[Reversal of multidrug resistance in hepatocellular cell line HepG2R by mdr1-antisense RNA].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether multidrug resistance gene 1(mdr1) could reverse multidrug resistance (MDR) in HepG2R cells. METHODS: An adenovirus vector, Adeno-asmdr, containing the antisense RNA driven by AFP promoter, was construct. Adeno-EGFP was transfected into HepG2, an AFP producing cell line, L02, a normal human liver cell line, and HeLa, a human cervical cancer cell line, the EGFP transcription level was detected by RT-PCR. Adeno-asmdr was transfected into HepG2R cells, the expression of P-gp170 was detected by western blotting, apoptosis was detected using TUNEL and flow cytometry, cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: EGFP was highly expressed in HepG2 cells, however, its expression in L02 or HeLa cells was very weak. Western blot showed that the P-gp170 was marked down-regulated 48h after transfection with Adeno-asmdr, and the expression of P-gp170 was detectable at least 7d post-transfection. Compared with control cells, Adeno-asmdr transfected HepG2R cells were more sensitive to different chemicals, as indicated by TUNEL staining and flow cytometry. Chemical treatment arrested the cells in S and G0/M phase. CONCLUSION: The recombinant adenoviral vector, Adeno-asmdr, can block the expression of mdr1, and reverse MDR in HepG2R cells.