MYCN-mediated regulation of the MRP1 promoter in human neuroblastoma

In the childhood cancer neuroblastoma ( NB), the level of expression of the multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) gene is strongly correlated with expression of the MYCN oncogene in primary NB tumors, suggesting that MRP1 may be a target for MYCN-mediated gene regulation. In this study, we show that MYCN induction in human NB cells results in increased MRP1 mRNA and protein levels, which in turn is accompanied by increased drug resistance and enhanced MRP1-mediated drug efflux. Furthermore, luciferase activity from MRP1 promoter/luciferase gene reporter constructs was significantly increased in NB cells with exogenous overexpression of MYCN, whereas activity was decreased in NB cells stably transfected with MYCN-antisense vectors. Decreased luciferase activity was observed with promoter constructs that lacked one or two E-box sequences or had E-box double point mutations, while a truncated MRP1 promoter lacking all three E-boxes exhibited only basal levels of activity. Specific electrophoretic mobility shifts of MRP1 E-box sequences were detected with nuclear extracts from NB cells with MYCN overexpression, and complex formation was inhibited with the addition of antibodies directed against MYCN or MYC. These findings indicate that by interacting with E-box elements within the promoter, MYCN can upregulate MRP1 expression and modulate drug resistance in NB.