15-deoxy-Δ^12,14-prostaglandin J₂ induces upregulation of multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 via Nrf2 activation in human breast cancer cells

15-Deoxy-Δ^12,14-prostaglandin J₂ (15d-PGJ ₂), a representative J-series cyclopentenone prostaglandin, exerts cytoprotective effects that are mainly mediated by Nrf2. Nrf2 is a major transcription factor involved in the transactivation of genes encoding many phase 2 detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes via interaction with the antioxidant response element (ARE). Recently it has been reported that expression of phase 3 efflux transporters, such as multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs), is also regulated by Nrf2. It is well known that cancer cells overexpressing MRPs are more resistant to anticancer drugs. In the present study we have found that 15d-PGJ₂ induces the expression of MRP1, one of the phase 3 efflux transporters, in human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). In addition, treatment of MCF-7 cells with 15d-PGJ₂ resulted in nuclear translocation and DNA binding of Nrf2. In contrast to 15d-PGJ₂, 9,10-dihydro-15d-PGJ₂, an analogue of 15d-PGJ₂ that lacks an electrophilic cyclopentenone ring moiety, failed to induce not only Nrf2 activation but also MRP1 upregulation in MCF-7 cells. 15d-PGJ ₂-induced MRP1 overexpression was abrogated by Nrf2 gene knockdown, using RNA interference. These results, taken together, suggest that 15d-PGJ ₂ induces MRP1 upregulation via Nrf2-ARE signaling.