P-glycoprotein decreases with T cell maturation but is not responsible for resistance to CD95-induced apoptosis.

P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is a membrane transporter responsible for resistance to chemotherapy in cancer cells. Its presence in T cells is very well documented, but its function in the immune system is still poorly understood. Recent findings suggest that Pgp may be involved in regulating programmed cell death by inhibiting caspase 8 and caspase 3. Utilising antigenically-activated T cells and the physiologically relevant apoptotic ligand, membrane CD95-L, we have previously reported that while T cells are generally resistant to CD95-induced death at early stages of activation, their susceptibility to apoptosis increases with successive activation and clonal expansion. In this study we investigated whether changes in apoptotic susceptibility were related to T cell Pgp function. Results showed that Pgp expression and function in T cells decreases with maturation, with CD8 cells having the highest Pgp function. However, although Pgp function inversely correlated with caspase 3 activity, no difference was observed between apoptotic susceptible CD25- cells and resistant CD25+ cells. In addition sorting of cells with high and low Pgp function showed no correlation with apoptotic capability. Therefore, whilst Pgp modulates caspase activity, it is not responsible for resistance to apoptosis of early activated T cells nor the increased susceptibility observed at the later stages of maturation in antigenically activated cells.