Nitric oxide (NO) is integral to macrophage cytotoxicity against
tumors due to its ability to induce
iron release from
cancer cells. However, the mechanism for how activated macrophages protect themselves from endogenous NO remains unknown. We previously demonstrated by using
tumor cells that
glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) sequesters NO as dinitrosyl-
dithiol iron complexes (DNICs) and inhibits NO-mediated
iron release from cells via the transporter
multidrug resistance protein 1 (
MRP1/ABCC1). These prior studies also showed that
MRP1 and GSTP1 protect
tumor cells against NO cytotoxicity, which parallels their roles in defending
cancer cells from cytotoxic drugs. Considering this, and because GSTP1 and
MRP1 are up-regulated during macrophage activation, this investigation examined whether this NO storage/transport system protects macrophages against endogenous NO cytotoxicity in two well characterized macrophage cell types (J774 and RAW 264.7).
MRP1 expression markedly increased upon macrophage activation, and the role of
MRP1 in NO-induced 59Fe release was demonstrated by
Mrp1 siRNA and the
MRP1 inhibitor, MK571, which inhibited NO-mediated
iron efflux. Furthermore,
Mrp1 silencing increased DNIC accumulation in macrophages, indicating a role for
MRP1 in transporting DNICs out of cells. In addition, macrophage 59Fe release was enhanced by silencing Gstp1, suggesting GSTP1 was responsible for DNIC binding/storage. Viability studies demonstrated that GSTP1 and
MRP1 protect activated macrophages from NO cytotoxicity. This was confirmed by silencing nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which decreased
MRP1 and GSTP1 expression, concomitant with reduced 59Fe release and macrophage survival. Together, these results demonstrate a mechanism by which macrophages protect themselves against NO cytotoxicity.