Regulation of capacitative Ca2+ entry was studied in two different multidrug resistance (MDR) protein (MRP1) overexpressing cell lines, HT29col and GLC4/ADR. MRP1 overexpression was accompanied by a decreased response to thapsigargin. Moreover, inhibition of capacitative Ca2+ entry by D,L-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP) was abolished in MRP1 overexpressing cells. Both PDMP and the MRP1 inhibitor MK571 greatly reduced InsP3-mediated 45Ca2+ release from intracellular stores in HT29 cells. Again, these effects were virtually abolished in HT29col cells. Our results point to a modulatory role of MRP1 on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) homeostasis which may contribute to the MDR phenotype.