T cells into Thy-1+ B220+ cells.

Animals↗

Influence of the lpr environment on the lymph node cell phenotypes in C57BL/6 nubg and nulpr chimeras.

Mice homozygous for the lpr gene show a marked lymphoproliferative syndrome. Most T cells which accumulate in their lymphoid organs belong to a fairly unusual subpopulation. Although being CD44+ T cells expressing neither CD4 nor CD8, they are CD3 T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha beta positive and express both Thy-1 and B220, the B-cell form of the CD45 marker. To support engraftment and development of transferred lpr lymphomyeloid cells, athymic recipients must be genetically lpr. While nude/beige (nubg) recipients do not allow the development of any lymphoproliferative syndrome, this is variable in nude/lpr (nulpr) recipients, and the genotypic origin of the proliferating lymphocytes in nulpr recipients is unclear. In this study, the surface phenotype of lymph node cells from nulpr recipients of lpr grafts ([lpr-->nulpr] chimeras) was analysed by flow cytometry, and compared with various chimeras and parental (donor and recipient) strains as controls. Abnormal cells of the lpr type were not detectable either in [lpr-->nubg] chimeras or in [wild-->nubg] controls. Absence of lpr cells was also seen in neonatal lpr thymus-grafted nubg mice engrafted previously with lpr haematopoietic cells. In contrast, a substantial emergence of double-positive B220+ Thy-1+ cells occurred in [lpr-->nulpr] chimeras, together with high levels of CD4+ cells, a substantial fraction of which might express B220. Finally, in thymus-grafted nulpr mice, the levels of B220+ Thy-1+ cells were as high as in lpr mice and there was again an expansion of CD4+ (potentially B220+) cells. Abnormality of the nulpr haemopoietic environment was also shown by the low percentages of T cells, particularly CD8+ cells, in short-lived [wild-->nulpr] chimeras. Taken together, our results underline the differences between the nubg and nulpr environments.

Animals↗

SDZ 280-125: a cyclopeptolide endowed with an in vitro cyclosporin A-like profile of activity for the reversion of the P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance of tumor cells.

Tumor cells whose multidrug resistance is caused by the P-glycoprotein (Pgp) mediated anti-cancer drug (ACD) efflux can be chemosensitized by cyclosporins, whose derivatives were found to display a whole range of resistance-modulating activities. Similarly, derivatives of the non-immunosuppressive natural fungus cyclic peptolide SDZ 90-215 were recently shown to display a broad range of chemosensitizing activities. With highly resistant cells expressing high levels of Pgp, one such compound (SDZ 280-125) was shown here to restore both a normal sensitivity to the growth-inhibitory effects of ACD and a normal retention of an anthracycline antibiotic. With both read-outs, SDZ 280-125 activity was about 3-fold that of cyclosporin A (CsA). SDZ 280-125 also displayed the same profile of chemosensitization as CsA for different ACD classes.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Restoration of taxol sensitivity of multidrug-resistant cells by the cyclosporine SDZ PSC 833 and the cyclopeptolide SDZ 280-446.

BACKGROUND: Taxol, a promising agent for the treatment of cancer, has entered phase II clinical trials. Nevertheless, it belongs to the class of compounds that show impaired retention in multidrug-resistant cells expressing P-glycoprotein (Pgp), a drug efflux pump. Chemosensitizers like verapamil modulate multidrug resistance by interfering with the efflux action of Pgp and thus can decrease drug resistance or can restore drug sensitivity by restoring normal drug accumulation and distribution within the multidrug-resistant tumor cell. The two strongest, nearly equipotent chemosensitizers identified to date are the cyclosporine derivative SDZ PSC 833 and the semisynthetic cyclopeptolide SDZ 280-446. PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the capacities of verapamil, SDZ PSC 833, and SDZ 280-446 to decrease resistance of two multidrug-resistant cell lines to taxol. METHODS: We studied in vitro the growth of two multidrug-resistant tumor cell lines displaying high resistance to taxol: multidrug-resistant Chinese hamster ovary cells and murine monocytic leukemia P388 cells. We determined the taxol concentration that produced 50% inhibition of cell growth (IC50) in the two multidrug-resistant cell lines and in the parent cell lines, in the presence of a range of chemosensitizer concentrations (0-30 microM). IC50 values were determined in the presence and in the absence of verapamil, SDZ PSC 833, or SDZ 280-446. RESULTS: At nontoxic concentrations (0.3-1 microM), SDZ PSC 833 and SDZ 280-446 produced an almost complete reversal of the high taxol resistance of the multidrug-resistant tumor cells, whereas only partial restoration of sensitivity to taxol was achieved with verapamil. CONCLUSION: SDZ PSC 833 and SDZ 280-446 can restore the normal taxol sensitivity of highly resistant multidrug-resistant tumor cells. IMPLICATIONS: The combination of taxol with SDZ PSC 833 or SDZ 280-446 may be recommended for treatment of multidrug-resistant cancers.

Animals↗

Modulation of adoptively transferred viable motheaten pathology in sublethally irradiated normal recipient mice by normal hematopoietic cells.

"Adoptive mev" chimeras were created by grafting hematopoietic cells (HC) from B6 viable motheaten (mev) mice into bg or wild sublethally irradiated (SI) mice: the chimeras developed mev-type symptoms such as paw inflammation and necrosis, lung damage, thymus atrophy, and high serological IgM concentration and autoantibody levels as well as rapid death. The phenotype of adoptive mev mice could be obtained even after two to three successive passages into SI mice (Kuntz et al., 1991. Immunology 73, 356). In the present study, mixed HC transfer experiments showed that bg or wild HC could not prevent or delay neither the serological symptoms nor the pathology conferred by cotransferred mev HC. Nevertheless, when cotransferred with adoptive mev chimera HC, bg or wild HC could block the development of the pathology and the morbidity, although only delayed the emergence of the serological abnormalities. This shows that the differentiation of mev HC in a bg or wild normal-type environment does not allow the maintenance of all mev HC-dependent abnormalities.

Animals↗

gld and lpr hematopoietic cell transfers: common and different serological features of the C57BL/6 chimeras.

Homozygosity for either the lpr (lymphoproliferation) or the gld (generalized lymphoproliferative disease) mutation in mice causes the development of strikingly similar hyperglobulinemia and lymphoproliferative syndromes. Nevertheless, previous studies of various C57BL/6 chimeras obtained by reconstitution of irradiated recipients with hematopoietic cells (HC), differing at the bg, gld, lpr, and/or nu loci, showed that the lpr and gld syndromes had distinct etiologies. The [lpr-->lpr], [gld-->gld], and [gld-->wild] chimeras developed lymphoid hyperplasia, while the [lpr-->wild, bg, or gld] and [nulpr-->wild or bg] chimeras developed a severe persistent lymphoid aplasia. We now show that the serological status (immunoglobulin (Ig) levels and Ig isotype distribution) of the [lpr-->lpr], [gld-->gld], and [gld-->wild] chimeras were roughly equivalent to those of genetic lpr and gld mice. Despite their lymphoid aplasia, all the [lpr-->non-lpr] chimeras displayed surprisingly normal serum Ig levels, similar to [wild-->wild] control chimeras, although always with some abnormal isotype profile. In fact, an early but transient increase of serum IgG1 levels was found in all [lpr-->wild, bg, or gld], [lpr-->lpr], [nulpr-->wild or bg], [wild-->lpr], and [gld-->wild or gld] types of chimeras. Despite a common early behavior, the host type and/or the gld or lpr HC origin may cause later divergences of the gld or lpr HC grafted chimeras.

Animals↗

Reversion of the P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance of cancer cells by FK-506 derivatives.

FK-506 is a resistance-modulating agent (RMA) for tumor cells whose multidrug resistance (MDR) involves a P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-mediated anti-cancer drug efflux. The family of FK-506 relatives and derivatives includes analogs which display a whole range of chemosensitizing strengths, from no detectable RMA activity to a complete reversion of the MDR phenotype. Similarly, FK-506 analogs display a whole range of immunosuppressive activities, including inactive ones. FK-506 was compared for RMA activity with 11 FK-506 analogs which were at least 20-fold less active than FK-506 for the inhibition of the bi-directional mixed lymphocyte reaction displayed the whole range of RMA activity. One such strong RMA derivative of FK-506 (SDZ 280-629) was further shown able to restore completely daunomycin retention by highly resistant MDR P388 tumor cells.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Atypical multi-drug resistance (MDR): low sensitivity of a P-glycoprotein-expressing human T lymphoblastoid MDR cell line to classical P-glycoprotein-directed resistance-modulating agents.

Verapamil, cyclosporin A (CsA), the cyclosporin derivative SDZ PSC 833 and the novel cyclopeptolide SDZ 280-446 were tested for their capacity to chemosensitize a P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-expressing multi-drug resistant (MDR) variant of the CEM human T lymphoblastoid cell subline (CCRF ACTD 400+). That MDR-CEM cell subline had been previously selected for MDR by actinomycin D and displayed a very high resistance phenotype: 3700-fold for actinomycin D, 3900-fold for vincristine, 1200-fold for taxol, 1000-fold for daunomycin (DAU) and 400-fold for colchicine. Interestingly, these MDR-CEM cells displayed little chemosensitization by resistance-modulating agents (RMA) which presumably work by inhibiting Pgp function. These MDR-CEM cells displayed virtually no chemosensitization by 1 microM verapamil or 1 microgram/ml (about 0.8 microM) CsA, whereas their chemosensitization for different anti-cancer drugs (ACD) was rather stable (from 51- to 82-fold) with 1 microgram/ml (about 0.8 microM) SDZ 280-446, while being very unbalanced (from 5- to 38-fold) with 1 microgram/ml (about 0.8 microM) SDZ PSC 833. Exposure of the MDR-CEM cells to Pgp-directed RMAs, during their loading with DAU (DAU-loading phase), hardly restored DAU retention: SDZ 280-446 being as poorly active as SDZ PSC 833, and about only 3- and 4-fold more active than CsA and verapamil. In contrast, SDZ PSC 833 treatment of human MDR-KB and MDR-LoVo cell lines under the same conditions could restore most or all the DAU retention shown by the parental (Par) cells, in spite of their high level of resistance. By keeping the MDR-CEM cells in the presence of RMA throughout the experiment (both DAU-loading and DAU-efflux phases), a better DAU retention could be restored by the different RMAs used, their order of relative restoration activity being SDZ 280-446 3- to 4-fold > SDZ PSC 833 3- to 10-fold > CsA 2- to 4-fold > verapamil. Nevertheless, the level of DAU retention restored in the MDR-CEM cells reached a plateau at 50% of the Par-CEM cell level. Therefore, although the MDR-CEM cells expressed easily detectable membranous Pgp molecules and probably used them for DAU efflux, they displayed an additional efflux mechanism that was not sensitive to the Pgp inhibitors.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Lack of transfer of lpr-type abnormalities (lymphoproliferation or lymphoid aplasia) in double congenic nude beige mice engrafted with lpr haematopoietic cells.

The aetiology of the autoimmune and lymphoproliferative syndrome caused by the murine lpr (lymphoproliferation) mutation was studied by the adoptive transfer methodology using non-irradiated athymic and natural killer (NK)-deficient C57BL/6 nude beige mice (B6 nubg) as recipients. The [lpr-->nubg] chimeras did not display the severe lymphoid organ aplasia shown by irradiated non-lpr recipients of lpr haematopoietic cells. However, nor did they either express the typical lpr phenotype features (hyperglobulinaemia, autoimmunity and lymphoid hyperplasia). Nevertheless, engraftment of lpr cells in the nubg recipients was shown by their much increased survival, the recovery of T-cell mitogen responsiveness in the spleen, and the presence of T-dependent immunoglobulin isotypes in their serum. The host of donor origin of serum immunoglobulin was studied by measuring IgG2a allotypes in the serum of [lpr-->nubg] chimeras made with different lgh-congenic mice. Interestingly, several months after grafting, the serum IgG2a was found to be mainly of lpr graft origin, suggesting that only lpr B cells could function in such chimeras. In conclusion, a lpr spleen cell graft reconstituted non-irradiated nubg recipients and induced neither a typical lpr syndrome nor a lpr-type graft-versus-host (GVH)-like disease. These features of the lpr syndrome are at variance with those of the phenotypically similar gld syndrome, since this mutation allows the transfer of a generalized lymphadenopathy disease by grafting gld spleen cells in nubg or irradiated recipients. Unlike the gld syndrome, the lpr gene might not only affect haematopoietic cells but also cells of the environment, which would interact in the same impaired process.

Animals↗

Adoptive transfer of the entire gld (generalized lymphoproliferative disease) syndrome in nude beige mice by a single gld thymocyte graft.

C57BL/6 nude beige mice (B6 nubq; no T cell, no NK activity) were used as recipients for the adoptive transfer of thymocytes from B6 gld mice (generalized lymphoproliferative disease) which are a model of systemic lupus erythematous. The [gld----nubg] chimeras showed several similarities with gld control mice including the T cell disorders (lymphoproliferation and Con A-response deficiency of splenocytes) and B cell disorders (hyperglobulinemia and elevated anti-single-stranded DNA antibody titers). This suggests that the gld lymphoproliferative disorder has a thymic origin (and does not result from an abnormally extrathymic T cell development) and that the gld T cells have an essential role for the emergence of the disorders of both the T and B cells.

Aging↗

SDZ 280-446, a novel semi-synthetic cyclopeptolide: in vitro and in vivo circumvention of the P-glycoprotein-mediated tumour cell multidrug resistance.

SDZ 280-446 is a semi-synthetic derivative of a natural cyclic peptolide. Its ability to sensitise in vitro tumour cells whose resistance is due to P-glycoprotein-mediated anticancer-drug efflux was shown using four different pairs of parental drug-sensitive (Par-) and multidrug-resistant (MDR-) cell lines, from three different species (mouse, human, Chinese hamster) representing four different cell lineages (monocytic leukaemia, nasopharyngeal epithelial carcinoma, colon epithelial carcinoma, ovary fibroblastoid carcinoma), and using four different drug classes (colchicine, vincristine, daunomycin/doxorubicin and etoposide). By measuring its capacity to restore normal drug sensitivity of MDR-cells in culture in vitro, it appeared that SDZ 280-446 belongs to the same class of very potent chemosensitisers as the cyclosporin derivative SDZ PSC 833: both are about one order of magnitude more active than cyclosporin A (CsA), which is itself about one order of magnitude more active than other known chemosensitisers (including verapamil, quinidine and amiodarone which have already entered clinical trials in MDR reversal). Low concentrations of SDZ 280-446 could also restore cellular daunomycin retention in MDR-P388 cells to the levels found in the Par-P388 cells. SDZ 280-446 was also effective as a chemosensitiser when given orally in vivo. In a syngeneic mouse model, combined therapy with vinca alkaloids given i.p. and SDZ 280-446 given per os for 5 consecutive days significantly prolonged the survival of MDR-P388 tumour-bearing mice, when compared with mice receiving vinca alkaloids alone. Another protocol, using three cycles of i.p. doxorubicin at 4 day intervals, could also not increase MDR-P388 tumour-bearing mouse survival unless the mice received SDZ 280-446 orally 4 h before each doxorubicin injection. Though only very few combined therapy treatment protocols have been tested so far, clear increases in survival time of MDR-tumour-bearing mice were regularly obtained, leaving hope for major improvement of the therapy using other dosing schedules.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

SDZ PSC 833 and SDZ 280-446 are the most active of various resistance-modifying agents in restoring rhodamine-123 retention within multidrug resistant P388 cells.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) of tumor cells may result from overexpression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) but may be down-modulated by resistance-modifying agents (RMAs). The cyclosporin SDZ PSC 833 and the cyclopeptolide SDZ 280-446 were found to be the strongest RMAs known to date for restoring the sensitivity of MDR cells to anticancer drugs, as well as for restoring their retention of daunomycin, a fluorescent anthracycline. Using rhodamine-123 (Rhod-123), another fluorescent probe of Pgp function which also differentiates sensitive and MDR cells, several RMAs were compared for their capacity to inhibit Pgp function. At variance with the data obtained with the daunomycin probe, a series of RMAs did not detectably restore Rhod-123 retention by the MDR cells. With the remaining RMAs, achieving the same levels of Rhod-123 retention required 3 times lower RMA concentrations when the RMA was added to the MDR cells for both the initial uptake and the efflux of Rhod-123 rather than for its uptake only. Nevertheless, the data emphasized the large superiority of SDZ PSC 833 and SDZ 280-446 over all other RMAs.

Animals↗

Serum immunoglobulin isotype profile of viable and non viable lymphoid cell chimaeras made with nude athymic lpr (lymphoproliferation) mouse recipients.

C57BL/6 mice (B6) which are homozygous at the nu (nude, athymic) and lpr (lymphoproliferation) locus (B6 nulpr) are short-lived. We showed previously that increased survival could be obtained by grafting lymphoid cells from euthymic lpr-homozygous B6 mice (B6 lpr) mice ([lpr----nulpr] chimaeras), but curiously enough not from normal (B6 wild) mice ([wild----nulpr] chimaeras). Moreover female, but not male, [lpr----nulpr] chimaeras developed spleen and lymph node enlargement. In the present paper the distribution and absolute concentrations of all serum immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes have been determined in these chimaeras and their controls. All chimaeras displayed whole serum Ig levels higher than those of B6 wild mice, suggesting a successful reconstitution of the athymic recipients by the grafted lymphoid cells, but two types of chimaeras were peculiar. The short-lived [wild----nulpr] chimaeras showed a proportion of IgM as high as ungrafted B6 nulpr mice, suggesting a deficient down-regulation of IgM production by the grafted B6 wild-type lymphoid cells. The [lpr----nulpr] female chimaeras recovered a long lasting overexpression of all Ig isotypes, like B6 lpr mice, while all the other chimaeras showed a transient overexpression only. Since neither lymphadenopathy nor persistent increase of serum Ig levels were observed in [lpr----nu] chimaeras, our data confirmed the need for a genetically lpr host to allow the significant development of the lpr syndrome.

Animals↗

Adoptive transfer of the gld syndrome in double congenic nude lpr mice.

Homozygosity for either the lymphoproliferation (lpr) or the generalized lymphoproliferative disease (gld) mutation of mice causes the development of strikingly similar autoimmune and lymphoproliferative syndromes. The relationship between the lpr and gld mutations was studied by grafting B6 gld spleen cells (SC) to athymic B6 nude lpr mice (B6 nulpr) or to B6 nude (B6 nu) mice as controls. The injection of B6 gld SC, but not of B6 wild SC, to B6 nulpr mice caused a prolongation of survival of the short living B6 nulpr recipients. This was associated with elevated anti-single stranded DNA antibody titers and a serum hyperglobulinemia, as well as by a splenomegaly which was nearly as high as in genetically B6 gld mice, and by a marked lymphadenopathy (though milder than that of B6 gld mice). In contrast the [gld----nu] chimaeras showed a more attenuated form of gld-induced syndrome. These results suggest that the lpr environment supplied in athymic lpr recipients is compatible with--and may even favour--the development of the gld-induced syndrome.

Animals↗

Comparison of the N- and O-linked glycopeptides of lymph node cells from C57 BL/6 lpr/lpr and C57 BL/6 mice.

We have tested the hypothesis that some phenotypic characteristics of the lymphocytes from mice with lymphoproliferative disease (lpr) could be explained by abnormal glycosylation of membrane proteins. Lymph node cells from normal C57 BL/6 and from C57 BL/lpr mice were labelled with tritiated sugars. Membrane proteins were released with trypsin, then with pronase. After complete pronase digestion, glycopeptides were first separated on Bio Gel P-6 and then on Con A-Sepharose. Fractions not binding to Con A (Con A negative) were also separated on Lens culinaris agglutinin-Sepharose. Marked differences between normal and lpr cells were noticed. First, there were more glucosamine-labelled peptides with very high molecular weight (eluting fast on Bio Gel P-6) on lpr cells than on normal lymphocytes. Second, the proportion of mannose-labelled peptides binding to Con A was smaller in the lpr cells. Third, among the Con A negative peptides, the proportion binding to Lens culinaris agglutinin was higher in lpr cells. Thus, lpr cells seem to carry more alpha 1-6 fucosylated chains and larger size carbohydrates. These alterations were also confirmed by gel electrophoresis of lectin-selected iodinated cell surface antigens and seem to be restricted to a very limited number of peptides. Thus, there may be primary changes in glycosylation in lpr cells. Alternatively, the glycosylation pattern of lpr cells may be characteristic for a subpopulation of T-lymphocytes that is expanded in this disease, or for a certain stage of activation. A large proportion of Con A-negative, Lens culinaris-positive peptides is a rather unusual feature in murine cells and requires further investigation.

Animals↗

Expression of P-glycoprotein on normal lymphocytes: enhancement of the doxorubicin-sensitivity of concanavalin A-responding mouse spleen cells by P-glycoprotein blockers.

The in vitro proliferative response of mouse spleen cells (SC) to the T-cell mitogen, concanavalin A (ConA), displays a doxorubicin (DOX)-resistant component. This T-cell proliferative response displays a much higher DOX sensitivity in the presence of novel potent inhibitors of P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR), the cyclosporin (Cs) derivative, SDZ PSC 833, and the semi-synthetic cyclopeptolide, SDZ 280-446. Another resistance modulator, verapamil, might share this property, but its detection was impaired by the intrinsic toxicity of this calcium channel blocker for T-cell proliferation. A CD8+ cell-depleted SC suspension displayed a higher sensitivity to DOX alone, as well as a different sensitivity profile to SDZ 280-446. The CD8+ cells that are sensitized to DOX by the resistance modulating agents (RMA) might correspond to a formerly described T-cell subpopulation with the MDR phenotype, which seems to be essentially constituted of CD8+ (cytotoxic) T cells. Our results may open the way to a novel form of immunomodulation combining classical antineoplastic agents with Pgp-blocking Cs analogs (even non-immunosuppressive ones), which may be particularly useful when treating acute graft rejection.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Adoptive transfer of the generalized lymphoproliferative disease (gld) syndrome in nude beige mice.

C57BL/6 nude beige mice (B6 nubg) were used as recipients for the transfer of haematopoietic cells from either B6 wild as control mice, or systemic lupus erythematous B6 mice homozygous for the recessive generalized lymphadenopathy disease (gld) locus. Both gld and wild cell grafts prolonged survival of the short-living B6 nubg recipients and restored some T-cell functions, as monitored by the presence of T-dependent Ig isotypes in the serum and responsiveness of spleen cells to a T-cell mitogen. Moreover, the [gld----nubg] chimeras but not the [wild----nubg] chimeras showed several similarities with gld control mice, particularly, a spleen and lymph node hyperplasia, elevated anti-single-stranded DNA antibody titres and a hyperglobulinaemia. This hyperglobulinaemia was however qualitatively different from the gld-type hyperglobulinaemia with an important contribution of the IgG1 isotype; the lymph node hyperplasia was also less marked than in B6 gld mice.

Animals↗

In vivo circumvention of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance of tumor cells with SDZ PSC 833.

The new nonimmunosuppressive cyclosporin analogue, SDZ PSC 833, is a very potent multidrug-resistance modifier. In vitro, it was shown to be at least 10-fold more active than cyclosporin A (Sandimmune), itself more active than verapamil, on most P-glycoprotein-expressing multidrug-resistant (MDR) tumor cell lines. In vivo, SDZ PSC 833 was tested in a few protocols of combined therapy with either Vinca alkaloids or doxorubicin as anticancer drugs, using the homologous tumor-host system (P388 cells of DBA/2 origin grafted into DBA/2 or B6D2F1 mice). Although these MDR-P388 tumor cells belong to a highly resistant variant that in vitro required about 150-fold more anticancer drug for 50% cell growth inhibition than the parental P388 cells, significant prolongation of survival times of the MDR-P388 tumor-bearing mice was obtained when treated with a combination of SDZ PSC 833 p.o. were otherwise ineffective doses of anticancer drugs given i.p. This chemosensitizing effect of SDZ PSC 833 was dose-dependent and was most effective in a protocol combining administration of SDZ PSC 833 p.o. 4 h before a doxorubicin i.p. injection: in comparison with the survival of MDR-P388 tumor-bearing mice treated with the anticancer drug alone, the pretreatment with SDZ PSC 833 at 25 and 50 mg/kg gave 2- to 3-fold increases of survival times. Since the MDR-P388 tumor cells used in our studies belong to a highly resistant variant, with a much higher degree of drug resistance than the one known to occur in cancer patients, SDZ PSC 833 appears to be a very promising chemosensitizer.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗