Evidence for P-Glycoprotein Involvement in Cell Volume Regulation Using Coulter Sizing in Flow Cytometry
Résumé
The regulation of cell volume is an essential function that is coupled to a variety
of physiological processes such as receptor recycling, excitability and contraction,
cell proliferation, migration, and programmed cell death. Under stress, cells undergo
emergency swelling and respond to such a phenomenon with a regulatory volume decrease
(RVD) where they release cellular ions, and other osmolytes as well as a concomitant loss
of water. The link between P-glycoprotein, a transmembrane transporter, and cell volume
regulation is controversial, and changes in cells volume are measured using microscopy or
electrophysiology. For instance, by using the patch-clamp method, our team demonstrated
that chloride currents activated in the RVD were more intense and rapid in a breast cancer
cell line overexpressing the P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The Cell Lab Quanta SC is a flow
cytometry system that simultaneously measures electronic volume, side scatter and three
fluorescent colors; altogether this provides unsurpassed population resolution and accurate
cell counting. Therefore, here we propose a novel method to follow cellular volume. By
using the Coulter-type channel of the cytometer Cell Lab Quanta SC MPL (multi-platform
loading), we demonstrated a role for the P-gp during different osmotic treatments, but also
a differential activity of the P-gp through the cell cycle. Altogether, our data strongly
suggests a role of P-gp in cell volume regulation.