The long term goal of this project is to understand the physiological function of plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT) and its role in the disposition and action of xenobiotics. Previous work established PMAT as a monoamine and organic cation transporter expressed on cell plasma membranes of normal tissues. While the physiological function of PMAT and its role in organic cation disposition have been characterized, little is known regarding its expression and function in diseased tissues. Recently, we and others found that PMAT is highly expressed in human neuroblastoma (NB) tissues and cell lines. Our preliminary data suggest that in contrast to its normal cell surface expression, PMAT is aberrantly localized in intracellular organelles in human NB cells. The aberrant intracellular localization of PMAT in NB cells is associated with the presence and increased expression of an alternatively spliced variant. Furthermore, we found that meta- iodobenzylguanidine (mIBG), a radiopharmaceutical used in both diagnosis and treatment of NB, is avidly transported by PMAT. In particular, 131I-mIBG therapy is currently under intense clinical investigation as a frontline treatment for patients with high risk NB. Cellular uptake and retention of 131I-mIBG in tumor cells is crucial for its anti-tumor activity. Based on these data, we hypothesized that PMAT is a novel, previously unrecognized transporter involved in intracellular disposition and therapeutic efficacy of 131I-mIBG in NB. This competing renewal application focuses on understanding the expression and cellular localization of PMAT in NB and its role in systemic disposition and tumor retention of mIBG.
Three specific aims are proposed.
In Aim 1, we will determine the expression and precise cellular localization of PMAT in NB tissues and cells by mRNA analysis, protein quantification, and immuno-colocalization studies. The functional significance of PMAT in cellular mIBG disposition will be evaluated using cultured human NB cells with stable silencing of the PMAT gene.
In Aim 2, we will determine the role of the alternatively spliced variant in regulating membrane trafficking and intracellular retention of PMAT by co-transfection and co-immunoprecipitation studies.
In Aim 3, we will determine the in vivo significance of PMAT in mIBG systemic disposition, tumor retention and response using a Pmat knockout model and a murine xenograft model. The proposed studies will uncover a novel molecular mechanism underlying mIBG intracellular uptake and retention in its target cells. As 131I-mIBG therapy is currently being investigated as a frontline treatment for NB, the proposed studies will pave the way for future clinical evaluation of PMAT as a prognostic factor in tumor disposition and response to 131I-mIBG therapy.
Neuroblastoma is the most common and deadly solid tumor in children with a low survival rate for high risk patients. mIBG is a targeted radiopharmaceutical used in both the diagnosis and the treatment of neuroblastoma. The proposed studies will uncover a novel molecular mechanism underlying mIBG intracellular disposition and antitumor activity. These studies are of direct human relevance as they may identify a novel prognostic factor that can be used to screen patients for 131I-mIBG therapy.
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