Hormonal regulation of a new female-specific serum protein (FP) of the laboratory rat

Hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters in Wilson's disease patients with liver failure

Background

Wilson’s disease is a genetic disorder inherited in a recessive manner, caused by mutations in the copper-transporter ATP7B. Although it is a well-known disease, currently available treatments are far from satisfactory and their efficacy varies in individual patients. Due to the lack of information about drug-metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters profile in Wilson’s disease livers, we aimed to evaluate the mRNA expression and protein abundance of selected enzymes and drug transporters in this liver disorder.

Methods

We analyzed gene expression (qPCR) and protein abundance (LC–MS/MS) of 14 drug-metabolizing enzymes and 16 drug transporters in hepatic tissue from Wilson’s disease patients with liver failure (n = 7, Child–Pugh class B and C) and metastatic control livers (n = 20).

Results

In presented work, we demonstrated a downregulation of majority of CYP450 and UGT enzymes. Gene expression of analyzed enzymes ranged between 18 and 65% compared to control group and significantly lower protein content of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 enzymes was observed in Wilson’s disease. Moreover, a general decrease in hepatocellular uptake carriers from SLC superfamily (significant at protein level for NTCP and OATP2B1) was observed. As for ABC transporters, the protein abundance of BSEP and MRP2 was significantly lower, while levels of P-gp and MRP4 transporters were significantly higher in Wilson’s disease.

Conclusions

Altered hepatic expression of drug‐metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters in Wilson’s disease patients with liver failure may result in changes of drug pharmacokinetics in that group of patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43440-021-00290-8.

The rat female protein, a pentraxin with lectinic properties

The C-reactive protein is the major acute phase protein (APP) in humans which binds lectin-like to different membraneous structures and exerts an important function in non-specific defense. Because of a pentameric molecular symmetry CRP as well as serum amyloid P component (SAP) and hamster female protein (FP) was merged into a special protein family named pentraxins. In rats a protein was found referred to as rat FP which was close related to hamster FP with respect to hormonal regulation and APP nature as well. Based on this conformity the molecular structure of rat FP was analyzed and as the results a pentameric structure could be demonstrated for rat FP, too. Furthermore, the response of rat CRP and FP on injection of adrenal hormones, agents being involved in acute phase reaction, was investigated. Epinephrine administration led to an increase in CRP and a decrease in FP serum concentration. Dexamethasone has the same effect in case of FP and changed the CRP concentration in a biphasic way with a maximum at about 0.01 mg/kg, a minimum at 0.6 mg/kg and a return to control values at 1.8 mg/kg. Thus, the results indicate a neuroendocrine control of CRP and FP but probably in a different way. Using FITC-labelled lectin the exposition of galactose-containing membraneous structures could be demonstrated in carbon tetrachloride-injured liver tissue in contrast to controls. These binding sites are in accordance with increased FP-binding shown by immunofluorescence histochemistry. Thus, lectin-like properties may be ascribed to rat FP comparable to CRP and SAP activity. The results are discussed with respect to findings from literature that also the acetylcholine receptor seems to have a pentameric structure.