Ileal apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter protein levels are down-regulated through ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation induced by bile acids

The ileal apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT or SLC10A2) has a crucial role in intestinal bile acid absorption. We previously reported that enterobacteria-mediated bile acid conversion was involved in the alteration of ileal ASBT expression levels. In the present study, to investigate the hypothesis that ileal ASBT protein levels are post-translationally regulated by enterobacteria-associated bile acids, alteration of ileal ASBT protein levels was analysed in mice 12 h and 24 h after anti-bacterial drug ampicillin (ABPC) treatment (100 mg/kg, single shot) that altered bile acid composition in the intestinal lumen. In ABPC-treated mice, enterobacteria-biotransformed bile acid, taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA) and cholic acid (CA) levels were decreased, whereas taurocholic acid (TCA) and tauro-β-muricholic acid levels were increased in the intestinal lumen. Ileal ASBT protein levels in brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMVs), but not ileal Asbt mRNA levels, were significantly increased in the ABPC-treated mice, and the extent of ubiquitination of the ileal ASBT protein was reduced in the ABPC-treated mice. Treatment of ABPC-pretreated mice with CA or TDCA, but not TCA, significantly decreased ileal ASBT protein levels and increased the extent of ubiquitination of ileal ASBT protein. Treatment of mice with the lysosome inhibitor, chloroquine, or the proteasome inhibitor, MG132, increased ileal ASBT protein levels in BBMVs. CA-mediated reduction of ASBT protein levels in the ABPC-pretreated mice was attenuated by co-treatment with chloroquine or MG132. These results suggest that ileal ASBT protein is degraded by a ubiquitin-dependent pathway in response to enterobacteria-associated bile acids.

Dual roles of nuclear receptor liver X receptor α (LXRα) in the CYP3A4 expression in human hepatocytes as a positive and negative regulator

CYP3A4 is a major drug-metabolizing enzyme in humans, whose expression levels show large inter-individual variations and are associated with several factors such as genetic polymorphism, physiological and disease status, diet and xenobiotic exposure. Nuclear receptor pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a key transcription factor for the xenobiotic-mediated transcription of CYP3A4. In this study, we have investigated a possible involvement of liver X receptor α (LXRα), a critical regulator of cholesterol homeostasis, in the hepatic CYP3A4 expression since several recent reports suggest the involvement of CYP3A enzymes in the cholesterol metabolism in humans and mice. Reporter assays using wild-type and mutated CYP3A4 luciferase reporter plasmids and electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that LXRα up-regulated CYP3A4 through the known DNA elements critical for the PXR-dependent CYP3A4 transcription, suggesting LXRα as a positive regulator for the CYP3A4 expression and a crosstalk between PXR and LXRα in the expression. In fact, reporter assays showed that LXRα activation attenuated the PXR-dependent CYP3A4 transcription. Moreover, a PXR agonist treatment-dependent increase in CYP3A4 mRNA levels was suppressed by co-treatment with an LXRα agonist in human primary hepatocytes and HepaRG cells. The suppression was not observed when LXRα expression was knocked-down in HepaRG cells. In conclusion, the present results suggest that sterol-sensitive LXRα positively regulates the basal expression of CYP3A4 but suppresses the xenobiotic/PXR-dependent CYP3A4 expression in human hepatocytes. Therefore, nutritional, physiological and disease conditions affecting LXRα might be one of the determinants for the basal and xenobiotic-responsive expression of CYP3A4 in human livers.

Xenobiotic-induced hepatocyte proliferation associated with constitutive active/androstane receptor (CAR) or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is enhanced by pregnane X receptor (PXR) activation in mice

Xenobiotic-responsive nuclear receptors pregnane X receptor (PXR), constitutive active/androstane receptor (CAR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) play pivotal roles in the metabolic functions of the liver such as xenobiotics detoxification and energy metabolism. While CAR or PPARα activation induces hepatocyte proliferation and hepatocarcinogenesis in rodent models, it remains unclear whether PXR activation also shows such effects. In the present study, we have investigated the role of PXR in the xenobiotic-induced hepatocyte proliferation with or without CAR activation by 1,4-bis[2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)]benzene (TCPOBOP) and phenobarbital, or PPARα activation by Wy-14643 in mice. Treatment with TCPOBOP or phenobarbital increased the percentage of Ki-67-positive nuclei as well as mRNA levels of cell proliferation-related genes in livers as expected. On the other hand, treatment with the PXR activator pregnenolone 16α-carbonitrile (PCN) alone showed no such effects. Surprisingly, PCN co-treatment significantly augmented the hepatocyte proliferation induced by CAR activation with TCPOBOP or phenobarbital in wild-type mice but not in PXR-deficient mice. Intriguingly, PXR activation also augmented the hepatocyte proliferation induced by Wy-14643 treatment. Moreover, PCN treatment increased the RNA content of hepatocytes, suggesting the induction of G0/G1 transition, and reduced mRNA levels of Cdkn1b and Rbl2, encoding suppressors of cell cycle initiation. Our present findings indicate that xenobiotic-induced hepatocyte proliferation mediated by CAR or PPARα is enhanced by PXR co-activation despite that PXR activation alone does not cause the cell proliferation in mouse livers. Thus PXR may play a novel and unique role in the hepatocyte/liver hyperplasia upon exposure to xenobiotics.

New parameter that supports speculation on the possible mechanism of hypothyroidism induced by chemical substances in repeated-dose toxicity studies

Hypothyroidism induced by xenobiotic treatment was analyzed for possible underlying mechanism(s) on the basis of different responses of the thyroid gland and the liver, using a newly-created database of repeated-dose toxicity of 500 chemicals. Two mechanisms are proposed: direct inhibition of thyroid hormone biosynthesis in the thyroid gland, and stimulated degradation of thyroid hormone by induction of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes. In the database there were 10 chemicals inducing hypertrophy/hyperplasia of follicular cells in the thyroid gland and having data on thyroid glands. On the basis of the chemical structure and information available in the literature, we judged three chemicals to be typical thioamide derivatives that act directly on the thyroid gland, and the others as non-thioamide derivatives that were unlikely to have any direct action on the thyroid gland. All these chemicals were classified into two groups using the ratios of relative weight increase rate of thyroid gland versus that of the liver. These values were at least 1.7, but 3.2 or more in the most of the cases for thioamide derivatives, and 1.2 or less for non-thioamide derivatives. This background analysis suggests the feasibility of parameter-supported speculation on the possible underlying mechanism when new repeated-dose toxicity data on hypothyroidism becomes available.

Resistance to acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in glutathione S-transferase Mu 1-null mice

We investigated the role of glutathione S-transferases Mu 1 (GSTM1) in acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity using Gstm1-null mice. A single oral administration of APAP resulted in a marked increase in plasma alanine aminotransferase accompanied by hepatocyte necrosis 24 hr after administration in wild-type mice, but its magnitude was unexpectedly attenuated in Gstm1-null mice. Therefore, it is suggested that Gstm1-null mice are resistant to APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. To examine the mechanism of this resistance in Gstm1-null mice, we measured phosphorylation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), which mediates the signal of APAP-induced hepatocyte necrosis, by Western blot analysis 2 and 6 hr after APAP administration. A marked increase in phosphorylated JNK was observed in wild-type mice, but the increase was markedly suppressed in Gstm1-null mice. Therefore, it is suggested that suppressed phosphorylation of JNK may be a main mechanism of the resistance to APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in Gstm1-null mice, although other possibilities of the mechanism cannot be eliminated. Additionally, phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4, which are upstream kinases of JNK in APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, were also suppressed in Gstm1-null mice. A decrease in liver total glutathione 2 hr after APAP administration, which is an indicator for exposure to N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine, the reactive metabolite of APAP, were similar in wild-type and Gstm1-null mice. In conclusion, Gstm1-null mice are considered to be resistant to APAP-induced hepatotoxicity perhaps by the suppression of JNK phosphorylation. This study indicates the novel role of GSTM1 as a factor mediating the cellular signal for APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.

Liver X receptor α bidirectionally transactivates human CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 through two cis-elements common to both genes

CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 are involved in both detoxification and metabolic activation of xenobiotics. Human CYP1A1 (hCYP1A1) and hCYP1A2 exist in a head-to-head orientation in chromosome 15 with the overlapping 5'-flanking region. We have recently reported that nuclear receptor constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), in addition to aryl hydrocarbon receptor, bidirectionally transactivates these genes through common motifs. In this study, we have investigated a role of liver X receptor α (LXRα), another liver-enriched nuclear receptor, in the expression hCYP1A1 and hCYP1A2. In reporter assays with dual-reporter constructs containing their promoter region between two different reporter genes, LXRα simultaneously transactivated hCYP1A1 and hCYP1A2 through two regions, independent of aryl hydrocarbon receptor. In electrophoretic mobility shift assays, LXRα/retinoid X receptor α heterodimer bound to two ER8-type motifs found at around -520 and -460 of hCYP1A1. The former corresponds to the CAR-binding motif previously identified. Reporter assays using mutated constructs confirmed the critical roles of these motifs in the LXRα-mediated simultaneous transcription of hCYP1A1 and hCYP1A2. hCYP1A1 and hCYP1A2 mRNA levels were increased in human hepatoma HuH-7 cells and human primary hepatocytes, respectively, after treatment with the LXRα ligand GW3965. Our results suggest that LXRα transactivates the expression of hCYP1A1 and hCYP1A2 through common two cis-elements.

Involvement of multiple elements in FXR-mediated transcriptional activation of FGF19

The intestinal endocrine hormone human fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) is involved in the regulation of not only hepatic bile acid metabolism but also carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. In the present study, bile acid/farnesoid X receptor (FXR) responsiveness in the FGF19 promoter region was investigated by a reporter assay using the human colon carcinoma cell line LS174T. The assay revealed the presence of bile acid/FXR-responsive elements in the 5'-flanking region up to 8.8 kb of FGF19. Deletion analysis indicated that regions from -1866 to -1833, from -1427 to -1353, and from -75 to +262 were involved in FXR responsiveness. Four, four, and two consecutive half-sites of nuclear receptors were observed in the three regions, respectively. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay revealed FXR/retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) heterodimer binding in these three regions. EMSA and reporter assays using mutated constructs indicated that the nuclear receptor IR1, ER2, and DR8 motifs in the 5'-flanking region were involved in FXR responsiveness of FGF19. Lithocholic acid (LCA) (10 μM), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) (10 μM), or GW4064 (0.1 μM) treatment increased reporter activity in a construct including the three motifs under FXR-expressing conditions whereas LCA and not CDCA or GW4064 treatment increased the reporter activity under pregnane X receptor (PXR)-expressing conditions. These results suggest that FGF19 is transcriptionally activated through multiple FXR-responsive elements in the promoter region.

Inhibition of CYP3A4 by 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin in human CYP3A4 over-expressed hepG2 cells

OBJECTIVES

We previously established HepG2-GS-3A4, a cell line from hepatoblastoma with overexpression of human CYP3A4 and glutamine synthetase (GS). We further reported that these cells can be applied for screening inhibitors of CYP3A4 in vitro. The purpose of this study was to determine whether our CYP3A4-overexpresed cell could be applied to evaluate mechanisms of CYP3A4 inhibition by 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin (DHB), which is one of the major furanocoumarins in grapefruit juice, by using these cells.

METHODS

Nifedipine oxidation, activity and protein expression of NADPH-cytochrome reductase (POR) of HepG2-GS-3A4 cell were measured. CO-binding spectrumassay in microsomal fraction of the cells was also evaluated.

KEY FINDINGS

DHB and ketoconazole, a well-known inhibitor of CYP3A4, inhibited nifedipine oxidation in a concentration-dependent manner. DHB at a concentration of 3.0 µm, sufficient to inhibit the nifedipine oxidation, decreased POR activity; however, ketoconazole at a concentration of 0.9 µm, sufficient to inhibit the oxidation, did not affect the activity. The expression of POR protein in HepG2-GS-3A4 cells was not changed by either DHB or ketoconazole. The expression of CYP3A4 mRNA and protein was not changed by the addition of DHB or ketoconazole. DHB also reduced the absorption rate at 450 nm in a CO-binding spectrum assay without alteration of the wavelength of maximum absorption. The mean absorption value at 450 nm slightly decreased with ketoconazole; however, the difference was not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that inhibition of CYP3A4 activity by DHB includes the inhibition of POR activity. HepG2-GS-3A4 might be a good tool to evaluate the mechanisms.

Construction of a CYP2E1-template system for prediction of the metabolism on both site and preference order

We have constructed an in silico system for the prediction of CYP2E1-mediated reaction using a two-dimensional template derived from substrate structures. Although CYP2E1 prefers small-size molecules for the substrates, the enzyme mediates oxidations of large-size molecules, such as benzo[a]pyrene. Overlays of these substrates, to assemble their sites of oxidation into a specific area, suggested a range of regions frequently occupied. The region, having a benzo[a]pyrene-like shape, was thus used as a CYP2E1 template. In this system, atoms in substrates, except for hydrogen atoms, were placed on corners of honeycomb structures of the template after having expanded the structures. Using published data for the metabolism on more than 80 substrates of CYP2E1, the core template was further refined to verify the adjacent area and to define the relative contribution of template positions for the catalysis. The positions on the template were classified into four different point (0-3) groups, depending on relative usage. In addition, we set independent points (-5 to 3) for specific positions to incorporate three-dimensional or functional information. Total scores from both position-occupancy and -function points were calculated for all the orientations of possible conformers of test substrates, and the scores were found to predict the relative abundance (i.e., order) as well as the regioselectivity of human CYP2E1 reactions with high fidelities.

Mechanisms of CYP3A induction by glucocorticoids in human fetal liver cells

Human fetal liver (HFL) cells express major drug metabolic enzymes CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP3A7. In the fetal hepatocytes, betamethasone and dexamethasone (DEX) markedly enhanced the expression levels of CYP3A4 and CYP3A7 mRNAs and slightly increased the expression level of CYP3A5 mRNA. Interestingly, a high correlation between the CYP3A induction ability and the intensity of anti-inflammatory effect was observed. Human glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-small interfering RNA clearly attenuated the expression level of GR mRNA, and diminished the DEX-stimulated CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP3A7 expression in HFL cells. These findings indicate that GR mediates the induction of CYP3A4 and CYP3A7 expression in human fetal hepatocytes as well as the CYP3A5.

Fibroblast growth factor 19 treatment ameliorates disruption of hepatic lipid metabolism in farnesoid X receptor (Fxr)-null mice

Human fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) is an enterohepatic hormone that is involved in the regulation of hepatic metabolism of bile acids, lipids, and glucose. Farnesoid X receptor (Fxr)-null mice exhibit steatosis-like symptoms, showing higher hepatic lipid levels than with the wild-type mice. We investigated the influence of FGF19 treatment on hepatic lipogenesis in Fxr-null mice. Recombinant FGF19 treatment (400 µg/kg/d) for 3 d prevented the accumulation of lipid droplets and decreased serum alanine aminotransferase activity and hepatic lipid levels, including those of triglycerides and free fatty acids. The treatment significantly decreased the hepatic mRNA levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (Acc1), Cd36, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (Srebp-1c) as well as those of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 (Acc2), stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 (Scd1), and Cyp7a1. FGF19 treatment (4 µg/kg/d) for 3 d also decreased the hepatic free fatty acid levels and mRNA levels of Acc1, Cd36, and Srebp-1c. These results indicate that FGF19-mediated signaling ameliorates disrupted hepatic lipogenesis in Fxr-null mice.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-nuclear factor-kappa B-signaling enhances St2b2 expression during 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced epidermal hyperplasia

The mouse cholesterol sulfotransferase St2b2 contributes to epidermal differentiation by biosynthesizing cholesterol sulfate (CS) from cholesterol in the epidermis. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) causes epidermal hyperplasia, an abnormal increase in epidermal cell numbers resulting from aberrant cell differentiation and an increase in St2b2 protein levels. The mechanisms underlying enhanced St2b2 expression and the pathophysiologic significance of the increased expression are unclear, however. To verify whether increased St2b2 levels are necessary for TPA-induced epidermal hyperplasia, the effects of St2b2-specific small hairpin RNA (St2b2-shRNA) on hyperplasia were examined in mice. St2b2-shRNA clearly suppressed TPA-induced epidermal hyperplasia and the expression of a marker of epidermal differentiation, involucrin (INV). Interestingly, treating mouse epidermal cells with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) increased St2b2 expression. Furthermore, treatment with TNFα-siRNA or anti-TNF receptor antibodies reduced the TPA-induced enhancement of St2b2 expression. Treatment with BAY 11-7082, a specific inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), diminished TPA-induced St2b2 expression. These results suggested that enhancement of St2b2 expression by TPA treatment occurs mainly through the TNFα-NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway, which in turn leads to increased CS concentrations in epidermal cells and hyperplasia.

Constitutive androstane receptor transactivates the hepatic expression of mouse Dhcr24 and human DHCR24 encoding a cholesterogenic enzyme 24-dehydrocholesterol reductase

Phenobarbital treatment has long been known to influence serum and hepatic cholesterol levels in rodents and humans. Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, mediates various biological actions of phenobarbital. We have thus investigated whether CAR transactivates cholesterogenic genes in livers. Activation of CAR in mouse livers and cultured human hepatocytes increased mRNA levels of mouse Dhcr24 and human DHCR24, both of which encode 24-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR24) catalyzing the last step of cholesterol biosynthesis. CAR transactivated the expression of these genes in reporter assays with cultured hepatoma cells. Furthermore, we have identified a DR4 (direct repeat separated by 4 nucleotides) motif in the human DHCR24 distal promoter as a binding site of CAR/retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) heterodimer. We have also demonstrated that the heterodimer of pregnane X receptor (PXR)/ RXRα binds to the DR4 motif and that human DHCR24 reporter gene is transactivated by the ligand-activated PXR. These results suggest a role of xenobiotic-responsive nuclear receptor CAR, and also possibly PXR, in cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver of mice and humans.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons activate CYP3A4 gene transcription through human pregnane X receptor

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activators have been shown to induce members of the cytochrome P450 (P450) 1 family. Here we demonstrate that the AhR activators induce CYP3A4 through human pregnane X receptor (PXR). AhR activators, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) increased CYP3A4 reporter activity and CYP3A4 mRNA expression in HepG2 cells. The CYP3A4 reporter activity was also increased by treatment with cigarette tar. The increased CYP3A4 reporter activity was clearly knocked down by the introduction of human PXR-small interfering RNA, but not by that of human AhR-small interfering RNA. The CYP3A4 reporter activity enhanced by overexpression of human PXR was further increased by treatment with PAHs and TCDD as well as by treatment with rifampicin. These results suggest that PAHs contained in cigarette smoke induce CYP3A4 in human liver.

Enterobacteria modulate intestinal bile acid transport and homeostasis through apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (SLC10A2) expression

In our study, ampicillin (AMP)-mediated decrease of enterobacteria caused increases in hepatic bile acid concentration through (at least in part) elevation of bile acid synthesis in C57BL/6N mice. We investigated the involvement of enterobacteria on intestinal bile acid absorption in AMP-treated mice in the present study. Fecal enterobacterial levels and fecal bile acid excretion rates were markedly decreased in mice treated with AMP (100 mg/kg) for 3 days, whereas bile acid concentrations in portal blood were significantly increased compared with those in mice treated with a vehicle. Ileal apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (SLC10A2) mRNA levels and ileal SLC10A2 protein levels in brush-border membranes were significantly increased compared with those in mice treated with the vehicle. In AMP-treated mice, total bile acid levels were increased, whereas levels of enterobacteria-biotransformed bile acid, taurodeoxycholic acid, and cholic acid were decreased in intestinal lumen. These phenomena were also observed in farnesoid X receptor-null mice treated with AMP for 3 days. Discontinuation of AMP administration after 3 days (vehicle administration for 4 days) increased levels of fecal enterobacteria, fecal bile acid excretion, and taurodeoxycholic acid and cholic acid in the intestinal lumen, whereas the discontinuation decreased ileal SLC10A2 expression and bile acid concentrations in the portal blood. Coadministration of taurodeoxycholic acid or cholic acid decreased ileal SLC10A2 expression in mice treated with AMP. These results suggest that enterobacteria-mediated bile acid biotransformation modulates intestinal bile acid transport and homeostasis through down-regulation of ileal SLC10A2 expression.

Construction of a system that simultaneously evaluates CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 induction in a stable human-derived cell line using a dual reporter plasmid

Human CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 genes are in a head-to-head orientation on chromosome 15 and are separated by a 23-kb intergenic space. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a stable cell line that contains the 23-kb full-length regulatory region and is able to simultaneously assess the transcriptional activation of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 genes. The stable cell line that constitutively expresses the reporter activities was constructed by inserting the dual reporter plasmid containing the 23-kb region between the CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 genes into the chromosome. Transcriptional activation of the CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 genes was measured simultaneously using luciferase (Luc) and secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) activities, respectively. To demonstrate the utility of the stable cell line, CYP1A1/1A2 induction by the majority of compounds previously identified as CYP1A1/1A2 inducers was measured. The results clearly show that all compounds caused induction of reporter activities. In addition to assessing transcriptional activation of the CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 genes by measuring reporter activities, we determined the intrinsic CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 mRNA levels by treating them with the same compounds. The results suggest that this stable cell line may be used to rapidly and accurately predict CYP1A1/1A2 induction.