Functional Polymorphisms of the Human Multidrug-Resistance Gene: Multiple Sequence Variations and Correlation of One Allele with P-Glycoprotein Expression and Activity in vivo

To evaluate whether alterations in the multidrug-resistance (MDR)-1 gene correlate with intestinal MDR-1 expression and uptake of orally administered P-glycoprotein (PGP) substrates, we analyzed the MDR-1 sequence in 21 volunteers whose PGP expression and function in the duodenum had been determined by Western blots and quantitative immunohistology (n = 21) or by plasma concentrations after orally administered digoxin (n = 8 + 14). We observed a significant correlation of a polymorphism in exon 26 (C3435T) of MDR-1 with expression levels and function of MDR-1. Individuals homozygous for this polymorphism had significantly lower duodenal MDR-1 expression and the highest digoxin plasma levels. Homozygosity for this variant was observed in 24% of our sample population (n = 188). This polymorphism is expected to affect the absorption and tissue concentrations of numerous other substrates of MDR-1.