Taurine supplementation induces multidrug resistance protein 2 and bile salt export pump expression in rats and prevents endotoxin-induced cholestasis

The effect of oral taurine supplementation on endotoxin-induced cholestasis was investigated in rat liver. At 12h following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection (4mg/kg body weight i.p.) bile flow and bromosulfophthalein (BSP) and taurocholate (TC) excretion were determined in the perfused liver and the expression of the canalicular transporters multidrug resistance protein 2 (Mrp2) and bile salt export pump (Bsep) was analyzed. Injection of LPS induced a significant decrease of bile flow ( 2.2+/-0.2 microl/g liver wet weight/min vs 3.3+/-0.1 microl/g liver wet weight in controls), biliary BSP excretion (10.8+/-2.2 nmol/g/min vs 21.0+/-3.8 nmol/g/min), and biliary TC excretion (114+/-23 nmol/g/min vs 228+/-8 nmol/g/min). These effects were due to transporter retrieval from the canalicular membrane and downregulation of Mrp2 and Bsep expression. In taurine-supplemented rats bile flow was 30% higher than that in untreated rats and the expression of Mrp2 and Bsep protein was increased two- to threefold. In taurine-supplemented rats there was no significant reduction of bile flow or of BSP and TC excretion at 12h following LPS injection. This protective effect of taurine was due to higher Mrp2 and Bsep protein levels compared to nonsupplemented LPS-treated rats, whereas relative Mrp2 retrieval from the canalicular membrane induced by LPS was not significantly different. LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1beta release were lower in taurine-fed rats; however, downregulation of Mrp2 and Bsep expression by LPS was delayed but not prevented. The data show that oral supplementation of taurine induces Mrp2 and Bsep expression and may prevent LPS-induced cholestasis.     

Fxr(-/-) mice adapt to biliary obstruction by enhanced phase I detoxification and renal elimination of bile acids

Farnesoid X receptor knockout (Fxr(-/-)) mice cannot upregulate the bile salt export pump in bile acid loading or cholestatic conditions. To investigate whether Fxr(-/-) mice differ in bile acid detoxification compared with wild-type mice, we performed a comprehensive analysis of bile acids extracted from liver, bile, serum, and urine of naive and common bile duct-ligated wild-type and Fxr(-/-) mice using electrospray and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. In addition, hepatic and renal gene expression levels of Cyp2b10 and Cyp3a11, and protein expression levels of putative renal bile acid-transporting proteins, were investigated. We found significantly enhanced hepatic bile acid hydroxylation in Fxr(-/-) mice, in particular hydroxylations of cholic acid in the 1beta, 2beta, 4beta, 6alpha, 6beta, 22, or 23 position and a significantly enhanced excretion of these metabolites in urine. The gene expression level of Cyp3a11 was increased in the liver of Fxr(-/-) mice, whereas the protein expression levels of multidrug resistance-related protein 4 (Mrp4) were increased in kidneys of both genotypes during common bile duct ligation. In conclusion, Fxr(-/-) mice detoxify accumulating bile acids in the liver by enhanced hydroxylation reactions probably catalyzed by Cyp3a11. The metabolites formed were excreted into urine, most likely with the participation of Mrp4.     

Mrp2 is involved in benzylpenicillin-induced choleresis

Benzylpenicillin (PCG; 180 micromol/kg), a classic beta-lactam antibiotic, was intravenously given to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2)-deficient Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rats (EHBR). A percentage of the [(3)H]PCG was excreted into the bile of the rats within 60 min (SD rats: 31.7% and EHBR: 4.3%). Remarkably, a transient increase in the bile flow ( approximately 2-fold) and a slight increase in the total biliary bilirubin excretion were observed in SD rats but not in the EHBR after PCG administration. This suggests that the biliary excretion of PCG and its choleretic effect are Mrp2-dependent. Positive correlations were observed between the biliary excretion rate of PCG and bile flow (r(2) = 0.768) and more remarkably between the biliary excretion rate of GSH and bile flow (r(2) = 0.968). No ATP-dependent uptake of [(3)H]PCG was observed in Mrp2-expressing Sf9 membrane vesicles, whereas other forms of Mrp2-substrate transport were stimulated in the presence of PCG. GSH efflux mediated by human MRP2 expressed in Madin-Darby canine kidney II cells was enhanced in the presence of PCG in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, the choleretic effect of PCG is caused by the stimulation of biliary GSH efflux as well as the concentrative biliary excretion of PCG itself, both of which were Mrp2 dependent.     

Estradiol-17beta-D-glucuronide induces endocytic internalization of Bsep in rats

Endocytic internalization of the multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2) was previously suggested to be involved in estradiol-17beta-D-glucuronide (E217G)-induced cholestasis. Here we evaluated in the rat whether a similar phenomenon occurs with the bile salt export pump (Bsep) and the ability of DBcAMP to prevent it. E217G (15 micromol/kg i.v.) impaired bile salt (BS) output and induced Bsep internalization, as assessed by confocal microscopy and Western blotting. Neither cholestasis nor Bsep internalization occurred in TR- rats lacking Mrp2. DBcAMP (20 micromol/kg i.v.) partially prevented the decrease in bile flow and BS output and substantially prevented E217G-induced Bsep internalization. In hepatocyte couplets, E217G (50 microM) diminished canalicular accumulation of a fluorescent BS and decreased Bsep-associated fluorescence in the canalicular membrane; DBcAMP (10 microM) fully prevented both effects. In conclusion, our results suggest that changes in Bsep localization are involved in E217G-induced impairment of bile flow and BS transport and that DBcAMP prevents this effect by stimulating insertion of canalicular transporter-containing vesicles. Mrp2 is required for E217G to induce its harmful effect.     

Canalicular Mrp2 localization is reversibly regulated by the intracellular redox status

Oxidative stress is known to be a common feature of cholestatic syndrome. We have described the internalization of multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2), a biliary transporter involved in bile salt-independent bile flow, under acute oxidative stress, and a series of signaling pathways finally leading to the activation of novel protein kinase C were involved in this mechanism; however, it has been unclear whether the internalized Mrp2 localization was relocalized to the canalicular membrane when the intracellular redox status was recovered from oxidative stress. In this study, we demonstrated that decreased canalicular expression of Mrp2 induced by tertiary-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) was recovered to the canalicular membrane by the replenishment of GSH by GSH-ethyl ester, a cell-permeable form of GSH. Moreover, pretreatment of isolated rat hepatocytes with colchicine and PKA inhibitor did not affect the t-BHP-induced Mrp2 internalization process but did prevent the Mrp2 recycling process induced by GSH replenishment. Moreover, intracellular cAMP concentration similarly changed with the change of intracellular GSH content. Taken together, our data clearly indicate that the redox-sensitive balance of PKA/PKC activation regulates the reversible Mrp2 localization in two different pathways, the microtubule-independent internalization pathway and -dependent recycling pathway of Mrp2.     

Retrieval of the mrp2 gene encoded conjugate export pump from the canalicular membrane contributes to cholestasis induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide and chloro-dinitrobenzene

Oxidative stress is known to induce cholestasis, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study we have characterized the short-term effects of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH)- and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) on the mrp2 gene encoded canalicular export pump (Mrp2). The effects of t-BOOH and CDNB on bile formation, tissue GSH levels and subcellular Mrp2 localization were studied in perfused rat liver. Both, t-BOOH (0.5 mM) and CDNB (0.1 mM) induced within 60 min a decrease of hepatic GSH levels by more than 90% and an almost complete cessation of bile flow. As revealed by confocal laser scanning microscopy, this cholestasis was accompanied by a loss of immunoreactive MRP2 from the canalicular membrane and its appearance inside the hepatocytes in putative intracellular vesicles. On the other hand, the intracellular distribution of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV), another canalicular protein, and of zonula occludens associated polypeptide (ZO-1) remained unaffected, indicating selectivity of the Mrp2 retrieval pattern. Both, t-BOOH and CDNB induced a rapid net K+ efflux from the liver and a significant decrease of liver cell hydration. We conclude that severe glutathione depletion induces cholestasis by a retrieval of Mrp2, but not of DPPIV from the canalicular membrane. The underlying mechanism is unclear; however, a decrease in liver cell hydration, which occurs under these conditions, may contribute to this effect.     

ERK1/2 and p38 MAPKs Are Complementarily Involved in Estradiol 17?-d-Glucuronide-Induced Cholestasis: Crosstalk with cPKC and PI3K

Objective

The endogenous, cholestatic metabolite estradiol 17ß-d-glucuronide (E₂17G) induces endocytic internalization of the canalicular transporters relevant to bile formation, Bsep and Mrp2. We evaluated here whether MAPKs are involved in this effect.

Design

ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and p38 MAPK activation was assessed by the increase in their phosphorylation status. Hepatocanalicular function was evaluated in isolated rat hepatocyte couplets (IRHCs) by quantifying the apical secretion of fluorescent Bsep and Mrp2 substrates, and in isolated, perfused rat livers (IPRLs), using taurocholate and 2,4-dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione, respectively. Protein kinase participation in E₂17G-induced secretory failure was assessed by co-administering selective inhibitors. Internalization of Bsep/Mrp2 was assessed by confocal microscopy and image analysis.

Results

E₂17G activated all kinds of MAPKs. The PI3K inhibitor wortmannin prevented ERK1/2 activation, whereas the cPKC inhibitor Gö6976 prevented p38 activation, suggesting that ERK1/2 and p38 are downstream of PI3K and cPKC, respectively. The p38 inhibitor SB203580 and the ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, but not the JNK1/2 inhibitor SP600125, partially prevented E₂17G-induced changes in transporter activity and localization in IRHCs. p38 and ERK1/2 co-inhibition resulted in additive protection, suggesting complementary involvement of these MAPKs. In IPRLs, E₂17G induced endocytosis of canalicular transporters and a rapid and sustained decrease in bile flow and biliary excretion of Bsep/Mrp2 substrates. p38 inhibition prevented this initial decay, and the internalization of Bsep/Mrp2. Contrarily, ERK1/2 inhibition accelerated the recovery of biliary secretion and the canalicular reinsertion of Bsep/Mrp2.

Conclusions

cPKC/p38 MAPK and PI3K/ERK1/2 signalling pathways participate complementarily in E₂17G-induced cholestasis, through internalization and sustained intracellular retention of canalicular transporters, respectively.     

Role of microtubules in estradiol-17beta-D-glucuronide-induced alteration of canalicular Mrp2 localization and activity

Estradiol-17beta-D-glucuronide (E2-17G) induces a marked but reversible inhibition of bile flow in the rat together with endocytic retrieval of multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2) from the canalicular membrane to intracellular structures. We analyzed the effect of pretreatment (100 min) with the microtubule inhibitor colchicine or lumicholchicine, its inactive isomer (1 micromol/kg iv), on changes in bile flow and localization and function of Mrp2 induced by E2-17G (15 micromol/kg iv). Bile flow and biliary excretion of bilirubin, an endogenous Mrp2 substrate, were measured throughout, whereas Mrp2 localization was examined at 20 and 120 min after E2-17G by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy and Western analysis. Colchicine pretreatment alone did not affect bile flow or Mrp2 localization and activity over the short time scale examined (3-4 h). Administration of E2-17G to colchicine-pretreated rats induced a marked decrease (85%) in bile flow and biliary excretion of bilirubin as well as internalization of Mrp2 at 20 min. These alterations were of a similar magnitude as in rats pretreated with lumicolchicine followed by E2-17G. Bile flow and Mrp2 localization and activity were restored to control levels within 120 min of E2-17G in animals pretreated with lumicolchicine. In contrast, in colchicine-pretreated rats followed by E2-17G, bile flow and Mrp2 activity remained significantly inhibited by 60%, and confocal and Western studies revealed sustained internalization of Mrp2 120 min after E2-17G. We conclude that recovery from E2-17G cholestasis, associated with exocytic insertion of Mrp2 in the canalicular membrane, but not its initial E2-17G-induced endocytosis, is a microtubule-dependent process.     

Regulation of Plasma Membrane Localization of the Na+-Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide (Ntcp) by Hyperosmolarity and Tauroursodeoxycholate

In perfused rat liver, hepatocyte shrinkage induces a Fyn-dependent retrieval of the bile salt export pump (Bsep) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2) from the canalicular membrane (Cantore, M., Reinehr, R., Sommerfeld, A., Becker, M., and Häussinger, D. (2011) J. Biol. Chem. 286, 45014–45029) leading to cholestasis. However little is known about the effects of hyperosmolarity on short term regulation of the Na⁺-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (Ntcp), the major bile salt uptake system at the sinusoidal membrane of hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to analyze hyperosmotic Ntcp regulation and the underlying signaling events. Hyperosmolarity induced a significant retrieval of Ntcp from the basolateral membrane, which was accompanied by an activating phosphorylation of the Src kinases Fyn and Yes but not of c-Src. Hyperosmotic internalization of Ntcp was sensitive to SU6656 and PP-2, suggesting that Fyn mediates Ntcp retrieval from the basolateral membrane. Hyperosmotic internalization of Ntcp was also found in livers from wild-type mice but not in p47^phox knock-out mice. Tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDC) and cAMP reversed hyperosmolarity-induced Fyn activation and triggered re-insertion of the hyperosmotically retrieved Ntcp into the membrane. This was associated with dephosphorylation of the Ntcp on serine residues. Insertion of Ntcp by TUDC was sensitive to the integrin inhibitory hexapeptide GRGDSP and inhibition of protein kinase A. TUDC also reversed the hyperosmolarity-induced retrieval of bile salt export pump from the canalicular membrane. These findings suggest a coordinated and oxidative stress- and Fyn-dependent retrieval of sinusoidal and canalicular bile salt transport systems from the corresponding membranes. Ntcp insertion was also identified as a novel target of β₁-integrin-dependent TUDC action, which is frequently used in the treatment of cholestatic liver disease.     

Endothelin-3 applied to the brain evokes opposite effects on bile secretion mediated by a central nitric oxide pathway

We sought to establish Endothelin (ET-3) role in the central regulation of bile secretion in the rat. The intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of ET-3 evoked a cholestatic or a choleretic effect depending on the administered dose. Lower doses increased bile flow and bicarbonate excretion, whereas higher doses decreased bile flow and bile acid output. ET-3 effects were dependent on brain nitric oxide and independent of the autonomic nervous system or hemodynamic variations. A selective ETB antagonist abolished the cholestatic effect, whereas the choleretic effect was totally inhibited by either ETA or ETB selective blockade. These results show that ET-3 applied to the brain modified through a nitric oxide pathway distinct bile flow fractions depending on the administered dose and give further insights into the complexity of brain-liver interaction.     

Hepatobiliary excretion of dipyrrinone sulfonates in Mrp2-deficient (TR(-)) rats

The biliary excretion of the sodium salts of 8-(2-ethanesulfonic acid)-3-ethyl-2,7,9-trimethyl-1,10-dihydro-11H-dipyrrin-1-one (xanthosulfonic acid) and a fluorescent analogue (8-desethyl-N,N'-carbonyl-kryptopyrromethenone-8-sulfonic acid) was compared in Mrp2-deficient (TR(-)) and normal rats. Both organic anions were excreted rapidly in bile in Mrp2-deficient rats, but the biliary excretion of the fluorescent sulfonate was impaired relative to normal controls. The rat clearly has efficient Mrp2-independent mechanisms for biliary efflux of these anions that are not used by bilirubin or its mono- and diglucuronides.     

Functional expression of organic anion transporters in hepatic organoids reconstructed by rat small hepatocytes

Small hepatocytes (SHs) are hepatic progenitor cells with hepatic characteristics. They can proliferate to form colonies in culture and change their morphology from flat to rising/piled-up with bile canaliculi (BC), which results in maturation. In this study, we examined whether SHs could express hepatic transporters with polarity, whether the transporters could transport organic anion substrates into BC, and whether the secreted substances could be recovered from BC. Immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR were carried out. [(3)H]-labeled estrogen derivatives were used to measure the functions of the transporters in SHs isolated from normal and multidrug resistance-associated protein (Mrp) 2-deficient rats. The results showed that organic anion-transporting proteins (Oatps) 1 and 2, Na(+)-dependent taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (Ntcp), Mrp2, and bile-salt export pump (Bsep) were well expressed in rising/piled-up cells and that their expression was correlated to that of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha. Although small SHs expressed not Oatps and Mrp2 but Mrp3, rising/piled-up SHs expressed Oatp1 and 2 and Mrp2 proteins in the sinusoidal and BC membranes, respectively. On the other hand, breast cancer resistant protein (Bcrp) and Mrp3 expression decreased as SHs matured. The substrate transported via Oatps and Mrp2 was secreted into BC and it accumulated in both BC and cyst-like structures. The secreted substrate could be efficiently recovered from BC reconstructed by SHs derived from a normal rat, but not from an Mrp2-deficient rat. In conclusion, SHs can reconstitute hepatic organoids expressing functional organic anion transporters in culture. This culture system may be useful to analyze the metabolism and excretion mechanisms of drugs.     

Characterization of bile acid transport mediated by multidrug resistance associated protein 2 and bile salt export pump

Biliary excretion of certain bile acids is mediated by multidrug resistance associated protein 2 (Mrp2) and the bile salt export pump (Bsep). In the present study, the transport properties of several bile acids were characterized in canalicular membrane vesicles (CMVs) isolated from Sprague--Dawley (SD) rats and Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rats (EHBR) whose Mrp2 function is hereditarily defective and in membrane vesicles isolated from Sf9 cells infected with recombinant baculovirus containing cDNAs encoding Mrp2 and Bsep. ATP-dependent uptake of [(3)H]taurochenodeoxycholate sulfate (TCDC-S) (K(m)=8.8 microM) and [(3)H]taurolithocholate sulfate (TLC-S) (K(m)=1.5 microM) was observed in CMVs from SD rats, but not from EHBR. In addition, ATP-dependent uptake of [(3)H]TLC-S (K(m)=3.9 microM) and [(3)H]taurocholate (TC) (K(m)=7.5 microM) was also observed in Mrp2- and Bsep-expressing Sf9 membrane vesicles, respectively. TCDC-S and TLC-S inhibited the ATP-dependent TC uptake into CMVs from SD rats with IC(50) values of 4.6 microM and 1.2 microM, respectively. In contrast, the corresponding values for Sf9 cells expressing Bsep were 59 and 62 microM, respectively, which were similar to those determined in CMVs from EHBR (68 and 33 microM, respectively). By co-expressing Mrp2 with Bsep in Sf9 cells, IC(50) values for membrane vesicles from these cells shifted to values comparable with those in CMVs from SD rats (4.6 and 1.2 microM). Moreover, in membrane vesicles where both Mrp2 and Bsep are co-expressed, preincubation with the sulfated bile acids potentiated their inhibitory effect on Bsep-mediated TC transport. These results can be accounted for by assuming that the sulfated bile acids trans-inhibit the Bsep-mediated transport of TC.     

ATP-dependent transport of bile salts by rat multidrug resistance-associated protein 3 (Mrp3)

We have previously shown that cloned rat multidrug resistance-associated protein 3 (Mrp3) has the ability to transport organic anions such as 17beta-estradiol 17-beta-D-glucuronide (E(2)17betaG) and has a different substrate specificity from MRP1 and MRP2 in that glutathione conjugates are poor substrates for Mrp3 (Hirohashi, T., Suzuki, H., and Sugiyama, Y. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 15181-15185). In the present study, the involvement of Mrp3 in the transport of endogenous bile salts was investigated using membrane vesicles from LLC-PK1 cells transfected with rat Mrp3 cDNA. The ATP-dependent uptake of [(3)H]taurocholate (TC), [(14)C]glycocholate (GC), [(3)H]taurochenodeoxycholate-3-sulfate (TCDC-S), and [(3)H]taurolithocholate-3-sulfate (TLC-S) was markedly stimulated by Mrp3 transfection in LLC-PK1 cells. The extent of Mrp3-mediated transport of bile salts was in the order, TLC-S > TCDC-S > TC > GC. The K(m) and V(max) values for the uptake of TC and TLC-S were K(m) = 15.9 +/- 4.9 microM and V(max) = 50.1 +/- 9.3 pmol/min/mg of protein and K(m) = 3.06 +/- 0.57 microM and V(max) = 161.9 +/- 21.7 pmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. At 55 nM [(3)H]E(2)17betaG and 1.2 microM [(3)H]TC, the apparent K(m) values for ATP were 1.36 and 0.66 mM, respectively. TC, GC, and TCDC-S inhibited the transport of [(3)H]E(2)17betaG and [(3)H]TC to the same extent with an apparent IC(50) of approximately 10 microM. TLC-S inhibited the uptake of [(3)H]E(2)17betaG and [(3)H]TC most potently (IC(50) of approximately 1 microM) among the bile salts examined, whereas cholate weakly inhibited the uptake (IC(50) approximately 75 microM). Although TC and GC are transported by bile salt export pump/sister of P-glycoprotein, but not by MRP2, and TCDC-S and TLC-S are transported by MRP2, but not by bile salt export pump/sister of P-glycoprotein, it was found that Mrp3 accepts all these bile salts as substrates. This information, together with the finding that MRP3 is extensively expressed on the basolateral membrane of human cholangiocytes, suggests that MRP3/Mrp3 plays a significant role in the cholehepatic circulation of bile salts.     

Oxidative stress is a triggering factor for LPS-induced Mrp2 internalization in the cryopreserved rat and human liver slices

Cholestasis develops during inflammation and is characterized as occurring under oxidative stress. We have described the internalization of multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2), a biliary transporter involved in bile-salt-independent bile flow, under ethacrynic acid or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute oxidative stress in rat liver. However, it remains unclear whether canalicular Mrp2 internalization is observed in human liver under conditions of acute oxidative stress. In this study, we examined the effect of dimerumic acid (DMA), an antioxidant and found in traditional Chinese medicine, on endotoxin-induced Mrp2 internalization in rat and human liver slices. At 1.5 h following LPS treatment (100 μg/mL), canalicular Mrp2 localization was disrupted without changing the expression of Mrp2 protein or the integrity of filamentous actin in the rat and human liver slices. Pretreatment with DMA (10 μM) counteracted LPS-induced subcellular distribution of Mrp2. Our data clearly indicated that LPS-induced short-term rapid retrieval of Mrp2 from the canalicular surface resulted from LPS-induced oxidative stress in rat and human liver slices.