P-glycoprotein and the development of multidrug resistance

The development of drug resistance during the therapy is a major obstacle in the successful treatment of various pathologies. The in vitro studies on cell lines have shown that exposure to a single drug often leads to a cross-resistance to several other structurally and functionally unrelated compounds. This phenomenon is known as multidrug resistance (multidrug resistance, MDR). The membrane transporters play a role in the absorption, distribution and elimination of metabolic products, of ions and of most drugs. The membrane transporters include a variety of membrane proteins with different structures and functions, such as, for example, exchangers of ions and proteins from the ABC family (ATP-binding cassette). Importance of the membrane transporters appears from genetic diseases that are caused by alteration of their functions. Although the role of membrane transporters in the drug effects aroused a particular interest in the recent years, the relevant transporters remain still unknown to most drugs. Even though it is known that a specific transporter interacts with a drug, there is the possibility that the unidentified transporters to recognize the same drug.

Autorentext

Born in 1982, Bucharest. Her PhD thesis with the title:"Biochemical mechanisms involved in multidrug resistance" was held in 2013. Currently assistant professor at the Departament Of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", Bucharest, Romania. She is Editorial Managing Assistant at Farmacia Journal.