Growth hormone mediates zone-specific gene expression in liver

Kupffer cells induce Notch-mediated hepatocyte conversion in a common mouse model of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a malignant epithelial neoplasm composed of cells resembling cholangiocytes that line the intrahepatic bile ducts in portal areas of the hepatic lobule. Although ICC has been defined as a tumor arising from cholangiocyte transformation, recent evidence from genetic lineage-tracing experiments has indicated that hepatocytes can be a cellular origin of ICC by directly changing their fate to that of biliary lineage cells. Notch signaling has been identified as an essential factor for hepatocyte conversion into biliary lineage cells at the onset of ICC. However, the mechanisms underlying Notch signal activation in hepatocytes remain unclear. Here, using a mouse model of ICC, we found that hepatic macrophages called Kupffer cells transiently congregate around the central veins in the liver and express the Notch ligand Jagged-1 coincident with Notch activation in pericentral hepatocytes. Depletion of Kupffer cells prevents the Notch-mediated cell-fate conversion of hepatocytes to biliary lineage cells, inducing hepatocyte apoptosis and increasing mortality in mice. These findings will be useful for uncovering the pathogenic mechanism of ICC and developing prevenient and therapeutic strategies for this refractory disease.

Evidence of cell-fate conversion from hepatocytes to cholangiocytes in the injured liver: in-vivo genetic lineage-tracing approaches

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Recently, it has been suggested that hepatocytes can potentially convert their fate into that of cholangiocytes when the liver receives an injury. This review concisely summarizes these new findings, especially those obtained in studies using cell-lineage tracing methods.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent advances in technologies using mutant mice with a tamoxifen-inducible Cre/loxP system have allowed heritable labeling of a particular type of cell and enabled us to follow the fate of their progeny. This is generally known as 'genetic lineage-tracing', and has been applied in various studies that require tracking of the fate of cells in living mice. Previous studies using these methods have revealed that hepatocytes themselves can give rise to cholangiocytes through Notch-mediated cell-fate conversion from hepatocytes to cholangiocytes in injured liver tissue and at the onset of liver cancer.

SUMMARY

Intensive studies using in-vivo genetic lineage-tracing approaches have provided new insights into the nature of cellular identity and plasticity in the liver, which will contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies for liver diseases.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma can arise from Notch-mediated conversion of hepatocytes

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary malignancy in the liver. ICC has been classified as a malignant tumor arising from cholangiocytes; however, the co-occurrence of ICC and viral hepatitis suggests that ICC originates in hepatocytes. In order to determine the cellular origin of ICC, we used a mouse model of ICC in which hepatocytes and cholangiocytes were labeled with heritable, cell type–specific reporters. Our studies reveal that ICC is generated by biliary lineage cells derived from hepatocytes, rather than cholangiocytes. Additionally, we found that Notch activation is critical for hepatocyte conversion into biliary lineage cells during the onset of ICC and its subsequent malignancy and progression. These findings will help to elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of ICC and to develop therapeutic strategies for this refractory disease.

Tissue-level modeling of xenobiotic metabolism in liver: An emerging tool for enabling clinical translational research

This review summarizes some of the recent developments and identifies critical challenges associated with in vitro and in silico representations of the liver and assesses the translational potential of these models in the quest of rationalizing the process of evaluating drug efficacy and toxicity. It discusses a wide range of research efforts that have produced, during recent years, quantitative descriptions and conceptual as well as computational models of hepatic processes such as biotransport and biotransformation, intra- and intercellular signal transduction, detoxification, etc. The above mentioned research efforts cover multiple scales of biological organization, from molecule-molecule interactions to reaction network and cellular and histological dynamics, and have resulted in a rapidly evolving knowledge base for a "systems biology of the liver." Virtual organ/organism formulations represent integrative implementations of particular elements of this knowledge base, usually oriented toward the study of specific biological endpoints, and provide frameworks for translating the systems biology concepts into computational tools for quantitative prediction of responses to stressors and hypothesis generation for experimental design.

Serum components and activated Ha-ras antagonize expression of perivenous marker genes stimulated by beta-catenin signaling in mouse hepatocytes

Hepatocytes of the periportal and perivenous zones of the liver lobule show marked differences in the contents and activities of many enzymes and other proteins. Previous studies from our and other groups have pointed towards an important role of beta-catenin-dependent signaling in the regulation of expression of genes encoding proteins with preferential perivenous localization, whereas, in contrast, signaling through Ras-dependent pathway(s) may induce a 'periportal' phenotype. We have now conducted a series of experiments to further investigate this hypothesis. In transgenic mice with scattered expression of an activated Ha-ras (Ha-ras(G12V)) mutant in liver, expression of the perivenous markers glutamine synthetase and two cytochrome P450 isoforms was completely abolished in those hepatocytes demonstrating constitutively activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity, even though they were located directly adjacent to central veins. Similarly, incubation of primary hepatocytes or hepatoma cells with increasing amounts of serum caused a concentration-dependent attenuation of expression of perivenous marker mRNAs, whereas the expression of periportal markers was increased. The inhibitory effect of high amounts of serum on the expression of perivenous markers was also observed if their expression was stimulated by activation of beta-catenin signaling, and comparable inhibitory effects were seen in cells stably transfected with a T-cell factor/lymphoid-enhancing factor-driven luciferase reporter. Epidermal growth factor could partly mimic serum effects in hepatoma cells, and its effect could be blocked by an inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity. These data suggest that activation of the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) pathway favors periportal gene expression while simultaneously antagonizing a perivenous phenotype of hepatocytes.

Triiodothyronine downregulates the periportal expression of alpha class glutathione S-transferase in rat liver

Most drug-metabolizing phase I and phase II enzymes, including the glutathione S-transferases (GST), exhibit a zonated expression in the liver, with lower expression in the upstream, periportal region. To elucidate the involvement of pituitary-dependent hormones in this zonation, the effect of hypophysectomy and 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) on the distribution of GST was studied in rats. Hypophysectomy increased total GST activity both in the periportal and perivenous liver region. Subsequent T3 treatment counteracted this effect in the perivenous zone. However, analysis for either mu class M1/M2-specific (1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene) or alpha class A1/A2-specific (7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole) GST activity revealed that T3 treatment did not significantly affect the perivenous activity of these GST classes. In contrast, T3 was found to significantly counteract the increase of alpha class GST activity caused by hypophysectomy in the periportal zone. To establish whether this effect was T3-specific, hepatocytes were isolated from either the periportal and perivenous zone by digitonin/collagenase perfusion and cultured either as pyruvate-supplemented monolayer or as co-culture with rat liver epithelial cells. Only in the latter it was found that T3 suppressed the A1/A2-specific GST activity and alpha class proteins predominantly in periportal cells. The data demonstrate that T3 is an important factor responsible for the low expression of alpha GST in the periportal region. T3 may be involved in the periportal downregulation of other phase I and II enzymes as well.

Characterization of Cyp2d22, a novel cytochrome P450 expressed in mouse mammary cells

Endogenous steroids and numerous environmental agents have potent effects on mammary development and carcinogenesis. Locally produced cytochrome P450 enzymes that modify such molecules are therefore likely to be important regulators of these processes. Here we describe the characterization of a novel mouse gene, termed Cyp2d22, that is highly expressed in the mammary tumor derived cell line RIII/Prl. Cyp2d22 is expressed at intermediate levels in the weakly tumorigenic cell line RIII/MG, whereas expression is low or absent in all normal mouse mammary epithelial cell lines tested and three C3H mammary tumor derived cell lines. Immunoblot analysis of mouse tissues with highly specific antisera indicates that 2D22 protein levels are most abundant in liver, while intermediate levels of expression are seen in adrenal, ovary, and mammary gland. Immunohistochemical staining of liver sections with these antisera demonstrates that 2D22 is most abundant in the first layer or two of parenchymal cells surrounding the central vein, with virtually no expression detected in periportal cells. Interestingly, sequence similarity and functional data suggest that Cyp2d22 may be the mouse ortholog of human CYP2D6. These observations support the hypothesis that 2D22 mediates a distinct, biologically significant activity in relation to other mouse 2D family members.

Cell biology of cytochrome P-450 in the liver

Cytochromes P-450 (P-450) are members of a multigene superfamily of hemoproteins consisting the microsomal monooxygenase system with NADPH P-450 reductase (reductase) and/or reducing equivalents. Expression of many P-450 isoforms in hepatocytes is shown to be regulated at the level of transcription through interaction between cis-acting elements in the genes and DNA-binding (transacting) factors. Some isoforms of the CYP1A, 2B, 2E, and 3A subfamilies are regulated at the posttranscriptional level. For the topology of P-450 and reductase molecules in ER membrane of hepatocytes, models from stopped flow analysis and electron spin resonance are proposed. The densities of total P-450 and reductase molecules are revealed to be high enough to support the cluster model, suggesting that about ten P-450 molecules form an aggregate and surround one reductase molecule, and therefore the two enzymes form large micelles. ER proliferation after PB administration, which had been correlated with increase in P-450 level, is shown to be probably independent of the increase in P-450 level. There are considerable discrepancies among results reported on sublobular expression of various P-450 isoforms. Causes of the discrepancies are likely to be differences in experimental conditions of histochemical detection carried out and/or in species, strain, and/or sex.

Growth hormone-regulated periportal expression of CYP2C7 in rat liver

Most drug- and steroid-metabolizing cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are expressed in the mammalian liver in a characteristic zonated pattern, with high expression in the downstream perivenous (centrilobular) region. Here, we report that CYP2C7, a member of the rat CYP2 family, is expressed preferentially in the opposite, periportal region. CYP2C7 mRNA, as detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, was detected almost exclusively in cell lysates obtained from the periportal region, indicating a very steep acinar gradient. The amount of immunoreactive CYP2C7 protein in periportal cell lysates was also higher than in samples from the perivenous region. This gradient was reversed by hypophysectomy, which markedly and selectively reduced the periportal CYP2C7 protein content. Subsequent growth hormone infusion by osmotic minipumps restored the zonation by selectively increasing the amount of periportal CYP2C7 protein. Although hypophysectomy suppressed CYP2C7 mRNA and growth hormone counteracted it, regulation at this level did not appear to occur in a zone-specific fashion. This indicates that growth hormone-mediated zonal regulation of CYP2C7 protein has additional translational or posttranslational components. Ethanol treatment, which has been shown to affect growth hormone levels, significantly induced CYP2C7 mRNA, but not zone specifically. Our results demonstrate that growth hormone up-regulates the CYP2C7 gene by enhancing the expression of the protein specifically in the periportal liver region. Growth hormone may up-regulate other periportally expressed liver genes in a similar fashion.

Mimicry in primary rat hepatocyte cultures of the in vivo perivenous induction by phenobarbital of cytochrome P-450 2B1 mRNA: role of epidermal growth factor and perivenous oxygen tension

Treatment of male rats with phenobarbital (PB) results in a perivenous and mid-zonal pattern of cytochrome P-450 (CYP)2B1 mRNA expression within the liver acinus. The mechanism of this zonated induction is still poorly understood. In this study sinusoidal gradients of oxygen and epidermal growth factor (EGF) besides those of the pituitary-dependent hormones growth hormone (GH), thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3) were considered to be possible determinants for the zonated induction of the CYP2B1 gene in liver. Moreover, heme proteins seem to play a key role in oxygen sensing. Therefore, the influence of arterial (16% O2) and venous (8% O2) oxygen tension (pO2), and of the heme synthesis inhibitors CoCl2 and desferrioxamine (DSF) on PB-dependent CYP2B1 mRNA induction as well as the repression by EGF and, for comparison, by GH, T4, and T3, of the induction under arterial and venous pO2 were investigated in primary rat hepatocytes. Within 3 days, phenobarbital induced CYP2B1 mRNA to maximal levels under arterial pO2 and to about 40% of maximal levels under venous pO2. CoCl2 annihilated induction by PB under both oxygen tensions, whereas desferrioxamine and heme abolished the positive modulation by O2, suggesting that heme is a necessary component for O2 sensing. EGF suppressed CYP2B1 mRNA induction by PB only under arterial but not under venous pO2, whereas GH, T4, and T3 inhibited induction under both arterial and venous pO2. Thus, in hepatocyte cultures, an O2 gradient in conjunction with EGF mimicked the perivenous induction by PB of the CYP2B1 gene observed in the liver in vivo.

No significant expression of CYP2E1 in rat liver stellate cells

The putative role of the ethanol-inducible cytochrome P450(CYP)2E1 in stimulating collagen synthesis by rat liver stellate cells was studied. Analysis of carefully isolated stellate cells revealed that their content of immunoreactive CYP2E1 protein and of CYP2E1 mRNA, as determined by reverse transcription, polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), was very low, i.e. only 0-4% of that in hepatocytes. We conclude that it is improbable that such low expression of CYP2E1 in stellate cells would have functional importance.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-associated genes in rat liver: regional coinduction of aldehyde dehydrogenase 3 and glutathione transferase Ya

The tumor-associated aldehyde dehydrogenase 3 (ALDH3) and the glutathione transferase (GST)Ya form are coded by members of the Ah (aryl hydrocarbon) battery group of genes activated in the liver by polycyclic hydrocarbons such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). The physiological role of the Ah receptor (AHR), its gene-activating mechanism and its endogenous ligands are still poorly clarified. We had previously observed that 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) and beta-naphthoflavone (betaNF) induced the AHR-associated CYP1A1/1A2 pair in different liver regions, an effect not explained by the acinar distribution of the AHR protein. Here, we investigated AHR-associated regional induction by comparing the expression patterns of ALDH3 and GSTYa. Analysis of samples from periportal and perivenous cell lysates from 3MC-treated animals revealed that ALDH3 mRNA, protein and benzaldehyde-NADP associated activity were all confined to the perivenous region. In contrast, such regio-specific induction was not seen after beta-NF induction. Immunohistochemically, a peculiar mono- or oligocellular induction pattern of ALDH3 was seen, consistently surrounding terminal hepatic veins after 3MC but mainly in the midzonal region after betaNF. A ligand-specific difference in regional induction of GSTYa1 mRNA was also observed: The constitutive perivenous dominance was preserved after 3MC while induction by betaNF was mainly periportal. A 3MC-betaNF difference was also seen by immunohistochemistry and at the GSTYa protein level, in contrast to that of the AHR-unassociated GSTYb protein. However, experiments with hepatocytes isolated from the periportal or perivenous region to replicate these inducer-specific induction responses in vitro were unsuccessful. These data demonstrate that the different acinar induction patterns by 3MC and betaNF previously observed for CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 are seen also for two other Ah battery genes, GSTYa1 and ALDH3, but in a modified, gene-specific form. We hypothesize that unknown protein(s) operating in vivo and modifying the Ah-mediated response at the common XRE element located upstream of these genes is affected zonespecifically by 3MC and betaNF.

Zonation of hepatic cytochrome P-450 expression and regulation

The CYP genes encode enzymes of the cytochrome P-450 superfamily. Cytochrome P-450 (CYP) enzymes are expressed mainly in the liver and are active in mono-oxygenation and hydroxylation of various xenobiotics, including drugs and alcohols, as well as that of endogenous compounds such as steroids, bile acids, prostaglandins, leukotrienes and biogenic amines. In the liver the CYP enzymes are constitutively expressed and commonly also induced by chemicals in a characteristic zonated pattern with high expression prevailing in the downstream perivenous region. In the present review we summarize recent studies, mainly based on rat liver, on the factors regulating this position-dependent expression and induction. Pituitary-dependent signals mediated by growth hormone and thyroid hormone seem to selectively down-regulate the upstream periportal expression of certain CYP forms. It is at present unknown to what extent other hormones that also affect total hepatic CYP activities, i.e. insulin, glucagon, glucocorticoids and gonadal hormones, act zone-specifically. The expression and induction of CYP enzymes in the perivenous region probably have important toxicological implications, since many CYP-activated chemicals cause cell injury primarily in this region of the liver.

The cytochrome P450 4 (CYP4) family

1. The CYP4 family consists of 11 subfamilies (CYP4A-CYP4M), which encode constitutive and inducible isozymes expressed in both mammals and insects. 2. The CYP4A subfamily encodes several cytochrome P450 enzymes that are capable of hydroxylating the terminal omega-carbon and, to a lesser extent, the (omega-1) position of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, as well as enzymes active in the omega-hydroxylation of various prostaglandins. 3. The CYP4A1, A2 and A3 genes, the most extensively studied members of the CYP4 family, are expressed constitutively in rat liver and kidney and their expression is induced by a class of chemicals known as peroxisome proliferators, which includes the hypolipidemic drug, clofibrate. 4. Induction of CYP4A expression by clofibrate is due to transcriptional activation, mediated possibly via a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR). 5. CYP4A gene expression is hormonally regulated. 6. The CYP4A1-3 genes are expressed constitutively and following induction in pregnant and lactating rats. 7. Translactational and transplacental induction of the CYP4A1-3mRNAs and proteins has been demonstrated. 8. There is a close association between microsomal CYP4A1 induction, peroxisome proliferation and induction of the peroxisomal fatty acid metabolizing system. 9. The CYP4A subfamily may be involved in the metabolism of arachidonic acid leading to the formation of physiologically important metabolites involved in such processes as blood flow in the kidney, cornea and brain.

Zonation of cytochrome P450 expression, drug metabolism and toxicity in liver

1. In this brief review, current concepts on the zonated expression of liver genes involved in phase I and phase II drug metabolism will be presented. 2. It is now clear that the P450 isoforms involved in drug activation and steroid metabolism exhibit a particularly prominent zonation, with high expression and preferential induction in hepatocytes of the perivenous region. 3. In comparison, among the phase II enzymes, the perivenous dominance of glutathione transferases and UDP-glucuronyltransferases is less prominent, and glutathione peroxidase displays an opposite, periportally dominated pattern. 4. The factors regulating the zonated expression of these and other liver genes are poorly known. We have observed that pituitary-dependent hormones, particularly growth hormone, extinguish the periportal (upstream) expression of several CYP forms (CYP2B1/2 and CYP3A1/2). However, the zonation of other CYP forms (CYP2A, CYP2E1, CYP 2C11 and CYP 2C12) is less affected, suggesting that hormonal factors are important, but that the zonation of each P450 form is orchestrated by a different set of factors. 5. Because many hepatotoxins cause zone-specific damage, further unravelling the factors governing zonal expression of phase I and phase II enzymes will be necessary to clarify how drug-specific patterns of liver damage arise.

Zonation of cytochrome P450 enzyme expression in rat liver. Isozyme-specific regulation by pituitary dependent hormones

The effect of hypophysectomy and subsequent infusion of growth hormone (GH) or injections of triiodothyronine (T3) on the acinar expression pattern of four homonally regulated P450 isozymes was studied to elucidate the involvement of pituitary dependent hormones in regulating the characteristic centrilobular expression pattern of most members of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) gene family in rat liver. Hypophysectomy was previously observed to allow high expression of CYP2B1/2 and 3A1/2 in the normally silent periportal region. In the present study, it had much less effect on the zonation of the ethanol-inducible P450 2E1 form: only a moderate shift of 2E1 staining towards the periportal region was observed by immunohistochemistry. Subsequent injections with T3 moderately decreased CYP2E1 expression in the periportal region and no significant countereffect of GH was discerned. T3 treatment, previously observed to block only the periportal expression of CYP3A1/2, counteracted the increased CYP2B1/2 expression caused by hypophysectomy equally in the periportal and perivenous region. This was true both at the protein and mRNA level, as analysed from cell lysates obtained by in situ perfusion of livers by zone-restricted digitonin treatment. Thus, although hypophysectomy and subsequent GH and T3 treatment affect the total expression of CYP2B1/2, 2E1, and 3A1/2 similarly, the zonal effects were isozyme-specific. In contrast, the perivenous zonation normally seen for the dioxin-inducible P450 1A2 form was steepened rather than diminished by hypophysectomy, both in male and female rats. Administration of GH by the female-type continuous infusion had no effect in male rats, but partially counteracted the effect of hypophysectomy in females, suggesting an involvement of GH. In contrast to other CYP genes investigated, the female-characteristic expression of CYP2C12 was found to be completely non-zonated. Hypophysectomy and continuous GH administration dramatically affected the amount of mRNA of both P450 2C12 and the male-specific 2C11 form, but analysis of periportal and perivenous cell lysates indicated that these effects were not zone-specific. The distribution of the GH receptor was investigated to explain the zonal effects of GH. Immunohistochemically, a moderate perivenous dominance was observed, whereas the mRNA abundance of both GH receptor and GH binding protein was slightly higher in the periportal region. Thus, zonal regulation by GH does not appear to result from a GH receptor zonation; rather, a sinusoidal GH gradient may be involved. These data, combined with our previous results, indicate that pituitary-dependent hormones regulate the zone-specific expression of some P450 forms strongly (i.e. 2B1/2 and 3A1/2), and other forms are moderately regulated (i.e. 1A2 and 2E1), or are affected across the whole acinus (i.e. 2C11, 2C12).

Induction mechanisms of cytochrome P450 2E1 in liver: interplay between ethanol treatment and starvation

Chronic ethanol exposure causes marked induction of the ethanol-inducible cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E1 isozyme in the centrilobular liver region, where alcoholic damage commonly is initiated. In contrast to most other CYP forms, which are ligand-activated at the transcriptional level, ethanol induction of CYP2E1 has been found to be post-translational. However, transcriptional activation of the CYP2E1 gene was recently described in fed animals maintained at very high ethanol levels. To further evaluate mechanisms of ethanol-mediated CYP2E1 induction we compared the effect of short-term heavy-ethanol treatment and fasting on CYP2E1 mRNA, protein and catalytic activity. High blood-ethanol levels (20-70 mM) were maintained for 3 days by regular alcohol intubations to fed or fasted rats. During this period, the amount of liver CYP2E1 apoprotein increased a maximum of 20-fold and catalytic activity 16-fold, both in fed and fasted animals, whereas starvation alone caused only a 4- to 5-fold increase. By comparison, the amount of CYP2E1 mRNA, as assayed both by Northern blot and slot blot, was significantly increased (5- to 6-fold) by ethanol only in fasted rats; this increase was smaller than that observed after fasting alone (8- to 9-fold). Analysis of cell lysates isolated from the periportal and perivenous region revealed that the increase in CYP2E1 mRNA by fasting occurred in the perivenous region. Thus no evidence was obtained for an increased pretranslational CYP2E1 gene expression as a consequence of the continuous presence of ethanol at intoxicating levels for 3 days. CYP2E1 mRNA elevation seems to be strongly associated with starvation while alcohol treatment increases the amount of enzyme, primarily by ligand-dependent stabilization of the synthesized protein. Our results indicate that transcriptional activation of CYP2E1 requires the long-term presence of highly intoxicating ethanol levels. It is conceivable that such activation occurs via indirect physiological responses related to those triggered by starvation.

Hormonal regulation of the zonated expression of cytochrome P-450 3A in rat liver

Most cytochrome P-450 enzymes are expressed characteristically in a zonated pattern in the liver. The factors responsible for this heterogenous expression are largely unknown. Here we report how growth hormone and tri-iodothyronine regulate the steroid-hydroxylating cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A forms, which are constitutively expressed mainly in the perivenous (downstream) liver region. By comparing cell lysates obtained from the periportal and perivenous acinar regions we observed that the elevated CYP3A expression observed after hypophysectomy was due mainly to a dramatic increase in the normally silent periportal region. This effect was particularly strong in females. Treatment with growth hormone re-established the perivenous expression pattern, a finding corroborated by immunohistochemical analysis of liver sections. Analysis of periportal and perivenous mRNA by reverse-transcriptase PCR demonstrated that in males the changes in CYP3A2 mRNA paralleled the changes at the protein level. In females, CYP3A2 mRNA was detected only after hypophysectomy, and the zonal protein changes seemed to be governed by changes in CYP3A1 mRNA levels. Treatment of hypophysectomized animals with tri-iodothyronine also suppressed the expression of CYP3A, both in males and females. However, this occurred almost exclusively in the periportal region. This was observed both at the protein level, as determined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemically, and at the CYP3A1 and 3A2 mRNA level. These results indicate that growth hormone and thyroid hormone regulate the expression of CYP3A genes zone-specifically by suppressing their transcription in the periportal (upstream) region of the liver.

Pretranslational induction of cytochrome P4501A enzymes by beta-naphthoflavone and 3-methylcholanthrene occurs in different liver zones

Most of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes are expressed in an uneven, zonated pattern in the liver. Factors regulating this regionally restricted expression are not well known. In this study we have analysed cell lysates obtained from opposite zones of rat liver by infusing digitonin to the perfused liver to study the zonation of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 induction. 3-Methylcholanthrene induced CYP1A1 protein in perivenous cells, while a low dose of beta-naphthoflavone caused periportal induction. Analysis of CYP1A1 mRNA from cell lysates by reverse transcriptase-coupled polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization experiments both demonstrated that this inducer-specific differently localized effect occurred at the pretranslational level. A corresponding difference in the regional pattern of CYP1A2 induction was seen: induction by beta-naphthoflavone reversed the constitutive perivenous pattern into a periportal CYP1A2 mRNA pattern while induction after 3-methylcholanthrene treatment was more panacinar. Attempts to identify the regiospecific factors involved were made by comparing the in vitro induction of CYP1A1 by beta-naphthoflavone and 3-methylcholanthrene in hepatocytes isolated from the periportal and perivenous region. However, after isolation, induction seemed to be independent of the source of the cells. Our results demonstrate the existence in the liver of regionally acting factors that mediate the induction of CYP1A1 and 1A2 in a local and inducer-specific fashion. These factors could be Ah receptor associated binding proteins operating in vivo, but no longer in isolated cells.

Isolation of rat pgp3 cDNA: evidence for gender and zonal regulation of expression in the liver

Distinct differences exist in the function and regulation of the individual p-glycoprotein (pgp) members in many species. In order to study regulation of individual pgp mRNA isoforms it is, therefore, necessary to have probes that can distinguish between the various pgp isoforms. However, to date few studies examining hepatic gene expression in rat liver have used pgp gene specific probes. Towards this end we screened a cDNA library constructed from a normal rat liver with a human pgp1 cDNA and isolated a partial cDNA for class III pgp, rat pgp3. By comparison of the sequence of this new rat pgp3 cDNA with genomic and cDNA sequences for rat pgp1 and rat pgp2 we selected oligonucleotide probe sequences that would allow us to differentiate between the highly homologous rat pgp2 and pgp3 genes on Northern blots and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We found that pgp3, for both male and female rats, was the predominant form of pgp expressed in normal rat liver with males consistently expressing several-fold lower levels of pgp3 than females. Because many genes are zonally expressed in the hepatic acinus we examined the possibility that pgp3 might show heterogeneous distribution as well. We found, by in situ hybridization of paraformaldehyde-fixed rat liver sections that pgp3 was distributed non-uniformly across the hepatic acinus with a gradient that showed the highest expression toward the terminal hepatic venule. We confirmed this finding by selectively isolating hepatocytes from either the terminal hepatic venular or periportal zones using a digitonin/collagenase perfusion procedure. Application of specific pgp3 PCR primers to RNA isolated from hepatocytes from these areas confirmed that pgp3 mRNA was the predominant form in the hepatocytes surrounding the terminal hepatic venule. Finally, we examined pgp3 expression in a variety of tissues by Northern blot analysis and found that pgp3 was most highly expressed in the liver and gastrointestinal tract (with a gradient of expression from small to large intestine), while low levels were found in the kidney, heart and brain. Pgp3 mRNA was undetectable in the adrenal gland and in skeletal muscle. In summary, using rat pgp gene specific oligonucleotide probes we found that pgp3 gene expression is regulated by anatomic location with the highest mRNA expression in organs that are involved in drug detoxification. Our results also demonstrate heterogeneity of hepatic rat pgp3 gene expression, which is influenced by both gender and by acinar location.