The Bioconcentration Hypothesis: Potential Role of Transporter in Breast Ductules

Abstract

Hope for prevention of breast cancer arises from international breast cancer rate variation, which suggests potentially modifiable environmental determinants of the disease. We used immunocytochemical and Western blot methods to localize two membrane xenobiotic transporter, MRP1 and MRP2. MRP2 is located at the apical membrane of epithelial cells and excretes anionic hydrophobic substrates, such as 17 beta-estrogen glucuronide, antioxidants, and toxic molecules into lumen of the kidney, liver, and gut. In isolated and tissue cultured breast ductules, MRP2 is located predominantly in the apical region of luminal epithelial cells and thus might bioconcentrate toxic substrates into sealed, non-flushed lumens. In a comparison epithelium, Caco2 cells in culture, MRP2 is localized at the apical membrane only and is detected as bands at 60 and 190 kDa in blots, but in breast tissue cultures MRP2 is detected only at 60 kDa. MRP1 transports anionic hydrophobic molecules across the basolateral side of epithelial cells into the connective tissue. In isolated and tissue cultured breast ductules, MRP1 is localized in the cytoplasm, as is typical for numerous epithelial cells and is detected as a band at 190 kDa. Thus, overall transport of toxins to, and bioconcentration in, breast ductile lumens may be determined by a balance between these-two transporters.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA425890

Entities

People

  • Karl J. Karnaky Jr

Organizations

  • Medical University of South Carolina

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animal Structures
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cell Membrane
  • Cells
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Confocal Microscopy
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Fish
  • Health Services
  • Intercellular Junctions
  • Organic Chemistry

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Cellular and Molecular Pathways of Apoptosis.
  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
  • Oncology (Cancer Research).