Regulation of cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes by nuclear receptors

Role of orphan nuclear receptors in the regulation of drug-metabolising enzymes

During the past several years, important advances have been made in our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate the expression of genes that determine drug clearance, including phase I and phase II drug-metabolising enzymes and drug transporters. Orphan nuclear receptors have been recognised as key mediators of drug-induced changes in both metabolism and efflux mechanisms. In this review, we summarise recent findings regarding the function of nuclear receptors in regulating drug-metabolising and transport systems, and the relevance of these receptors to clinical drug-drug interactions and the development of new drugs. Emphasis is given to two newly recognised 'orphan' receptors (the pregnane X receptor [PXR] and the constitutive androstane receptor [CAR]) and their regulation of cytochrome P450 enzymes, such as CYP3A4, CYP2Cs and CYP2B6; and transporters, such as P-glycoprotein (MDR1), multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) and organic anion transporter peptide 2 (OATP2). Although 'cross-talk' occurs between these two receptors and their target sequences, significant species differences exist between ligand-binding and activation profiles for both receptors, and PXR appears to be the predominant or 'master' regulator of hepatic drug disposition in humans. Several important physiological processes, such as cholesterol synthesis and bile acid metabolism, are also tightly controlled by certain ligand-activated orphan nuclear receptors (farnesoid X receptor [FXR] and liver X receptor [LXR]). In general, their ability to bind a broad range of ligands and regulate an extensive array of genes that are involved in drug clearance and disposition makes these orphan receptors attractive targets for drug development. Drugs have the capacity to alter nuclear receptor expression (modulators) and/or serve as ligands for the receptors (agonists or antagonists), and thus can have synergistic or antagonistic effects on the expression of drug-metabolising enzymes and transporters. Coadministration of drugs that are nuclear receptor agonists or antagonists can lead to severe toxicity, a loss of therapeutic efficacy or an imbalance in physiological substrates, providing a novel molecular mechanism for drug-drug interactions.

Applications of eTag™ assay platform to systems biology approaches in molecular oncology and toxicology studies

We have developed a universal eTag trade mark multiplex assay platform that can be uniquely applied to survey the molecule profiles of biologic systems in sub-global large-scale analyses. The effectiveness of eTag trade mark assays when applied to focused system biology studies in molecular oncology and predictive toxicology is herein described while reviewing the current methods commonly used. The multi-analyte and multi-parameter assay approach for parallel analysis will form the basis of an emerging paradigm of multiplexed molecular profiling for signaling pathway networks and various aspects of drug development processes.

Transcriptional suppression of cytochrome P450 genes by endogenous and exogenous chemicals

This article is an invited report of a symposium sponsored by the Division for Drug Metabolism of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics held at Experimental Biology 2003 in San Diego, California, April 11-15, 2003. Several members of the cytochrome P450 (P450) superfamily are induced after exposure to a variety of chemical signals, and we have gained considerable mechanistic insight into these processes over the past four decades. In addition, the expression of many P450s is suppressed in response to various endogenous and exogenous chemicals; however, relatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved. The goal of this symposium was to critically examine our current understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in transcriptional suppression of CYP genes by endogenous and exogenous chemicals. Specific examples were drawn from the following chemical categories: polycyclic and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon environmental toxicants, inflammatory mediators, the endogenous sterol dehydroepiandrosterone and peroxisome proliferators, and bile acids. Multiple molecular mechanisms are involved in transcriptional suppression, and these processes often involve rather complex cascades of transcription factors and other regulatory proteins. Mechanistic studies of CYP gene suppression can enhance our understanding of how organisms respond to xenobiotics as well as to perturbations in endogenous chemicals involved in maintaining homeostasis.

57 varieties: the human cytochromes P450

The human cytochrome P450 (CYP) complement of heme-thiolate enzymes is reviewed. Of the 57 individual P450s characterized in Homo sapiens thus far, it is apparent that approximately one-half are associated with the metabolism of drugs and other xenobiotics, whereas the other half have endogenous functions in steroid, prostanoid, eicosanoid and fatty acid metabolism. This review covers the extent of enzyme functionality for the known human P450s, focusing primarily on their role in the Phase I metabolism of foreign compounds, which involves the CYP1, CYP2 and CYP3 families.

Retinoic Acid Induces Corneal Epithelial CYP4B1 Gene Expression and Stimulates the Synthesis of Inflammatory 12-Hydroxyeicosanoids

Injury to the ocular surface provokes an inflammatory response that is mediated, at least in part, by corneal epithelial derived 12-hydroxyeicosanoids (HETEs) including 12-HETE and 12-HETrE; both metabolites exhibit potent inflammatory and angiogenic properties and are formed by a cytochrome P450 (CYP) 4B1. Retinoids are known to mediate wound-healing processes in many tissues and, as such, are integral components of the inflammatory response. We studied the effect of various retinoids on corneal synthesis of 12-hydroxyeicosanoids and on activation of CYP4B1 gene expression. Corneal organ cultures were used to assess the effect of retinoic acid on epithelial metabolism of arachidonic acid to 12-hydroxyeicosanoids. Luciferase reporter vectors containing different lengths of the CYP4B1 3.4 kb-5'-untranslated region were used to examine the effect of vitamin D and retinoids (9-cis-retinoic acid and all-trans retinoic acid) on transcriptional activation of CYP4B1 in transient transfection experiments with HepG2 cells. Vitamin D had no effect on CYP4B1 promoter activity, but 9-cis and all-trans retinoic acids increased promoter activity by up to 70% over control. Addition of both 9-cis and all-trans retinoic acids resulted in an additive effect increasing promoter activity by 2-fold. The increased promoter activity correlated with the presence of RAR/RXR binding motifs. Incubation of corneal organ culture for 24 hours in the presence of 9-cis and all-trans retinoic acids increased the synthesis of 12-HETE and 12-HETrE by 2-fold. The finding that retinoic acid increases the expression of the CYP4B1 gene and enhances production of the inflammatory 12-hydroxyeicosanoids in the corneal epithelium may provide a linkage between wound healing and inflammation in the ocular surface.

Availability of specific reductases controls the temporal activity of the cytochrome P450 complement of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

The annotated genome of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) revealed 18 cytosolic cytochromes P450 (CYPs) with six ferredoxin (fdx) proteins and two soluble ferredoxin reductases (fpr), their putative electron transport proteins. mRNA expression was observed for all 18 CYPs throughout growth and secondary metabolism, from 3 h after spore germination, and all CYP proteins examined also were present. Expression of members of the fdx complement was detected from the same time point, yet both fpr were detected only at 12 h. Six-hour exposure to dimethylbenzanthracene and benzo[a]pyrene xenobiotics resulted in the absence of some CYP mRNAs and expression of a specific fpr, FR2. This finding and the expression pattern during growth suggested that CYP activity may be regulated by availability of specific reductases. To test this proposal, we expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity five CYPs: CYP105D5 (involved in xenobiotic metabolism) and CYP154A1, CYP154C1, CYP158A1, and CYP158A2 (putatively involved in secondary metabolism). Also the two soluble fpr (FR2 and FR3) proposed to shuttle electrons by means of fdx were purified, and specific interactions were observed so that FR2 preferentially reduced CYP105D5 (>90% reduction) compared with the other CYPs (>20% reduction), whereas FR3 preferentially reduced the other CYPs (>85% reduction) compared with CYP105D5 (>10%). Furthermore FR2 was shown to efficiently bind CYP105D5 and drive benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation in contrast to FR3. These data show that control of CYP activity in S. coelicolor A3(2) involves specific interactions with fpr and their availability during the life cycle and, after xenobiotic exposure, represents a unique mechanism for regulating CYP function.

Functional characterization of four naturally occurring variants of human pregnane X receptor (PXR): one variant causes dramatic loss of both DNA binding activity and the transactivation of the CYP3A4 promoter/enhancer region

Metabolism of administered drugs is determined by expression and activity of many drug-metabolizing enzymes, such as the cytochrome P450 (P450s) family members. Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a master transcriptional regulator of many drug/xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes, including P450s and drug transporters. In this study, we describe the functional analysis of four naturally occurring human PXR (hPXR) variants (R98C, R148Q, R381W, and I403V) that we have recently identified. By a reporter gene assay using the CYP3A4 promoter/enhancer reporter in COS-7 or HepG2 cells, it was found that the R98C variant failed to transactivate the CYP3A4 reporter. The R381W and I403V variants also showed varying degrees of reduction in transactivation, depending on the dose of PXR activators, rifampicin, clotrimazole, and paclitaxel. The transcriptional activities of the R148Q variant were not significantly different from that of the wild-type hPXR. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that only the R98C variant lacked DNA binding. Furthermore, the cellular localization of the hPXR proteins was analyzed. All four variants as well as the wild-type hPXR localized exclusively to the nucleus, regardless of the presence or absence of rifampicin. These data suggest that the R98C, R381W, and I403V hPXR variants, especially R98C, may influence the expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters, which are transactivated by PXR.

An assessment of udp-glucuronosyltransferase induction using primary human hepatocytes

Uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyze the glucuronidation of a wide range of xenobiotics and endogenous substrates. However, there is a lack of information concerning the response of human UGTs to inducers, and this observation prompted the current investigation. The glucuronidation of estradiol (3- and 17-positions), naphthol, propofol, and morphine (3- and 6-positions) was assessed against a battery of recombinant human UGTs to determine selective glucuronidation reactions for induction studies. The potential induction of the glucuronidation of estradiol at the 3-position, naphthol, propofol, and morphine at the 3-position was subsequently investigated in cultured primary human hepatocytes against a range of prototypic inducers including dexamethasone, 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), phenobarbital, rifampicin, and omeprazole. Treatment with 3-MC induced estradiol-3-glucuronidation (up to 2.5-fold) in four of five donors investigated. Statistically significant increases in naphthol glucuronidation (up to 1.7-fold) were observed following treatment with carbamazepine. UGT1A9-mediated propofol glucuronidation was induced by phenobarbital (up to 2.2-fold) and rifampicin (up to 1.7-fold). However, treatment with alpha-naphthoflavone and tangeretin resulted in a decrease in propofol glucuronidation (30% of control values). Statistically significant induction of morphine-3-glucuronidation was observed in at least three donors following treatment with phenobarbital, rifampicin, and carbamazepine. Each UGT isoform investigated displayed a distinct induction profile. Although statistically significant increases in glucuronidation were observed for each reaction studied, the level of induction was less than that observed for CYP1A2 or CYP3A4 and exhibited a large interdonor variability. The clinical relevance of the induction responses obtained in this study is unclear.

Endocrine disruptors induce cytochrome P450 by affecting transcriptional regulation via pregnane X receptor

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a nuclear receptor that regulates the expression of genes for cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A), multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1), and organic anion-transporting peptide 2 (OATP2). These genes control the metabolism (CYP3A subfamily) and aspects of the pharmacokinetics (MDR1 and OATP2) of both endogenous and xenobiotic compounds. Since PXR is important in understanding the actions of endocrine disruptors (EDs), we determined the ability of suspected EDs to interact with PXR. In our study, 7 of 54 xenobiotics compounds interacted with PXR, including methoxychlor and benzophenone. All of the chemicals activated PXR in vitro and induced CYP3A mRNA in the male rat liver. In addition, CYP2C11 was also induced by some PXR agonists and converted methoxychlor into xenoestrogen. These findings suggest that some EDs affect sex hormone receptor indirectly by induction of metabolic enzyme via PXR, to produce rapidly higher concentrations of effective metabolites, leading to disturbance of the endocrine system.

Induction of drug metabolism: the role of nuclear receptors

Induction of drug metabolism was described more than 40 years ago. Progress in understanding the molecular mechanism of induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes was made recently when the important roles of the pregnane X receptor (PXR) and the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), two members of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors, were discovered to act as sensors for lipophilic xenobiotics, including drugs. CAR and PXR bind as heterodimeric complexes with the retinoid X receptor to response elements in the regulatory regions of the induced genes. PXR is directly activated by xenobiotic ligands, whereas CAR is involved in a more complex and less well understood mechanism of signal transduction triggered by drugs. Most recently, analysis of these xenobiotic-sensing nuclear receptors and their nonmammalian precursors such as the chicken xenobiotic receptor suggests an important role of PXR and CAR also in endogenous pathways, such as cholesterol and bile acid biosynthesis and metabolism. In this review, recent findings regarding xenosensors and their target genes are summarized and are put into an evolutionary perspective in regard to how a living organism has derived a system that is able to deal with potentially toxic compounds it has not encountered before.

Human drug metabolising cytochrome P450 enzymes: properties and polymorphisms

The cytochrome P450s are responsible for about 75% of phase I dependent drug metabolism and for the metabolism of a huge amount of dietary constituents and endogenous chemicals. The human has 59 active genes, and 6 of those encode important drug metabolising enzymes. About 40% of cytochrome P450 dependent drug metabolism is catalysed by polymorphic enzymes and such drug P450 interactions are frequently seen in adverse drug reaction reports. In this contribution an update of human cytochrome P450 enzymology and pharmacogenetics is given with particular emphasis on CYP1B1, CYP2B6, CYP2E1 and CYP3As.

Colchicine down-regulates cytochrome P450 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, and 3A4 in human hepatocytes by affecting their glucocorticoid receptor-mediated regulation

The xenobiotic-mediated induction of three major human liver cytochrome P450 genes, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4, is known to be regulated by the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and the pregnane X receptor (PXR). CAR and PXR are regulated, at least in part, by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the hypothesis of a signal transduction cascade GR-[CAR/PXR]-P450 has been proposed. This study was aimed at testing this hypothesis in primary human hepatocytes by using the tubulin network disrupting agent colchicine. Colchicine (COL) decreased both basal and rifampicin- and phenobarbital-inducible expression of CYP2B6, CYP2C8/9, and CYP3A4. A parallel down-regulation of mRNA expression of CAR, PXR, and tyrosine aminotransferase, a prototypic gene directly regulated by GR, was observed. COL affected neither the level of GR mRNA nor ligand binding to GR. To evaluate the effect of colchicine on GR-mediated gene transactivation, HeLa cells stably or transiently transfected with a GR-responsive element-dependent luciferase reporter gene were used. COL decreased the dexamethasone-induced luciferase expression in stably transfected cell line by 50%, whereas GR transactivation in transiently transfected cells was not affected by COL. In contrast, ligand-dependent GR translocation in the human embryonic kidney 293 cell line transiently transfected with GFP-GR was inhibited by COL. We conclude that alteration of the signal transduction mediated through the GR-[CAR/PXR]-P450 cascade by colchicine is responsible for the down-regulation of CYP2C9 and CYP3A4, implicating cytoskeleton as necessary for correct functioning of this cascade under physiological conditions.

Induction of cytochrome P450 enzymes in cultured precision-cut human liver slices

Precision-cut human liver slices obtained from 11 donors were cultured for 72 h in a defined medium (serum free Williams' medium E) supplemented with 0.1 microM insulin and 0.1 microM dexamethasone (DEX). Liver slices were treated with 50 microM concentrations of beta -naphthoflavone (BNF), lansoprazole, rifampicin (RIF), DEX and methylclofenapate and 500 microM sodium phenobarbital (NaPB). The relative apoprotein levels of 12 cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes were determined in liver slice microsomes using a panel of antipeptide antibodies. Treatment with BNF significantly induced mean levels of CYP1A2 apoprotein to 160% of levels in 72-h control (no test compound) human liver slice microsomes. NaPB significantly induced levels of CYP3A4 apoprotein to 255% of control and RIF significantly induced levels of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 apoproteins to 265 and 330% of control, respectively. In addition, treatment with RIF increased levels of CYP2A6 apoprotein to 205% of control, and treatment with both NaPB and RIF increased levels of CYP2B6 apoprotein to 370 and 615% of control, respectively. However, these increases were not statistically significant, owing to a variable response between liver slice preparations from different subjects, this being apparent for all inducible P450s. In contrast, none of the compounds examined significantly increased levels of CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, and CYP4A11 apoproteins. Levels of CYP1A1 apoprotein were not detected in any liver slice sample, either before or after treatment with the model inducers. Overall, these results demonstrate the utility of cultured human liver slices for assessing the effects of chemicals on P450 enzymes.

Phenobarbital induction of drug/steroid-metabolizing enzymes and nuclear receptor CAR

Phenobarbital (PB) increases hepatic drug/steroid-metabolic capability by coordinately activating transcription of the genes encoding various metabolizing enzymes. The nuclear receptor CAR was first implicated as a transcription factor that activates the cytochrome P450 Cyp2b10 gene. In response to PB, CAR forms a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor (RXR), binds to a PB response element (typified by DR-4 motif), and activates transcription of the gene. In the CAR-null mouse, PB does not only induce the Cyp2b10 gene, but also induces genes encoding various metabolizing enzymes. Thus, CAR is a general nuclear receptor that is essential for PB induction of drug/steroid metabolizing enzymes. PB also induces amino levulinate synthase 1 (ALAS-1), the rate-limiting enzyme in heme biosynthesis, to increase heme supply. However, PB induction of the synthase occurs in CAR-null mice, suggesting that CAR does not coordinate the heme synthesis for the induction of drug/steroid metabolism.

Homology modelling of the nuclear receptors: human oestrogen receptorbeta (hERbeta), the human pregnane-X-receptor (PXR), the Ah receptor (AhR) and the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) ligand binding domains from the human oestrogen receptor alpha (hERalpha) crystal structure, and the human peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) ligand binding domain from the human PPARgamma crystal structure

We have generated by homology the three-dimensional structures of the ligand binding domain (LBD) of several interrelated human steroid hormone receptors (SHRs). These are the oestrogen receptor beta (hERbeta), the pregnane-X-receptor (PXR), the Ah receptor (AhR) and the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR). They were produced by homology modelling from the human oestrogen receptor alpha (hERalpha) crystallographic coordinates [Nature 389 (1997) 753] as a template together with the amino acid sequences for hERbeta [FEBS Lett. 392 (1996) 49], PXR [J. Clin. Invest. 102 (1998) 1016], AhR [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89 (1992) 815] and CAR [Nature 395 (1998) 612; Mol. Cell. Biol. 14 (1994) 1544], respectively. The selective endogenous ligand, in each case, was docked interactively within the putative ligand binding site using the position of oestradiol in hERalpha as a guide, and the total energy was calculated. In each receptor model a number of different ligands known to fit closely within the ligand binding site were interactively docked and binding interactions noted. Specific binding interactions included combinations of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic contacts with key amino acid sidechains, which varied depending on the nature of the ligand and receptor concerned. We also produced the human peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) by homology modelling using the human PPARgamma (hPPARgamma) LBD crystallographic coordinates summarised in [Toxicol. In Vitro 12 (1998) 619] as a template together with the amino acid sequence for hPPARalpha [Toxicol. In Vitro 12 (1998) 619; Nature 395 (1998) 137]. The models will provide a useful tool in unravelling the complexity in the physiologic response to xenobiotics by examining the ligand binding interactions and differences between the steroid hormone receptors activation or inactivation by their ligands.

Evidence that the coactivator CBP/p300 is important for phenobarbital-induced but not basal expression of the CYP2H1 gene

We have previously identified an upstream 556-bp enhancer domain for the chicken CYP2H1 gene that responds to phenobarbital and binds several transcription factors, including the orphan chicken xenobiotic receptor (CXR). By contrast, the promoter lacks a CXR site and is not inducible by phenobarbital. Although it has been established that CXR can interact with the coactivator SRC-1, there are no reports as to whether other coactivators may be important for phenobarbital-mediated inducibility. Our studies using the adenovirus E1A wild-type protein, which inhibits the coactivators cAMP response element binding protein (CBP) and CBP associated factor (p/CAF), provide evidence for the involvement of one or both of these coactivators at the enhancer but not at the promoter of the CYP2H1 gene. The observations that mutant E1A proteins did not affect the enhancer activity and that inhibition by wild-type E1A was reversed by CBP and p/CAF confirmed the involvement of these coactivators in the induction process. We propose that the intrinsic histone acetyl transferase activity of one or both of these coactivators participates in chromatin remodeling thereby stimulating drug induction of the promoter. This proposal was supported by experiments with the histone deacetylase inhibitor, trichostatin A, which resulted in the superinduction of the drug response but had little effect on basal expression of the CYP2H1 gene. The work provides evidence for the first time for the involvement of the coactivators CBP and p/CAF in the phenobarbital-mediated induction of the CYP2H1 gene.

Receptor-dependent regulation of the CYP3A4 gene

A CYP3A4 promoter-reporter gene construct has been used to assess the ability of 16 known (in vivo) and putative (in vitro) inducers to transactivate a CYP3A4 reporter gene in HepG2 cells. With the exception of pravastatin, the remaining 15 compounds transactivated the CYP3A4 reporter gene with differing inductive abilities (I(max):EC(50)) over two orders of magnitude, ranging from 1.1 (phenytoin) to 222.9 (lovastatin) in a receptor-supplemented system and it is proposed that the lack of response to pravastatin is due to loss of the known hepatic uptake transporter in HepG2 cells. In addition, reporter gene assays were used to investigate two promoter mutants namely a T to C change at -191 bp in the hepatic nuclear factor 3 binding site (HNF-3, -187 to -194 bp) and an A to G change at -205 bp in the oestrogen response element (ERE, -202 to -212 bp), which conferred differential responsiveness to steroid and xenobiotic inducers.

Molecular modelling of the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) ligand-binding domain (LBD) by homology with the human estrogen receptor alpha (hERalpha) LBD: quantitative structure-activity relationships within a series of CYP3A4 inducers where induction is mediated via hGR involvement

The results of homology modelling of the human glucorticoid receptor (hGR) ligand-binding domain (LBD) based on the ligand-bound domain of the human estrogen receptor alpha (hERalpha) are reported. It is shown that known hGR ligands which induce the human cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP3A4 are able to fit the putative ligand-binding site of the nuclear hormone receptor and form hydrogen bonds with key amino acid residues within the binding pocket. Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) have been derived for hGR-mediated CYP3A4 induction which involve certain molecular structural and physicochemical properties of the ligand themselves, yielding good correlations (R=0.96-0.98) with fold induction of CYP3A4 known to be mediated via hGR involvement.

Nuclear pregnane x receptor and constitutive androstane receptor regulate overlapping but distinct sets of genes involved in xenobiotic detoxification

The nuclear pregnane X receptor (PXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) play central roles in protecting the body against environmental chemicals (xenobiotics). PXR and CAR are activated by a wide range of xenobiotics and regulate cytochrome P450 and other genes whose products are involved in the detoxification of these chemicals. In this report, we have used receptor-selective agonists together with receptor-null mice to identify PXR and CAR target genes in the liver and small intestine. Our results demonstrate that PXR and CAR regulate overlapping but distinct sets of genes involved in all phases of xenobiotic metabolism, including oxidative metabolism, conjugation, and transport. Among the murine genes regulated by PXR were those encoding PXR and CAR. We provide evidence that PXR regulates a similar program of genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism in human liver. Among the genes regulated by PXR in primary human hepatocytes were the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and its target genes CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. These findings underscore the importance of these two nuclear receptors in defending the body against a broad array of potentially harmful xenobiotics.

Bosentan, a dual endothelin receptor antagonist, activates the pregnane X nuclear receptor

Recent clinical studies have shown that bosentan, a dual endothelin receptor antagonist, decreases the exposure to various substrates of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes 2C9 and 3A4. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of bosentan, its metabolites and glibenclamide on the activity of the pregnane X receptor, a nuclear receptor that regulates the transcription of CYP3A4. CV-1 monkey kidney cells were transiently transfected with a luciferase reporter plasmid containing three copies of the ER6 response element of CYP3A4 and the human or mouse pregnane X receptor. Subsequently, the cells were incubated with the test compounds and the activity of luciferase determined. Bosentan activated the human pregnane X receptor with an EC(50) of 19.9 microM, whereas rifampicin had an EC(50) value of 1.9 microM. Ro 47-8634 (4-tert-butyl-N-[6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-5-(2-hydroxy-phenoxy)-2,2'-bipyrimidin-4-yl]-benzenesulfonamide), a metabolite of bosentan, and glibenclamide also activated the pregnane X receptor. The findings provide a molecular mechanism for the interactions observed between bosentan and several drugs.

Modulation of mouse and human phenobarbital-responsive enhancer module by nuclear receptors

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) regulates mouse and human CYP2B genes through binding to the direct repeat-4 (DR4) motifs present in the phenobarbital-responsive enhancer module (PBREM). The preference of PBREM elements for nuclear receptors and the extent of cross-talk between CAR and other nuclear receptors are currently unknown. Our transient transfection and DNA binding experiments indicate that binding to DR4 motifs does not correlate with the activation response and that mouse and human PBREM are efficiently 'insulated' from the effects of other nuclear receptors despite their substantial affinity for DR4 motifs. Certain nuclear receptors that do not bind to DR4 motifs, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha and farnesoid X receptor, can suppress PBREM function via a coactivator-dependent process that may have relevance in vivo. In competition experiments, mouse PBREM is clearly more selective for CAR than human PBREM. Pregnane X, vitamin D, and thyroid hormone receptors can potentially compete with human CAR on human PBREM. In contrast to the selective nature of PBREM, CYP3A enhancers are highly and comparably responsive to CAR, pregnane X receptor, and vitamin D receptor. In addition, the ligand specificities of human and mouse CAR were defined by mammalian cotransfection and yeast two-hybrid techniques. Our results provide new mechanistic explanations to several previously unresolved aspects of CYP2B and CYP3A gene regulation.

Quantitative structure--activity relationships for inducers of cytochromes P450 and nuclear receptor ligands involved in P450 regulation within the CYP1, CYP2, CYP3 and CYP4 families

The results of quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) are reported for several series of cytochrome P450 inducers, including those which also act as ligands for the various nuclear receptors involved in regulation of the relevant P450 genes, namely, CYP1, CYP2, CYP3 and CYP4. In several examples presented, the QSARs are consistent with homology modelling studies of the nuclear receptor ligand-binding domains (LBDs) based on available crystal structures of the oestrogen and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors' LBDs. Good correlations (R=0.91-0.99) are found between various structural parameters and biological activity (either in the form of P450 induction or ligand-binding affinity) for the Ah receptor (AhR), human estrogen receptor alpha (hER alpha), human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) and the rat peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (rPPAR alpha).

Molecular modelling of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) from human, rat and mouse, based on homology with the human PPAR gamma crystal structure

The generation of homology models of human, rat and mouse peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) are reported, based on the recently published crystal structure of the human PPAR gamma ligand-binding domain (LBD) with bound ligand, rosiglitazone. It is found that a template of peroxisome proliferating fibrate drugs and related compounds can fit within the putative ligand-binding site of rat PPAR alpha, via contacts with amino acid residues which are consistent with their biological potency for peroxisome proliferation, site-directed mutagenesis experiments and with quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis studies. The experimental binding affinity of leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) for the mouse PPAR alpha agrees closely with the calculated value based on the modelled interactions, whereas selective PPAR alpha ligands such as clofibric acid are able to fit the human PPAR alpha binding site in agreement with reported site-directed mutagenesis information.

A high-throughput cell-based reporter gene system for measurement of CYP1A1 induction

INTRODUCTION

Enzyme induction is undesirable in new drug discovery process, with consequences spanning from auto-induction to toxicity. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 has long been known to be one of the metabolic enzymes involved in activating many procarcinogens, the first step toward tumor formation during chemical carcinogenesis. Induction of CYP1A1 during drug treatment may predispose the patients to some risk of chemical carcinogenesis.

METHODS

Based on the signal-transduction mechanism of CYP1A1 induction, a high-throughput reporter-gene system was established by stable transformation of H4IIE cells to incorporate the luciferase gene under control of CYP1A1 promoter. This stable cell line was validated with known CYP1A1 inducers, such as 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), beta-naphthoflavone (beta-NF), alpha-naphthoflavone (alpha-NF) and 3-indocarbinol. Thirty in-house new chemical entities (NCEs) were then screened with this reporter-gene system, and also administered to rats to evaluate in vivo CYP1A1 induction.

RESULTS

CYP1A1 reporter gene system can be used to identify strong inducers, such as 3-MC, beta-NF and alpha-NF, and weak inducers, such as 3-indocarbinol. In vitro induction of 30 in-house compounds in reporter gene system did not correlate with in vivo induction in rat liver microsome measured by ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylation (EROD) activity, but had a reasonable correlation with Western blot signals.

DISCUSSION

This reporter-gene system may be useful in eliminating compounds that can cause CYP1A1 induction at an early stage of drug discovery.

A Link between cholesterol levels and phenobarbital induction of cytochromes P450

Squalestatin1 (SQ1), a potent inhibitor of squalene synthase produced a dose-dependent induction of cytochromes P450 CYP2H1 and CYP3A37 mRNAs in chicken hepatoma cells. The effect of SQ1 was completely reversed by 25-hydroxycholesterol. Bile acids elicited an induction of CYP3A37 and CYP2H1 mRNA. Bile acids also reduced the phenobarbital induction of CYP2H1 but not of CYP3A37 mRNA. The effects of SQ1 and its reversal by 25-hydroxycholesterol and the effects of bile acids were reproduced in reporter gene assays with a phenobarbital-responsive enhancer unit of CYP2H1. These data suggest that an endogenous molecule related to cholesterol homeostasis regulates induction of drug-inducible CYPs.

Understanding the human health effects of chemical mixtures

Most research on the effects of chemicals on biologic systems is conducted on one chemical at a time. However, in the real world people are exposed to mixtures, not single chemicals. Although various substances may have totally independent actions, in many cases two substances may act at the same site in ways that can be either additive or nonadditive. Many even more complex interactions may occur if two chemicals act at different but related targets. In the extreme case there may be synergistic effects, in which case the effects of two substances together are greater than the sum of either effect alone. In reality, most persons are exposed to many chemicals, not just one or two, and therefore the effects of a chemical mixture are extremely complex and may differ for each mixture depending on the chemical composition. This complexity is a major reason why mixtures have not been well studied. In this review we attempt to illustrate some of the principles and approaches that can be used to study effects of mixtures. By the nature of the state of the science, this discussion is more a presentation of what we do not know than of what we do know about mixtures. We approach the study of mixtures at three levels, using specific examples. First, we discuss several human diseases in relation to a variety of environmental agents believed to influence the development and progression of the disease. We present results of selected cellular and animal studies in which simple mixtures have been investigated. Finally, we discuss some of the effects of mixtures at a molecular level.

A systematic gene expression screen of Caenorhabditis elegans cytochrome P450 genes reveals CYP35 as strongly xenobiotic inducible

The soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is one of the simplest animals having the status of a laboratory model. Its genome contains 80 cytochrome P450 genes (CYP). In order to study CYP gene expression in C. elegans mixed stages and synchronized hermaphrodites were exposed to 18 known xenobiotic cytochrome P450 inducers. Messenger RNA expression was detected by DNA arrays and semiquantitative RT-PCR. Using subfamily-specific primers, a pooled set of exon-rich CYP fragments could be amplified. In this way it was possible to systematically check the influence of different inducers on CYP expression at the same time. The well-known CYP1A inducers beta-naphthoflavone, PCB52, and lansoprazol were the most active and in particular they strongly induced almost all CYP35 isoforms. A few number of further CYP forms were found to be inducible by other xenobiotics like phenobarbital, atrazine, and clofibrate. In addition, a transgenic C. elegans line expressing GFP under control of the CYP35A2 promoter showed a strong induction of the fusion by beta-naphthoflavone in the intestine.

Use of human tissue in ADME and safety profiling of development candidates

The clinical success of a compound is often curtailed because of inadequate safety, pharmacokinetics or efficacy. Human tissue can be used to identify the potential shortcomings of new drugs before they undergo testing in man. This review highlights the consent and ethical approval required for the use of human tissues and discusses their use for predicting human ADME and safety profiles of drugs in preclinical development. The ability to retrieve a wide range of viable tissues from human donors provides the opportunity to test drugs for many potential use-limiting side-effects.

Screening of drug candidates for their drug--drug interaction potential

Within the past year, additional papers have been published that focus on higher-throughput drug-interaction screening. Some papers have described enzyme assays that can be used to evaluate inhibition or induction of the human cytochrome P450s. At the same time, numerous investigators have developed computational (in silico) methods to predict interactions and have validated the approach using in vitro (assay-derived) data. These so called 'in silico--in vitro' correlations have great potential and may complement existing 'in vitro--in vivo' correlations.

Phenobarbital response elements of cytochrome P450 genes and nuclear receptors

Phenobarbital (PB) response elements are composed of various nuclear receptor (NR)-binding sites. A 51-bp distal element PB-responsive enhancer module (PBREM) conserved in the PB-inducible CYP2B genes contains two NR-binding direct repeat (DR)-4 motifs. Responding to PB exposure in liver, the NR constitutive active receptor (CAR) translocates to the nucleus, forms a dimer with the retinoid X receptor (RXR), and activates PBREM via binding to DR-4 motifs. For CYP3A genes, a common NR site [DR-3 or everted repeat (ER)-6] is present in proximal promoter regions. In addition, the distal element called the xenobiotic responsive module (XREM) is found in human CYP3A4 genes, which contain both DR-3 and ER-6 motifs. Pregnane X receptor (PXR) could bind to all of these sites and, upon PB induction, a PXR:RXR heterodimer could transactivate XREM. These response elements and NRs are functionally versatile, and capable of responding to distinct but overlapping groups of xenochemicals.

Interindividual variability in inhibition and induction of cytochrome P450 enzymes

Drug interactions have always been a major concern in medicine for clinicians and patients. Inhibition and induction of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are probably the most common causes for documented drug interactions. Today, many pharmaceutical companies are predicting potential interactions of new drug candidates. Can in vivo drug interactions be predicted accurately from in vitro metabolic studies? Should the prediction be qualitative or quantitative? Although some scientists believe that quantitative prediction of drug interactions is possible, others are less optimistic and believe that quantitative prediction would be very difficult. There are many factors that contribute to our inability to quantitatively predict drug interactions. One of the major complicating factors is the large interindividual variability in response to enzyme inhibition and induction. This review examines the sources that are responsible for the interindividual variability in inhibition and induction of cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Repression of Phenobarbital-Dependent CYP2B1 mRNA Induction by Reactive Oxygen Species in Primary Rat Hepatocyte Cultures

Xenobiotic-metabolizing cytochrome P-450 (P-450) enzymes not only play a pivotal role in elimination of foreign compounds but also contribute to generation of toxic intermediates, including reactive oxygen species, that may elicit cellular damage if produced excessively. Expression of several xenobiotic-metabolizing P-450 enzymes is induced by phenobarbital (PB). Pronounced induction is observed for the rat CYP2B1 isoform. A primary rat hepatocyte culture system was used to investigate whether reactive oxygen species might modulate PB-dependent CYP2B1 induction. In cells cultivated for 3 days with 1.5 mM PB, substantial CYP2B1 mRNA induction was observed (100%). Addition of H(2)O(2) or of the catalase inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT) to the medium repressed induction to approximately 30% (at 1 mM H(2)O(2) and 2 mM AT, respectively). Accordingly, treatment of hepatocytes with PB and the glutathione precursor N-acetylcysteine (NAC) led to enhanced PB-dependent induction (to over 1000% at 10 mM NAC). In primary hepatocyte cultures transfected with a CYP2B1 promoter-luciferase construct containing approximately 2.7 kilobase pairs of the native CYP2B1 promoter sequence, PB-dependent reporter gene activation was repressed by AT and stimulated by N-acetylcysteine. Furthermore, a 263-base pair CYP2B1 promoter fragment encompassing the phenobarbital-responsive enhancer module conferred suppression of PB-dependent luciferase expression by AT and activation by NAC in a heterologous SV40-promoter construct. In summary, these data demonstrate a regulatory mechanism that is dependent on the cellular redox status, which modulates CYP2B1 mRNA induction by PB on the transcriptional level, thus representing a feedback mechanism preventing further P-450-dependent production of reactive oxygen intermediates under oxidative stress.

Alterations in the regulation of androgen-sensitive Cyp 4a monooxygenases cause hypertension

Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular, cerebral, and renal disease morbidity and mortality. Here we show that disruption of the Cyp 4a14 gene causes hypertension, which is, like most human hypertension, more severe in males. Male Cyp 4a14 (-/-) mice show increases in plasma androgens, kidney Cyp 4a12 expression, and the formation of prohypertensive 20-hydroxyarachidonate. Castration normalizes the blood pressure of Cyp 4a14 (-/-) mice and minimizes Cyp 4a12 expression and arachidonate omega-hydroxylation. Androgen replacement restores hypertensive phenotype, Cyp 4a12 expression, and 20-hydroxy-arachidonate formation. We conclude that the androgen-mediated regulation of Cyp 4a arachidonate monooxygenases is an important component of the renal mechanisms that control systemic blood pressures. These results provide direct evidence for a role of Cyp 4a isoforms in cardiovascular physiology, establish Cyp 4a14 (-/-) mice as a monogenic model for the study of cause/effect relationships between blood pressure, sex hormones, and P450 omega-hydroxylases, and suggest the human CYP 4A homologues as candidate genes for the analysis of the genetic and molecular basis of human hypertension.

Xenobiotic induction of cytochrome P450 2B1 (CYP2B1) is mediated by the orphan nuclear receptor constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and requires steroid co-activator 1 (SRC-1) and the transcription factor Sp1

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) activates the expression of a reporter gene attached to the phenobarbital-response element (PBRE) of the cytochrome P450 2B1 (CYP2B1) gene in response to the barbiturate phenobarbital and the plant product picrotoxin. The xenobiotic-mediated increase in transactivation occurs in transfected primary hepatocytes and in liver transfected by biolistic-particle-mediated DNA transfer, but not in the transformed cell lines HepG2, CV-1 and HeLa, which support only constitutive activation of gene expression by CAR. Steroid co-activator 1 (SRC-1) enhances both constitutive and xenobiotic-induced CAR-mediated transactivation via the CYP2B1 PBRE in transfected primary hepatocytes. The nuclear receptor 1 (NR1) site of the PBRE is sufficient for CAR-mediated transactivation, but additional sequences within the PBRE, and hence the proteins that bind to them, are required for the interaction of CAR with SRC-1. The NR2 site of the PBRE binds proteins other than CAR, including an unidentified nuclear receptor heterodimerized with retinoid X receptor alpha. By binding to the proximal promoter of CYP2B1, the transcription factor Sp1 increases both basal transcription and xenobiotic-induced expression via the PBRE. Thus induction of CYP2B1 expression by xenobiotics is mediated by the nuclear receptor CAR and, for optimal expression, requires SRC-1 and Sp1.

Up-regulation of transporters of the MRP family by drugs and toxins

Expression of a variety of ABC efflux pumps including certain conjugate transporters of the multidrug resistance protein (MRP) subfamily is inducible in primate and rodent tissues, and in a variety of cell lines and primary cells in culture. In human cell lines (HepG2, MCF-7), we studied the inducibility of MRPs 1-5. Similar to the rat mrp2 gene, human mrp2 is inducible by the chemical carcinogen 2-AAF, the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin and the barbiturate phenobarbital, as demonstrated in Northern and Western Blots. Furthermore, the antibiotic rifampicin was identified as MRP2 inducer in HepG2 cells. MRP1 and 4 mRNAs being expressed in human liver at a very low level could not be detected in HepG2 cells after treatment with various agents. However, MRP3 and 5 mRNAs were detected in addition to MRP2 and their expression was found to be increased by 2-AAF, cisplatin and rifampicin. MRP1 expression was studied in MCF-7 cells where the chemotherapeutic drug vinblastine and tert-butyl hydroquinone but not the MRP2 inducing agents described above acted as inducers.

The nuclear receptor PXR is a lithocholic acid sensor that protects against liver toxicity

The pregnane X receptor (PXR) is the molecular target for catatoxic steroids such as pregnenolone 16alpha-carbonitrile (PCN), which induce cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) expression and protect the body from harmful chemicals. In this study, we demonstrate that PXR is activated by the toxic bile acid lithocholic acid (LCA) and its 3-keto metabolite. Furthermore, we show that PXR regulates the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis, transport, and metabolism of bile acids including cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1) and the Na(+)-independent organic anion transporter 2 (Oatp2). Finally, we demonstrate that activation of PXR protects against severe liver damage induced by LCA. Based on these data, we propose that PXR serves as a physiological sensor of LCA, and coordinately regulates gene expression to reduce the concentrations of this toxic bile acid. These findings suggest that PXR agonists may prove useful in the treatment of human cholestatic liver disease.

Suppression of the expression of the CYP2B1/2 gene by retinoic acids

The effects of 5alpha-androsten-3alpha-ol (ASE), and retinoic acids (RAs) and their precursors on the phenobarbital (PB)-mediated induction of CYP2B1 and 2B2 were examined in cultured rat hepatocytes. Two isomers of RA, 9-cis- and all-trans-RA, suppressed markedly the effect of PB on CYP2B1/2 expression, while ASE had no suppressive effect. The effect of 9-cis-RA appeared at a lower concentration than the all-trans-isomer, indicating the dominant action of the former isomer. Suppression with 9-cis-retinal was also observed, but all-trans-retinol and -retinal were without effect. These results suggest that: (1) ASE, an inverse agonist for the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), does not play a major role in the suppression of the CYP2B; (2) 9-cis-RA suppresses CYP2B induction by reducing ligand-free retinoid X-receptors (RXR) available for dimerization with the CAR; and (3) enzymes responsible for RA formation play an important role in the mechanism governing CYP2B regulation.

Phenobarbital-elicited activation of nuclear receptor CAR in induction of cytochrome P450 genes

Phenobarbital (PB) increases metabolic capability of hepatocytes by its ability to activate numerous genes encoding various xenochemical-metabolizing enzymes such as cytochrome P450s and specific transferases. More than 35 years since PB induction was first reported, the key nuclear receptor CAR that mediates the induction has now been identified, and the molecular/cellular mechanism involving multiple signal transduction pathways has begun to be unraveled. In response to PB exposure, CAR in the cytoplasm translocates into the nucleus, forms a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor, and activates the PB response enhancer element leading to the concerted induction of numerous genes.

Induction of drug metabolism by nuclear receptor CAR: molecular mechanisms and implications for drug research

Recent findings indicate that induction of drug metabolism is regulated by activation of specific members of the nuclear receptor gene family. This minireview deals with the mechanisms by which phenobarbital and phenobarbital-type chemicals induce cytochrome P450 and other genes, and summarises the knowledge on the role of the constitutively active receptor CAR in the induction process. The potential implications of CAR-mediated induction for drug research and possible uses of CAR are also discussed.

CXR, a chicken xenobiotic-sensing orphan nuclear receptor, is related to both mammalian pregnane X receptor (PXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR)

Nuclear receptors constitute a large family of ligand-modulated transcription factors that mediate cellular responses to small lipophilic molecules, including steroids, retinoids, fatty acids, and exogenous ligands. Orphan nuclear receptors with no known endogenous ligands have been discovered to regulate drug-mediated induction of cytochromes P450 (CYP), the major drug-metabolizing enzymes. Here, we report the cloning of an orphan nuclear receptor from chicken, termed chicken xenobiotic receptor (CXR), that is closely related to two mammalian xenobiotic-activated receptors, the pregnane X receptor (PXR) and the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR). Expression of CXR is restricted to tissues where drug induction of CYPs predominantly occurs, namely liver, kidney, small intestine, and colon. Furthermore, CXR binds to a previously identified phenobarbital-responsive enhancer unit (PBRU) in the 5'-flanking region of the chicken CYP2H1 gene. A variety of drugs, steroids, and chemicals activate CXR in CV-1 monkey cell transactivation assays. The same agents induce PBRU-dependent reporter gene expression and CYP2H1 transcription in a chicken hepatoma cell line. These results provide convincing evidence for a major role of CXR in the regulation of CYP2H1 and add a member to the family of xenobiotic-activated orphan nuclear receptors.

Cytochromes P450: a success story

SUMMARY

Cytochrome P450 proteins, named for the absorption band at 450 nm of their carbon-monoxide-bound form, are one of the largest superfamilies of enzyme proteins. The P450 genes (also called CYP) are found in the genomes of virtually all organisms, but their number has exploded in plants. Their amino-acid sequences are extremely diverse, with levels of identity as low as 16% in some cases, but their structural fold has remained the same throughout evolution. P450s are heme-thiolate proteins; their most conserved structural features are related to heme binding and common catalytic properties, the major feature being a completely conserved cysteine serving as fifth (axial) ligand to the heme iron. Canonical P450s use electrons from NAD(P)H to catalyze activation of molecular oxygen, leading to regiospecific and stereospecific oxidative attack of a plethora of substrates. The reactions carried out by P450s, though often hydroxylation, can be extremely diverse and sometimes surprising. They contribute to vital processes such as carbon source assimilation, biosynthesis of hormones and of structural components of living organisms, and also carcinogenesis and degradation of xenobiotics. In plants, chemical defense seems to be a major reason for P450 diversification. In prokaryotes, P450s are soluble proteins. In eukaryotes, they are usually bound to the endoplasmic reticulum or inner mitochondrial membranes. The electron carrier proteins used for conveying reducing equivalents from NAD(P)H differ with subcellular localization. P450 enzymes catalyze many reactions that are important in drug metabolism or that have practical applications in industry; their economic impact is therefore considerable.