Cloning and expression of the rat liver cDNA for peroxisomal enoyl-CoA hydratase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase in lambda GT11. Transcriptional regulation of enzyme activity by Wy-14643 in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes

Hepatocarcinogenic potential of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in rodents and its implications on human risk

The plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), to which humans are extensively exposed, was found to be hepatocarcinogenic in rats and mice. DEHP is potentially set free from objects made of synthetic materials (e.g., those used in medicine). Chronically, the greatest amounts are transferred to persons undergoing hemodialysis (up to 3.1 mg/kg b.w. per day) who would thus be considered the individuals most endangered by tumorigenesis. Although toxicokinetics seem to play a certain unclear role in the course of DEHP-related toxicity, toxicodynamic factors appear more decisive. DEHP is a representative of "peroxisome proliferators" (PP), a distinct group of substances that, in rodents, do not only induce peroxisomes but also specific enzymes in other organelles, organ growth, and DNA synthesis. The cluster of the characteristic effects of PP is generally, although perhaps not quite appropriately summarized as "peroxisome proliferation," and is strongest in the liver. The lowest observed effect level (LOEL) and the no observed effect level (NOEL) of peroxisome proliferation in the rat, as determined by the induction of specific enzymes (peroxisomal beta-oxidation, carnitine-acetyl-transferase, cytochrome P-452), DNA synthesis, and hepatomegaly, may be assumed as 50 and 25 mg/kg b.w. per day, respectively. DEHP and other carcinogenic PP are neither genotoxic nor tumor initiators, but they appear to be tumor promoters, also implicating a threshold level for the carcinogenic effect. Although a causal relationship between a particular effect of peroxisome proliferation and hepatocarcinogenesis is as yet unknown, peroxisome proliferation as a whole phenomenon appears to be associated with the potential of tumor induction, as shown by comparison of the relative strength of individual PP and by comparison of species and organ specificities. Likewise, LOEL and NOEL of rodent carcinogenesis, that is, 300 and 50 to 100 mg/kg b.w. per day, respectively, are above but not too far from the corresponding values for the investigated parameters of peroxisome proliferation. Thus, with respect to dose alone, worst-case exposure in hemodialysis patients is at least 16-fold below the LOEL of any characterized PP-specific effect of DEHP and approximately 100-fold below that of DEHP-related tumorigenesis. Also, primates are less responsive to PP than rats with respect to the investigated biochemical and morphological parameters. If this lower primate responsiveness is extrapolated to estimate carcinogenicity in humans, we might thus arrive at an even larger safety margin than when based on exposure alone. Doses of PP hypolipidemics that had clearly induced several indicators of peroxisome proliferation in rats did not cause any clear-cut enhancements in the peroxisomes of patients, even though most of these hypolipidemics were considerably stronger PP than DEHP. Thus, an actual threat to humans by DEHP seems rather unlikely. Accordingly, hepatocarcinogenesis was neither enhanced in workers exposed to DEHP nor in patients treated with hypolipidemics.

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the rat liver carnitine octanoyltransferase cDNA, its natural gene and the gene promoter

The full-length cDNA and the natural gene for rat peroxisomal carnitine octanoyltransferase (COT) have been isolated and sequenced. The 2681 bp long cDNA contains an open reading frame for 613 amino acids, resulting in a protein with a deduced molecular weight of 70,301, and a C-terminal peroxisomal targeting sequence (Ala-His-Leu). The isolated COT cDNA has 51 bp of the 5' untranslated region (UTR), 791 bp of 3' UTR, two putative polyadenylation sites, and a poly(A19-23) tail. Screening of a rat genomic DNA library in the lambda phage with the COT cDNA probe resulted in the isolation of seven overlapping clones, together containing the complete COT gene with seventeen exons. All of the exon-intron boundary sequences conform to the GT-AG rule. The COT gene appears to spread over 40 to 60 kbp region of the rat genome. The transcription initiation site of the COT gene was determined through primer extension, and the promoter sequence up to the position -1140 was established. The promoter lacks the canonical TATA box and a promoter-reporter construct containing the sequence encompassing -1140 to +84 base positions and the firefly luciferase reporter cDNA yielded about 100-fold increase in promoter activity in transfected hepatoma cells. Some of the consensus sequences for putative cis elements present in the promoter sequence are: the two CCAAT motifs for CTF/NF1/CBP binding (at -284 and -93), two GC boxes for Sp1 binding (at -160 and -68), two AP2 sites (at -359 and -25), a half site (TGACCT) for the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) binding at -737 within a partial palindromic sequence region. Potential regulatory elements, such as several palindromes and repeat motifs for five different sequence segments, are also identified.

Induction of the acyl-coenzyme A synthetase gene by fibrates and fatty acids is mediated by a peroxisome proliferator response element in the C promoter

The long-chain acyl-coenzyme A synthetase (ACS) gene gives rise to three transcripts containing different first exons preceded by specific regulatory regions A, B, and C. Exon-specific oligonucleotide hybridization indicated that only A-ACS mRNA is expressed in rat liver. Fibrate administration induced liver C-ACS strongly and A-ACS mRNA to a lesser extent. B-ACS mRNA remained undetectable. In primary rat hepatocytes and Fa-32 hepatoma cells C-ACS mRNA increased after treatment with fenofibric acid, alpha-bromopalmitate, tetradecylthioacetic acid, or alpha-linolenic acid. Nuclear run-on experiments indicated that fenofibric acid and alpha-bromopalmitate act at the transcriptional level. Transient transfections showed a 3.4-, 2.3-, and 2.2-fold induction of C-ACS promoter activity after fenofibric acid, alpha-bromopalmitate, and tetradecylthioacetic acid, respectively. Unilateral deletion and site-directed mutagenesis identified a peroxisome proliferator activator receptor (PPAR)-responsive element (PPRE) mediating the responsiveness to fibrates and fatty acids. This ACS PPRE contains three imperfect half sites spaced by 1 and 3 oligonucleotides and binds PPAR.retinoid X receptor heterodimers in gel retardation assays. In conclusion, the regulation of C-ACS mRNA expression by fibrates and fatty acids is mediated by PPAR.retinoid X receptor heterodimers interacting through a PPRE in the C-ACS promoters. PPAR therefore occupies a key position in the transcriptional control of a pivotal enzyme controlling the channeling of fatty acids into various metabolic pathways.

Regulation of rat liver apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein A-II and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase gene expression by fibrates and dietary fatty acids

The regulation by fibrates and dietary fatty acids of the hepatic gene expression of apolipoproteins (apo) A-I and A-II, the major protein constituents of high-density lipoproteins, as well as of acyl-CoA oxidase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the peroxisomal beta-oxidation pathway, was studied in vivo in the rat and in vitro in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. In primary hepatocytes, different fibrates decreased apo A-I and increased acyl-CoA oxidase mRNA levels, whereas apo A-II mRNA only decreased in level after treatment with fenofibric acid, but not after bezafibrate, gemfibrozil or Wy-14643 treatment. Treatment with fenofibric acid counteracted the increase in apo A-I mRNA levels observed after dexamethasone or all-trans retinoic acid treatment, whereas simultaneous addition of fenofibric acid together with all-trans retinoic acid or dexamethasone resulted in a superinduction of acyl-CoA oxidase mRNA. Addition of the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), docosanohexaenoic acid and eicosanopentaenoic acid, or the fatty acid derivative alpha-bromopalmitate, decreased apo A-I and increased acyl-CoA oxidase mRNA in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner, whereas apo A-II mRNA did not change significantly. Nuclear run-on experiments demonstrated that fenofibric acid and alpha-bromopalmitate decreased apo A-I and increased acyl-CoA oxidase gene expression at the transcriptional level. When rats were fed isocaloric diets enriched in saturated fat (hydrogenated coconut oil), n-6 PUFAs (safflower oil) or n-3 PUFAs (fish oil), a significant decrease in liver apo A-I and apo A-II mRNA levels was only observed after fish oil feeding. Compared to feeding low fat, liver acyl-CoA oxidase mRNA increased after fat feeding, but this effect was most pronounced (twofold) in rats fed fish oil. Results from these studies indicate that fish oil feeding reduces rat liver apo A-I and apo A-II gene expression, similar to results obtained after feeding fenofibrate. Fibrates and n-3 fatty acids (and the fatty acid derivative, alpha-bromopalmitate) down-regulate apo A-I and induce acyl-CoA oxidase gene expression through a direct transcriptional action on the hepatocyte. In contrast, only fenofibric acid, but not the other fibrates or fatty acids tested, decrease apo A-II gene expression in vitro.

Fibrates increase human apolipoprotein A-II expression through activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor

In view of the evidence linking plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels to a protective effect against coronary artery disease and the widespread use of fibrates in the treatment of hyperlipidemia, the goal of this study was to analyze the influence of fibrates on the expression of apolipoprotein (apo) A-II, a major protein constituent of HDL. Administration of fenofibrate (300 mg/d) to 16 patients with coronary artery disease resulted in a marked increase in plasma apo A-II concentrations (0.34 +/- 0.11 to 0.45 +/- 0.17 grams/liter; P < 0.01). This increase in plasma apo A-II was due to a direct effect on hepatic apo A-II production, since fenofibric acid induced apo A-II mRNA levels to 450 and 250% of control levels in primary cultures of human hepatocytes and in human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells respectively. The induction in apo A-II mRNA levels was followed by an increase in apo A-II secretion in both cell culture systems. Transient transfection experiments of a reporter construct driven by the human apo A-II gene promoter indicated that fenofibrate induced apo A-II gene expression at the transcriptional level. Furthermore, several other peroxisome proliferators, such as the fibrate, Wy-14643, and the fatty acid, eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), also induced apo A-II gene transcription. Unilateral deletions and site-directed mutagenesis identified a sequence element located in the J-site of the apo A-II promoter mediating the responsiveness to fibrates and fatty acids. This element contains two imperfect half sites spaced by 1 oligonucleotide similar to a peroxisome proliferator responsive element (PPRE). Cotransfection assays showed that the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) transactivates the apo A-II promoter through this AII-PPRE. Gel retardation assays demonstrated that PPAR binds to the AII-PPRE with an affinity comparable to its binding affinity to the acyl coA oxidase (ACO)-PPRE. In conclusion, in humans fibrates increase plasma apo A-II concentrations by inducing hepatic apo A-II production. Apo A-II expression is regulated at the transcriptional level by fibrates and fatty acids via the interaction of PPAR with the AII-PPRE, thereby demonstrating the pivotal role of PPAR in controlling human lipoprotein metabolism.

Cell systems for use in studies on the relationship between foreign compound metabolism and toxicity

Since the metabolism of most foreign compounds is predominantly controlled by hepatic in metabolism, isolated hepatocytes in most cases quite well predict the pattern of the overall metabolism of a given compound. Methods have been developed for cryopreserving isolated hepatocytes from man and other species with satisfactory maintenance of foreign compound metabolizing enzyme activities. The installation of a bank of cryopreserved hepatocytes from different species is possible and may be used for rational species extrapolation. It is necessary for some toxicological investigations to have hepatocytes which retain their differentiated status in culture for a sufficient time period. This might be achieved by co-culturing hepatocytes with diverse cell lines. However, from one cell line to the other differences in the pattern of stabilization of individual hepatocyte functions are found. In addition, questions on metabolic action of individual isoenzymes can also be addressed by the use of genetically engineered cell lines. All the in vitro systems mentioned, especially those which contain differentiated human cells or human isoenzymes are helpful in the rational species extrapolation of toxic effects from animal to man.

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional analysis of peroxisomal protein encoding genes from rat treated with an hypolipemic agent, ciprofibrate. Effect of an intermittent treatment and influence of obesity

The treatment of rats with ciprofibrate, a potent peroxisome proliferator, led to increased levels of the peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO) mRNA. How ciprofibrate functions to elevate ACO mRNA is not known. To help determine the mechanism of ciprofibrate action, in vitro transcription assays were performed. It was determined that ciprofibrate was responsible for a 3.5-fold stimulation of the rate of ACO transcription within 24 hr of ingestion. It was also observed that the transcription rate stimulation following a 2-week ciprofibrate treatment of Wistar rats was maintained following 4 weeks of ciprofibrate withdrawal. Re-introduction of the drug after the 4-week pause resulted in greater stimulation than was initially observed. The results demonstrate that the effect of ciprofibrate is rapid and persists at least twice as long as the initial treatment period. In Zucker rats, both lean and obese, ACO mRNA levels were examined following 2 weeks of ciprofibrate treatment (1 or 3 mg/kg body weight/day). The presence of increased blood levels of triglycerides did not increase ciprofibrate action on transcription, although basal levels of transcription of peroxisomal enzymes were higher in obese rats. The increase in the ACO mRNA level was greater than the transcription rate stimulation suggesting a post-transcriptional regulation.

The choice of resuspension medium for isolated rat liver nuclei: effects on nuclear morphology and in vitro transcription

Standard protocols for in vitro transcription assay (nuclear run-off) include 10-40% (v/v) glycerol (of various ionic strength) in the medium used for resuspension/storage of the isolated nuclei. In the present work the morphological and functional properties of nuclei isolated from rat liver have been studied as a function of the content of glycerol, sucrose and inorganic ions (K+ and Mg2+) in the resuspension medium. In contrast to earlier reports, glycerol was found not to be essential to maintain morphological integrity and RNA polymerase activity in frozen/stored nuclei. Nuclear pellets, resuspended and stored in isoosmotic sucrose media, were found to give morphologically intact and transcriptionally active nuclei. Furthermore, these nuclei displayed a higher specific hybridization signal for the differentially expressed genes encoding peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzymes, relative to the total RNA synthesis, than nuclei resuspended and stored in a hyperosmotic glycerol-containing medium. The concentrations of inorganic ions were also found to affect nuclear morphology. Flow cytometry indicated DNA leakage from nuclei at insufficient concentrations of K+ and Mg2+, and high ionic strength favoured aggregation and disintegration of nuclei. Our findings indicate that quantitative results from nuclear run-off experiments should be interpreted with caution until the process of transcription in isolated nuclei is better understood.

Acyl-CoA synthetase mRNA expression is controlled by fibric-acid derivatives, feeding and liver proliferation

Several enzymes of the beta-oxidation pathway have been shown to be induced after stimulation with peroxisomal proliferators, including several hypolipidemic drugs. We investigated the regulation of the long-chain-acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) gene in the liver. Fenofibrate, a hypolipidemic drug and potent peroxisomal proliferator, induced ACS gene expression in several tissues. In liver, large increases in ACS mRNA levels and ACS activity were observed after fenofibrate administration. Adipose tissue ACS mRNA levels and ACS activity were also stimulated upon fibrate treatment but to a lesser extent in comparison with liver ACS mRNA. Kidney ACS mRNA was only weakly induced, except for the highest dose and the longest treatment period, where a strong induction was observed. In contrast to these tissues, heart ACS mRNA and ACS activity remained almost unchanged after fenofibrate treatment. These effects of fenofibrate could be reproduced by other fibrates such as clofibrate. In addition, it is demonstrated that both nutritional composition and liver proliferation trigger ACS gene expression in liver. Consequently, these data suggest that ACS is a highly regulated enzyme with a potentially important control function in lipid metabolism.

Transcriptional induction of the fatty acid binding protein gene in mouse liver by bezafibrate

The mechanism by which hypolipidemic peroxisome proliferators of the fibrate family induce the liver fatty acid binding protein in liver of rodents is unknown. In order to delineate the level at which this protein is induced, the transcriptional activity of the specific gene encoding for liver fatty acid binding protein was measured in isolated hepatocyte nuclei obtained from male Swiss mice daily force-fed during 7 days with 400 mg/kg body weight bezafibrate. This treatment induced a 4-fold increase in the liver fatty acid binding protein transcription rate. Liver fatty acid binding protein mRNA level, measured by Northern blot analysis and cytosolic content of this protein, analyzed by immunoblotting, increased concurrently. From these results we conclude that the increase in the cytosolic liver fatty acid binding protein level by bezafibrate is due to an enhancement of the transcription rate of the liver fatty acid binding protein gene. Whether the transcriptional effect is mediated by peroxisome proliferator-receptor remains to be elucidated.

Fibrates influence the expression of genes involved in lipoprotein metabolism in a tissue-selective manner in the rat

The influence of different fibrates on apolipoprotein metabolism was investigated. Administration of fenofibrate provoked a dose-dependent decrease in plasma cholesterol concentration that was already evident after 1 day. Intestinal apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and apo A-IV mRNA levels remained fairly constant. In contrast, liver apo A-I, apo A-II, and apo A-IV mRNA levels decreased in a dose-dependent fashion, which was associated with a lower transcription rate of the apo A-I but not the apo A-II gene. The decline in hepatic apo A-I, apo A-II, and apo A-IV mRNA had already started after 1 day and was associated with a drop in plasma apo A-I and apo A-IV concentrations. Plasma apo E had already decreased after 1 day of fenofibrate, whereas apo B initially remained constant and increased only after 14 days of fenofibrate at the highest dose. Hepatic and intestinal apo B mRNA contents and liver, heart, kidney, and testis apo E mRNA contents were only marginally affected after treatment with fenofibrate. Liver low density lipoprotein receptor mRNA levels rose slightly after a 3-day administration of the highest dose of fenofibrate. Both clofibrate and gemfibrozil had effects comparable to those of fenofibrate on liver and intestinal apolipoprotein mRNA levels except for liver apo A-II mRNA, which decreased only marginally. Compared with fenofibrate, clofibrate caused similar changes in plasma cholesterol, apo A-I, apo A-IV, and apo E concentrations, whereas gemfibrozil increased plasma cholesterol and apo E without changing apo A-I and apo A-IV concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Induction of acyl-CoA oxidase and cytochrome P450IVA1 RNA in rat primary hepatocyte culture by peroxisome proliferators

We have characterized the induction of acyl-CoA oxidase and cytochrome P450IVA1 RNAs in a primary hepatocyte culture system in vitro, using a sensitive and specific RNAse protection assay. Hepatocytes were cultured with a maximal inducing dose of the peroxisome proliferator clofibric acid (1 mM), or vehicle control, for 4 days, and the level of RNAs compared with the level in rats which had been treated with corn oil or clofibric acid (300 mg/kg) for 4 days. The level of acyl-CoA oxidase and P450IVA1 RNAs in 4-day-old control hepatocytes was less than 2% of that in control liver. However, the level of these RNAs in RNA from treated hepatocytes was 61% of that in liver RNA from treated rats. Hepatocytes were treated with the potent peroxisome proliferator methylclofenapate (100 microM), and the induction of RNAs determined at various times after exposure. P450IVA1 RNA was significantly induced 1 h after dosing, rising to 34-fold above control after 8 h, whereas acyl-CoA oxidase RNA was not significantly induced until 4 h, increasing to 5.2-fold above control after 8 h. A similar time course of induction was seen after treatment of hepatocytes with 100 microM-nafenopin, 100 microM-methylclofenapate, 1 mM-clofibric acid or 1 mM-mono(ethylhexyl) phthalate, suggesting that the differential time course of induction of P450IVA1 and acyl-CoA oxidase RNAs is not related to the esterification, structure or potency of the peroxisome proliferator, but is intrinsic to the process of peroxisome proliferation. Hepatocytes were treated with methylclofenapate in the presence and absence of cycloheximide. P450IVA1 RNA was significantly induced by methylclofenapate in the presence of cycloheximide, rising to 17-fold above control after 8 h. However, no induction of acyl-CoA oxidase RNA was detected in the presence of cycloheximide. Therefore we characterize the induction of acyl-CoA oxidase and P450IVA1 RNAs in primary hepatocyte culture in vitro as a faithful model of the induction response in rat liver, and suggest that induction of P450IVA1 RNA is a primary event in the process of peroxisome proliferation.

Localization and differential induction of cytochrome P450IVA and acyl-CoA oxidase in rat liver

The peroxisome proliferators are structurally diverse chemicals which induce hyperplasia, hypertrophy and the proliferation of peroxisomes in the rodent liver. Cytochrome P450IVA1 and peroxisomal enzymes, such as acyl-CoA oxidase, are induced and are early markers of treatment with peroxisome proliferators. In this study, rats were dosed intraperitoneally with the potent peroxisome proliferator methylclofenapate and the hepatic induction response was studied. There was no significant change in the enzyme activities of laurate hydroxylase (cytochrome P450IVA1) or acyl-CoA oxidase in the first 8 h after treatment, but the activities had doubled at 24 h, suggesting that these enzymes are not involved in the mediation of early events in peroxisome proliferation. Hepatic cytochrome P450IVA1 mRNA was significantly increased at 6 and 8 h after treatment, rising to 15-fold above control values at 30 h. In contrast, acyl-CoA oxidase mRNA showed no significant change in the first 8 h, but increased to 13-fold above control values at 24 and 30 h, thereby demonstrating different kinetics of induction of the two mRNAs. In order to determine whether cytochrome P450IVA1 and peroxisomal enzymes were included in the same cells, rats were treated daily with sub-maximal (2 or 5 mg/kg) and maximal (25 mg/kg) inducing doses of methylclofenapate for 4 days. The lobular distribution of induced proteins was determined immunocytochemically with antibodies raised against P450IVA1 and acyl-CoA oxidase. Livers from control animals showed minimal staining for both proteins. However, in the livers of animals treated with 2 or 5 mg of methylclofenapate/kg, both acyl-CoA and P450IVA immunostaining was increased, mainly in the centrilobular area. Immunostaining of serial sections revealed that these proteins were induced in the same region of the lobule. A maximal inducing dose of methylclofenapate (25 mg/kg) caused panlobular induction of both proteins. The results demonstrate that these proteins are induced in a dose-dependent manner in the same, spatially distinct, sensitive region of the liver lobule.

Thyromimetic effect of peroxisomal proliferators in rat liver

Amphipathic carboxylates, of varying hydrophobic backbones, which act as peroxisomal proliferators (aryloxyalkanoic acids, methyl-substituted dicarboxylic acid) induce in euthyroid or thyroidectomized rats, as well as in rat hepatocytes cultured in 3,5,3'-tri-iodo-L-thyronine (T3)-free media, liver enzyme activities that are classically considered to be thyroid-hormone-dependent (malic enzyme, mitochondrial alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and S14). The dose required in vivo for the thyromimetic effect of peroxisomal proliferators was 10(3)-fold higher than the dose of T3 required. Similarly, peroxisomal proliferators were active in culture in the range 1-100 microM compared with 1 nM for T3. Their maximal inductive capacities were, however, similar to or greater than that of T3. The thyromimetic effect of peroxisomal proliferators was only partially correlated with their capacities as inducers of liver peroxisomal enzymes. The thyromimetic effect with respect to liver malate dehydrogenase and S14 resulted from an increase in their mRNA contents. The increase in liver S14 mRNA was accounted for by transcriptional activation of the S14 gene. T3 binding to isolated liver nuclei or nuclear extract was competitively displaced by some but not all of the non-thyroidal inducers of the above liver activities. In contrast with the thyromimetic effect induced in liver cells, no increase in growth hormone mRNA was observed in cultured GH1 pituitary cells incubated in the presence of non-thyroidal amphipathic carboxylates. The characteristics of the thyromimetic effect of amphipathic carboxylic peroxisomal proliferators indicate that these agents may act as transcriptional activators of thyroid-hormone-dependent genes in the rat liver.

Induction of fatty acid binding protein by peroxisome proliferators in primary hepatocyte cultures and its relationship to the induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation

The induction of liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) by the peroxisome proliferators bezafibrate and clofibrate was compared with the induction of peroxisomal (cyanide-insensitive) palmitoyl-CoA oxidation in cultured rat hepatocytes maintained on a substratum of laminin-rich (EHS) gel. This substratum was chosen because marked induction of both L-FABP and peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA oxidation was effected by bezafibrate in hepatocytes supported on EHS gel, whereas only peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA oxidation was induced in hepatocytes maintained on collagen-coated plates. In control cells on EHS, activity of peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA oxidation remained stable, while L-FABP abundance declined with time, and L-FABP mRNA was undetectable after 5 days. In cultures exposed to bezafibrate or clofibrate, peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA oxidation activity was induced earlier and more rapidly than L-FABP. When fibrates were withdrawn, peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA oxidation declined rapidly, whereas L-FABP continued to increase. L-FABP induction was accompanied by a striking increase in mRNA specifying this protein. Tetradecylglycidic acid, an inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I, effectively doubled peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA oxidation activity. However, tetradecylglycidic acid markedly inhibited fibrate induction of L-FABP and peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA oxidation but, unexpectedly, did not prevent the fibrate-induced proliferation of peroxisomes. Maximal induction of both L-FABP and peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA oxidation was produced at a bezafibrate concentration in the culture medium (0.05 mM) much lower than that of clofibrate (0.3 mM). Also, bezafibrate, but not clofibrate, inhibited [1-14C]oleic acid binding to L-FABP with a Ki = 9.5 microM. We conclude that hepatocytes maintained on EHS gel provide an important tool for investigating the regulation of L-FABP. These studies show that the induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation and L-FABP by peroxisome proliferators are temporally consecutive but closely related processes which may be dependent on a mechanism distinct from that which leads to peroxisome proliferation. Furthermore, the mechanism of action of the more potent peroxisome proliferator, bezafibrate, may be mediated, in part, by interaction of this agent with L-FABP.

An in vitro demonstration of peroxisome proliferation and increase in peroxisomal beta-oxidation system mRNAs in cultured rat hepatocytes treated with ciprofibrate

Using the normal adult rat hepatocytes, plated on rat tail collagen-coated dishes and fed a chemically defined medium, we demonstrate here that ciprofibrate at 0.1 mM concentration, increases significantly the mRNA levels of fatty acyl-CoA oxidase, enoyl-CoA hydratase/3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional protein, and thiolase (the three enzymes of the beta-oxidation system), and causes peroxisome proliferation. Increase in mRNA levels of these genes was evident within 1 h and was maximal 24 h after the addition of ciprofibrate. In hepatocytes with the basal levels of these enzymes were low and further declined with time. Concomitant treatment of hepatocytes with cycloheximide did not inhibit or superinduce the mRNA levels, indicating that this induction may represent a primary (direct) effect of this compound on the expression of these genes and does not apparently involve short-lived repressor protein(s).

Lack of evidence for a hepatic peroxisome proliferator receptor and an explanation for the binding of hypolipidaemic drugs to liver homogenates

The existence of a postulated hepatic receptor responsible for the peroxisomal proliferation induced in rodents by hypolipidaemic drugs has been investigated. [3H]-nafenopin and [3H]-ciprofibrate were used as labelled ligands and two competitive binding assays, using either a charcoal-dextran or a hydroxylapatite method, were developed to investigate potential binding. In both assay systems, specific displaceable binding of either nafenopin or ciprofibrate to whole homogenate, microsomal and cytosolic fractions of rat liver could not be detected in a variety of buffer systems. A positive control of ligand binding to bovine serum albumin indicated the validity of the binding assays used. In addition, both nafenopin and ciprofibrate exhibited displaceable binding to serum albumin using the hydroxylapatite binding assay and a Scatchard analysis of the binding of [3H]-nafenopin to fatty acid free rat serum albumin yielded a dissociation constant of 5.2 x 10(-7) M and 86 pmol of ligand bound per mg protein. Taken collectively, our data strongly argues against the existence of a specific hepatic peroxisome proliferation receptor and indicates that the peroxisome proliferating hypolipidaemic drugs bind to serum albumin and possibly to other cellular proteins not involved in the activation of genes necessary for peroxisome proliferation.