What Role Does the Cell Membrane Play in Drug Resistance?
The cell membrane can contribute to drug resistance through the action of efflux pumps, which are membrane proteins that actively transport toxicants and drugs out of the cell. Overexpression of these pumps can reduce the intracellular concentration of toxicants, leading to decreased efficacy of therapeutic agents. P-glycoprotein is a well-known efflux pump associated with multidrug resistance.
