The expression of CYP2B6, CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 genes: a tangle of networks of nuclear and steroid receptors

Numerous chemicals increase the metabolic capability of organisms by their ability to activate genes encoding various xenochemical-metabolizing enzymes, such as cytochromes P450 (CYPs), transferases and transporters. For example, natural and synthetic glucocorticoids (agonists and antagonists) as well as other clinically important drugs induce the hepatic CYP2B, CYP2C and CYP3A subfamilies in man, and these inductions might lead to clinically important drug-drug interactions. Only recently, the key cellular receptors that mediate such inductions have been identified. They include nuclear receptors, such as the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR, NR1I3), the retinoid X receptor (RXR, NR2B1), the pregnane X receptor (PXR, NR1I2), and the vitamin D receptor (VDR, NR1I1) and steroid receptors such as the glucocorticoid receptor (GR, NR3C1). There is a wide promiscuity of these receptors in the induction of CYPs in response to xenobiotics. Indeed, this adaptive system appears now as a tangle of networks, where receptors share partners, ligands, DNA response elements and target genes. Moreover, they influence mutually their relative expression. This review is focused on these different pathways controlling human CYP2B6, CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 gene expression, and the cross-talk between these pathways.     

Transcriptional regulation of CYP2C9 gene. Role of glucocorticoid receptor and constitutive androstane receptor.

Although cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) is a major CYP expressed in the adult human liver, its mechanism of regulation is poorly known. In previous work, we have shown that CYP2C9 is inducible in primary human hepatocytes by xenobiotics including dexamethasone, rifampicin, and phenobarbital. The aim of this work was to investigate the molecular mechanism(s) controlling the inducible expression of CYP2C9. Deletional analysis of CYP2C9 regulatory region (+21 to -2088) in the presence of various hormone nuclear receptors suggested the presence of two functional response elements, a glucocorticoid receptor-responsive element (-1648/-1684) and a constitutive androstane receptor-responsive element (CAR, -1783/-1856). Each of these were characterized by co-transfection experiments, directed mutagenesis, gel shift assays, and response to specific antagonists RU486 and androstanol. By these experiments we located a glucocorticoid-responsive element imperfect palindrome at -1662/-1676, and a DR4 motif at -1803/-1818 recognized and transactivated by human glucocorticoid receptor and by hCAR and pregnane X receptor, respectively. Identification of these functional elements provides rational mechanistic basis for CYP2C9 induction by dexamethasone (submicromolar concentrations), and by phenobarbital and rifampicin, respectively. CYP2C9 appears therefore to be a primary glucocorticoid-responsive gene, which in addition, may be induced by xenobiotics through CAR/pregnane X receptor activation.     

A role for constitutive androstane receptor in the regulation of human intestinal MDR1 expression

MDR1/P-glycoprotein is an efflux transporter determining the absorption and presystemic elimination of many xenobiotics in the gut. Thus, interindividual differences in MDR1 expression may affect the efficacy of drug treatment. The expression of MDR1 is partially controlled by the pregnane X receptor (PXR), which mediates induction by many xenobiotics. Since it has been described that the nuclear receptors PXR and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) can bind to the same binding sites, we investigated the role of CAR in the regulation of MDR1 gene expression. We demonstrate here by gel shift and transfection experiments that CAR binds to distinct nuclear receptor response elements in the -7.8 kbp enhancer of MDR1 and transactivates MDR1 expression through DR4 motifs to which the receptor binds as a heterodimer with RXR or as a monomer, respectively. Expression of the endogenous MDR1 gene is elevated in cells stably expressing CAR, thus arguing for the functional relevance of CAR-dependent activation of MDR1 . The physiological relevance of the regulation of MDR1 by CAR is further suggested by correlation of the expression of CAR and MDR1 in the human small intestine. In summary, our data suggest that CAR plays a role in the regulation of intestinal MDR1 expression.     

Transactivation of ABCG2 through a novel cis-element in the distal promoter by constitutive androstane receptor but not pregnane X receptor in human hepatocytes

A previous report demonstrated that treatment of human hepatocytes with phenobarbital, an activator of nuclear receptor constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), increases mRNA levels of an efflux transporter ABCG2, which is involved in the excretion of xenobiotics in liver and intestine. The results suggest that human CAR (hCAR) transactivates human ABCG2 (hABCG2) expression. In this study, we confirmed increase in ABCG2 mRNA levels in human hepatocytes after adenoviral expression of hCAR and treatment with its activator. Reporter assays suggested the existence of an hCAR-responsive element between -8000 and -7485 of hABCG2 promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays identified a DR5 motif (direct repeat separated by five nucleotides) within the region as a binding motif of hCAR/human retinoid X receptor α heterodimer. The introduction of mutations into the DR5 motif resulted in the complete loss of the hCAR-mediated transactivation. Interestingly, human pregnane X receptor, belonging to the same NR1I subfamily as CAR, did not activate any reporter gene containing the DR5 motif. Taken together, our present findings suggest that hCAR transactivates hABCG2 through the DR5 motif located in its distal promoter in human hepatocytes and that the motif prefers hCAR to pregnane X receptor.     

Unsaturated fatty acid regulation of cytochrome P450 expression via a CAR-dependent pathway

The liver is responsible for key metabolic functions, including control of normal homoeostasis in response to diet and xenobiotic metabolism/detoxification. We have shown previously that inactivation of the hepatic cytochrome P450 system through conditional deletion of POR (P450 oxidoreductase) induces hepatic steatosis, liver growth and P450 expression. We have exploited a new conditional model of POR deletion to investigate the mechanism underlying these changes. We demonstrate that P450 induction, liver growth and hepatic triacylglycerol (triglyceride) homoeostasis are intimately linked and provide evidence that the observed phenotypes result from hepatic accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids, which mediate these phenotypes by activation of the nuclear receptor CAR (constitutive androstane receptor) and, to a lesser degree, PXR (pregnane X receptor). To our knowledge this is the first direct evidence that P450s play a major role in controlling unsaturated fatty acid homoeostasis via CAR. The regulation of P450s involved in xenobiotic metabolism by this mechanism has potentially significant implications for individual responses to drugs and environmental chemicals.     

Characterization of DNA complexes formed by the nuclear receptor constitutive androstane receptor

The nuclear receptor constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) acts as a xenobiotic sensor and regulates the expression of enzymes, such as several cytochromes P450s and the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) type 1A1. CAR binds as a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor (RXR) to specific DNA sites, called response elements (REs). Clusters of CAR REs, referred to as phenobarbital response enhancer modules (PBREMs), have been identified in several CAR target genes. In this study we confirm that REs formed by direct repeats of two AGTTCA hexamers with 4 spacing nucleotides are optimal for the binding of CAR-RXR heterodimers. In addition, we found that the heterodimers also form complexes on everted repeat-type arrangements with 8 spacing nucleotides. We also observed that CAR is able to bind DNA as a monomer and to interact in this form with different coregulators even in the presence of RXR. Systematic variation of the nucleotides 5'-flanking to both AGTTCA hexamers showed that the dinucleotide sequence modulates the DNA complex formation of CAR monomers and CAR-RXR heterodimer by a factor of up to 20. The highest preference was found for the sequence AG and lowest for CC. The increased DNA affinity of CAR is mediated by the positively charged arginines 90 and 91 located in the carboxyl-terminal extension of the DNA-binding domain of the receptor. Furthermore, we show that one of the three CAR REs of the human UGT1A1 PBREM is exclusively bound by CAR monomers and this is regulated by ligands that bind to this nuclear receptor. This points to a physiological role for CAR monomers. Therefore, both CAR-RXR heterodimers and CAR monomers can contribute to the gene activating function of PBREMs in CAR target genes.     

Expression of nuclear receptor mRNA and liver X receptor-mediated regulation of ABC transporter A1 at rat blood-brain barrier

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of nuclear receptor mRNA and regulation of the expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters by nuclear receptor agonists in rat brain capillary endothelial cells, which form the blood-brain barrier, by using rat brain capillary fraction from 8-week-old rats and a conditionally immortalized brain capillary endothelial cell line (TR-BBB13). RT-PCR analysis revealed that liver X receptor alpha and beta, retinoid X receptor alpha and beta and peroxisome proliferator-activating receptor alpha and beta mRNAs were expressed in the rat brain capillary endothelial cells and TR-BBB cells. In contrast, pregnane X receptor, farnesoid X receptor and constitutive androstane receptor were not detected. Furthermore, treatment with a liver X receptor agonist increased the ABCA1 mRNA level in TR-BBB13 cells, while ABCG2 mRNA expression was not affected. Treatment with a rat pregnane X receptor agonist did not affect the ABCB1 mRNA level in TR-BBB13 cells. These results demonstrate that the rat blood-brain barrier has an expressional regulation mechanism via sterol-related nuclear receptor, and indicate that the blood-brain barrier in 8-week-old rats lacks ABCB1 regulation via pregnane X receptor.     

Nuclear receptor interactions in methotrexate induction of human dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase (hSULT2A1)

Cytosolic sulfotransferases (SULTs) are a major family of phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes. SULT-catalyzed sulfonation regulates hormone activities metabolizes drugs detoxifies xenobiotic toxicants bioactivates carcinogens. Human dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase (hSULT2A1 DHEA-ST) plays a very important role in sulfating endogenous hydroxysteroids and exogenousxenobiotics. Our recent studies have shown that methotrexate can induce hSULT2A1 expression. To investigate the molecular mechanism involved in hSULT2A1 induction we generated the promoter sequence of hSULT2A1 by PCR and constructed a reporter gene vector. Both reporter gene assay and endogenous induction results suggested that human constitutive active receptor (hCAR) mediates the methotrexate induction of hSULT2A1 in both Caco-2 and Hep G2 cells. Human vitamin D receptor (hVDR) also upregulated hSULT2A1 gene expression while human pregnane X receptor (hPXR) downregulated it. Human pregnane X receptor suppressed hCAR-mediated methotrexate induction of hSULT2A1 in both Caco-2 and Hep G2 cells. hVDR competed with hCAR for the hSULT2A1 promoter in Caco-2 cells. hCAR inhibited hVDR-mediated vitamin D3 induction of hSULT2A1 but not methotrexate induction of hSULT2A1. These results strongly support the hypothesis that cross-talk occurs among nuclear receptors in the signal transduction pathway of hSULT2A1 and that interactions among nuclear receptors also depend on ligands (inducers) in the system.     

Structural and Functional Similarity of Amphibian Constitutive Androstane Receptor with Mammalian Pregnane X Receptor

The nuclear receptors and xenosensors constitutive androstane receptor (CAR, NR1I3) and pregnane X receptor (PXR, NR1I2) induce the expression of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and transporters, which also affects various endobiotics. While human and mouse CAR feature a high basal activity and low induction upon ligand exposure, we recently identified two constitutive androstane receptors in Xenopus laevis (xlCARα and β) that possess PXR-like characteristics such as low basal activity and activation in response to structurally diverse compounds. Using a set of complementary computational and biochemical approaches we provide evidence for xlCARα being the structural and functional counterpart of mammalian PXR. A three-dimensional model of the xlCARα ligand-binding domain (LBD) reveals a human PXR-like L-shaped ligand binding pocket with a larger volume than the binding pockets in human and murine CAR. The shape and amino acid composition of the ligand-binding pocket of xlCAR suggests PXR-like binding of chemically diverse ligands which was confirmed by biochemical methods. Similarly to PXR, xlCARα possesses a flexible helix 11’. Modest increase in the recruitment of coactivator PGC-1α may contribute to the enhanced basal activity of three gain-of-function xlCARα mutants humanizing key LBD amino acid residues. xlCARα and PXR appear to constitute an example of convergent evolution.