Detection of P glycoprotein activity on normal and leukemic CD34+ cells

Abstract

Rhodamine 123 is transported by the transmembrane efflux pump P glycoprotein (Pgp). We used this fluorescent dye to study multidrug resistance (MDR) activity in normal and leukemic CD34+ cells. These immature cells had a high degree of MDR activity. Among leukemic cells, CD34+ leukemias had significantly higher MDR activity as compared to CD34- leukemias. Heterogeneous results in cell subpopulations, however, indicate that prognosis should be interpreted in the light of MDR analysis.