The role of folates in the development of methotrexate resistance in human leukemia cell line K562

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Abstract
The effect of reduced and oxidized folates on the development of methotrexate (MTX) resistance has been examined in human leukemia cell line K562 (K562/S). K562/S cells were made resistant to MTX by soft-agar cloning either in RPMI-1640 medium (K562/MTX-PGA) or in folic-acidfree RPMI-1640 medium containing 10 nM leucovorin (K562/MTX-LV). The optimal concentrations of leucovorin for the growth of K562/S, K562/MTX-PGA and K562/MTX-LV cells were 1 nM, 5 nM and 10 nM respectively. K562/MTX-PGA cells were 24-fold resistant to MTX as noted by impaired MTX transport. In contrast, K562/MTX-LV cells were 26-fold resistant to MTX as noted by gene amplification of dihydrofolate reductase. Furthermore cross-resistance to cytosine arabinoside was only demonstrated in K562/MTX-PGA, while the K562/MTX-LV cells showed no significant cross-resistance to cytosine arabinoside. These results suggest that the type and level of folates used during the development of MTX resistance may play a role in the mechanism for MTX resistance. Leukemia cells that are grown in leucovorin might serve as a model for acqured MTX resistance in vivo.