Protein kinase Cδ differentially regulates cAMP-dependent translocation of NTCP and MRP2 to the plasma membrane

The Culprit Behind HBV-Infected Hepatocytes: NTCP

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a globally prevalent human DNA virus responsible for over 250 million cases of chronic liver infections, leading to conditions such as liver inflammation, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP) is a transmembrane protein highly expressed in human hepatocytes and functions as a bile acid (BA) transporter. NTCP has been identified as the receptor that HBV and its satellite virus, hepatitis delta virus (HDV), use to enter hepatocytes. HBV entry into hepatocytes is tightly regulated by various signaling pathways, and NTCP plays an important role as the initial stage of HBV infection. NTCP acts as an initiation signal, causing metabolic changes in hepatocytes and facilitating the entry of HBV into hepatocytes. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of NTCP's role is crucial. In this review, we will examine the regulatory mechanisms governing HBV pre-S1 binding to liver membrane NTCP, the role of NTCP in HBV internalization, and the transcriptional and translational regulation of NTCP expression. Additionally, we will discuss clinical drugs targeting NTCP, including combination therapies involving NTCP inhibitors, and consider the safety of NTCP as a therapeutic target.

Role of sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) in HBV-induced hepatitis: Opportunities for developing novel therapeutics

Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by the HBV virus. It presents a significant challenge for treatment due to its chronic nature and the potential for developing severe complications, including hepatocirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. These complications not only cause physical and psychological distress to patients but also impose substantial economic and social burdens on both individuals and society as a whole. The internalization of HBV relies on endocytosis and necessitates the involvement of various proteins, including heparin sulfate proteoglycans, epidermal growth factor receptors, and NTCP. Among these proteins, NTCP is pivotal in HBV internalization and is primarily located in the liver's basement membrane. As a transporter of bile acids, NTCP also serves as a receptor facilitating HBV entry into cells. Numerous molecules have been identified to thwart HBV infection by stifling NTCP activity, although only a handful exhibit low IC50 values. In this systematic review, our primary focus dwells on the structure and regulation of NTCP, as well as the mechanism involved in HBV internalization. We underscore recent drug breakthroughs that specifically target NTCP to combat HBV infection. By shedding light on these advances, this review contributes novel insights into developing effective anti-HBV medications.

Interactions of Na+/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide with host cellular proteins upon hepatitis B and D virus infection: novel potential targets for antiviral therapy

Na⁺/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) is a member of the solute carrier (SLC) family 10 transporters (gene symbol SLC10A1) and is responsible for the sodium-dependent uptake of bile salts across the basolateral membrane of hepatocytes. In addition to its primary transporter function, NTCP is the high-affinity hepatic receptor for hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis D (HDV) viruses and, therefore, is a prerequisite for HBV/HDV virus entry into hepatocytes. The inhibition of HBV/HDV binding to NTCP and internalization of the virus/NTCP receptor complex has become a major concept in the development of new antiviral drugs called HBV/HDV entry inhibitors. Hence, NTCP has emerged as a promising target for therapeutic interventions against HBV/HDV infections in the last decade. In this review, recent findings on protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between NTCP and cofactors relevant for entry of the virus/NTCP receptor complex are summarized. In addition, strategies aiming to block PPIs with NTCP to dampen virus tropism and HBV/HDV infection rates are discussed. Finally, this article suggests novel directions for future investigations evaluating the functional contribution of NTCP-mediated PPIs in the development and progression of HBV/HDV infection and subsequent chronic liver disorders.

Regulation of the HBV Entry Receptor NTCP and its Potential in Hepatitis B Treatment

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a globally prevalent human DNA virus responsible for more than 250 million cases of chronic liver infection, a condition that can lead to liver inflammation, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP), a transmembrane protein highly expressed in human hepatocytes and a mediator of bile acid transport, has been identified as the receptor responsible for the cellular entry of both HBV and its satellite, hepatitis delta virus (HDV). This has led to significant advances in our understanding of the HBV life cycle, especially the early steps of infection. HepG2-NTCP cells and human NTCP-expressing transgenic mice have been employed as the primary cell culture and animal models, respectively, for the study of HBV, and represent valuable approaches for investigating its basic biology and developing treatments for infection. However, the mechanisms involved in the regulation of NTCP transcription, translation, post-translational modification, and transport are still largely elusive. Improvements in our understanding of NTCP biology would likely facilitate the design of new therapeutic drugs for the prevention of the de novo infection of naïve hepatocytes. In this review, we provide critical findings regarding NTCP biology and discuss important questions that remain unanswered.

B7-H4 expression is upregulated by PKCδ activation and contributes to PKCδ-induced cell motility in colorectal cancer

Introduction

B7-H4 is overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) and plays an important role in tumor growth and immunosuppression. However, the exact mechanism that regulates B7-H4 expression remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated whether protein kinase C δ (PKCδ) regulates the expression of B7-H4 in CRC.

Methods

By using immunohistochemical (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining, we analyzed the expression of B7-H4 and phospho-PKCδ (p-PKCδ) in 225 colorectal tumor samples and determined the clinical significance of the expression patterns. In vitro experiments were performed with the CRC cell lines HCT116 and SW620 to detect the effect of PKCδ activation on B7-H4 expression, and xenograft-bearing mice were treated with rottlerin to monitor the expression of B7-H4 and tumor metastasis.

Results

The B7-H4 expression level was significantly correlated with the p-PKCδ level (r = 0.378, P < 0.001) in tumor tissues. Coexpression of p-PKCδ and B7-H4 was significantly associated with moderate/poor differentiation (P = 0.024), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001) and advanced Dukes’ stage (P = 0.002). Western blot analysis showed that Phorbol-12-Myristate-13-Acetate (TPA) increased B7-H4 expression in a concentration-dependent manner and that rottlerin abrogated the TPA-induced increase in B7-H4 expression. The protein levels of B7-H4 and p-STAT3 were significantly reduced by a PKCδ-specific siRNA. Moreover, the STAT3 inhibitor cryptotanshinone significantly decreased the B7-H4 protein level in CRC cells. Knockdown of B7-H4 or PKCδ suppressed cell migration and motility. Rottlerin also inhibited B7-H4 expression and tumor metastasis in vivo.

Conclusion

The B7-H4 expression level is significantly correlated with the p-PKCδ level and tumor metastasis in CRC samples. B7-H4 expression is upregulated by STAT3 activation via PKCδ and plays roles in PKCδ-induced cancer cell motility and metastasis, suggesting that the PKCδ/STAT3/B7-H4 axis may be a potential therapeutic target for CRC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-022-02567-1.

Molecular regulation of the hepatic bile acid uptake transporter and HBV entry receptor NTCP

Transporters expressed by hepatocytes and enterocytes play a critical role in maintaining the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. The sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP), exclusively expressed at the basolateral side of hepatocytes, mediates the uptake of conjugated bile acids. In conditions where bile flow is impaired (cholestasis), pharmacological inhibition of NTCP-mediated bile acid influx is suggested to reduce hepatocellular damage due to bile acid overload. Furthermore, NTCP has been shown to play an important role in hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) infection by functioning as receptor for viral entry into hepatocytes. This review provides a summary of current molecular insight into the regulation of NTCP expression at the plasma membrane, hepatic bile acid transport, and NTCP-mediated viral infection.

Long-term trans-inhibition of the hepatitis B and D virus receptor NTCP by taurolithocholic acid

Human hepatic bile acid transporter Na⁺/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) represents the liver-specific entry receptor for the hepatitis B and D viruses (HBV/HDV). Chronic hepatitis B and D affect several million people worldwide, but treatment options are limited. Recently, HBV/HDV entry inhibitors targeting NTCP have emerged as promising novel drug candidates. Nevertheless, the exact molecular mechanism that NTCP uses to mediate virus binding and entry into hepatocytes is still not completely understood. It is already known that human NTCP mRNA expression is downregulated under cholestasis. Furthermore, incubation of rat hepatocytes with the secondary bile acid taurolithocholic acid (TLC) triggers internalization of the rat Ntcp protein from the plasma membrane. In the present study, the long-term inhibitory effect of TLC on transport function, HBV/HDV receptor function, and membrane expression of human NTCP were analyzed in HepG2 and human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells stably overexpressing NTCP. Even after short-pulse preincubation, TLC had a significant long-lasting inhibitory effect on the transport function of NTCP, but the NTCP protein was still present at the plasma membrane. Furthermore, binding of the HBV/HDV myr-preS1 peptide and susceptibility for in vitro HDV infection were significantly reduced by TLC preincubation. We hypothesize that TLC rapidly accumulates in hepatocytes and mediates long-lasting trans-inhibition of the transport and receptor function of NTCP via a particular TLC-binding site at an intracellularly accessible domain of NTCP. Physiologically, this trans-inhibition might protect hepatocytes from toxic overload of bile acids. Pharmacologically, it provides an interesting novel NTCP target site for potential long-acting HBV/HDV entry inhibitors.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The hepatic bile acid transporter NTCP is a high-affinity receptor for hepatitis B and D viruses. This study shows that TLC rapidly accumulates in NTCP-expressing hepatoma cells and mediates long-lasting trans-inhibition of NTCP's transporter and receptor function via an intracellularly accessible domain, without substantially affecting its membrane expression. This domain is a promising novel NTCP target site for pharmacological long-acting HBV/HDV entry inhibitors.

Mechanism of inhibition of taurolithocholate-induced retrieval of plasma membrane MRP2 by cyclic AMP and tauroursodeoxycholate

Taurolithocholate (TLC) produces cholestasis by inhibiting biliary solute secretion in part by retrieving MRP2 from the plasma membrane (PM). Tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDC) and cAMP reverse TLC‐induced cholestasis by inhibiting TLC‐induced retrieval of MRP2. However, cellular mechanisms for this reversal are incompletely understood. Recently, we reported that TLC decreases PM‐MRP2 by activating PKCε followed by phosphorylation of myristoylated alanine‐rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS). Thus, cAMP and TUDC may reverse TLC‐induced cholestasis by inhibiting the TLC/PKCε/MARCKS phosphorylation pathway. We tested this hypothesis by determining whether TUDC and/or cAMP inhibit TLC‐induced activation of PKCε and phosphorylation of MARCKS. Studies were conducted in HuH‐NTCP cell line and rat hepatocytes. Activation of PKCε was determined from the translocation of PKCε to PM using a biotinylation method. Phosphorylation of MARCKS was determined by immunoblotting with a phospho‐MARCKS antibody. TLC, but not cAMP and TUDC, activated PKCε and increased MARCKS phosphorylation in HuH‐NTCP as well in rat hepatocytes. Treatment with TUDC or cAMP inhibited TLC‐induced activation of PKCε and increases in MARCKS phosphorylation in both cell types. Based on these results, we conclude that the reversal of TLC‐induced cholestasis by cAMP and TUDC involves, at least in part, inhibition of TLC‐mediated activation of the PKCε/MARCKS phosphorylation pathway.

Misregulation of membrane trafficking processes in human nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remodels the expression and function of genes and proteins that are critical for drug disposition. This study sought to determine whether disruption of membrane protein trafficking pathways in human NASH contributes to altered localization of multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2). A comprehensive immunoblot analysis assessed the phosphorylation, membrane translocation, and expression of transporter membrane insertion regulators, including several protein kinases (PK), radixin, MARCKS, and Rab11. Radixin exhibited a decreased phosphorylation and total expression, whereas Rab11 had an increased membrane localization. PKCδ, PKCα, and PKA had increased membrane activation, whereas PKCε had a decreased phosphorylation and membrane expression. Radixin dephosphorylation may activate MRP2 membrane retrieval in NASH; however, the activation of Rab11/PKCδ and PKA/PKCα suggest an activation of membrane insertion pathways as well. Overall these data suggest an altered regulation of protein trafficking in human NASH, although other processes may be involved in the regulation of MRP2 localization.

Protein Kinases C-Mediated Regulations of Drug Transporter Activity, Localization and Expression

Drug transporters are now recognized as major actors in pharmacokinetics, involved notably in drug–drug interactions and drug adverse effects. Factors that govern their activity, localization and expression are therefore important to consider. In the present review, the implications of protein kinases C (PKCs) in transporter regulations are summarized and discussed. Both solute carrier (SLC) and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug transporters can be regulated by PKCs-related signaling pathways. PKCs thus target activity, membrane localization and/or expression level of major influx and efflux drug transporters, in various normal and pathological types of cells and tissues, often in a PKC isoform-specific manner. PKCs are notably implicated in membrane insertion of bile acid transporters in liver and, in this way, are thought to contribute to cholestatic or choleretic effects of endogenous compounds or drugs. The exact clinical relevance of PKCs-related regulation of drug transporters in terms of drug resistance, pharmacokinetics, drug–drug interactions and drug toxicity remains however to be precisely determined. This issue is likely important to consider in the context of the development of new drugs targeting PKCs-mediated signaling pathways, for treating notably cancers, diabetes or psychiatric disorders.

Drug Transporter Expression and Activity in Human Hepatoma HuH-7 Cells

Human hepatoma cells may represent a valuable alternative to the use of human hepatocytes for studying hepatic drug transporters, which is now a regulatory issue during drug development. In the present work, we have characterized hepatic drug transporter expression, activity and regulation in human hepatoma HuH-7 cells, in order to determine the potential relevance of these cells for drug transport assays. HuH-7 cells displayed notable multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) activity, presumed to reflect expression of various hepatic MRPs, including MRP2. By contrast, they failed to display functional activities of the uptake transporters sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP), organic anion-transporting polypeptides (OATPs) and organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1), and of the canalicular transporters P-glycoprotein and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). Concomitantly, mRNA expressions of various sinusoidal and canalicular hepatic drug transporters were not detected (NTCP, OATP1B1, organic anion transporter 2 (OAT2), OCT1 and bile salt export pump) or were found to be lower (OATP1B3, OATP2B1, multidrug and toxin extrusion protein 1, BCRP and MRP3) in hepatoma HuH-7 cells than those found in human hepatocytes, whereas other transporters such as OAT7, MRP4 and MRP5 were up-regulated. HuH-7 cells additionally exhibited farnesoid X receptor (FXR)- and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-related up-regulation of some transporters. Such data indicate that HuH-7 cells, although expressing rather poorly some main hepatic drug transporters, may be useful for investigating interactions of drugs with MRPs, notably MRP2, and for studying FXR- or Nrf2-mediated gene regulation.

Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Modulates Membrane Protein Retrieval and Insertion Processes

Interindividual variability in drug response in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) can be mediated by altered regulation of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters. Among these is the mislocalization of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP2)/Mrp2 away from the canalicular membrane, which results in decreased transport of MRP2/Mrp2 substrates. The exact mechanism of this mislocalization is unknown, although increased activation of membrane retrieval processes may be one possibility. The current study measures the activation status of various mediators implicated in the active membrane retrieval or insertion of membrane proteins to identify which processes may be important in rodent methionine and choline deficient diet-induced NASH. The mediators currently known to be associated with transporter mislocalization are stimulated by oxidative stressors and choleretic stimuli, which play a role in the pathogenesis of NASH. The activation of protein kinases PKA, PKCα, PKCδ, and PKCε and substrates radixin, myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate, and Rab11 were measured by comparing the expression, phosphorylation, and membrane translocation between control and NASH. Many of the mediators exhibited altered activation in NASH rats. Consistent with membrane retrieval of Mrp2, NASH rats exhibited a decreased phosphorylation of radixin and increased membrane localization of PKCδ and PKCε, thought to be mediators of radixin dephosphorylation. Altered activation of PKCδ, PKA, and PKCα may impair the Rab11-mediated active insertion of Mrp2. Overall, these data suggest alterations in membrane retrieval and insertion processes that may contribute to altered localization of membrane proteins in NASH.

p38 MAPK α and β isoforms differentially regulate plasma membrane localization of MRP2

In hepatocytes, cAMP both activates p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and increases the amount of multidrug resistance-associated protein-2 (MRP2) in the plasma membrane (PM-MRP2). Paradoxically, taurolithocholate (TLC) activates p38 MAPK but decreases PM-MRP2 in hepatocytes. These opposing effects of cAMP and TLC could be mediated via different p38 MAPK isoforms (α and β) that are activated differentially by upstream kinases (MKK3, MKK4, and MKK6). Thus we tested the hypothesis that p38α MAPK and p38β MAPK mediate increases and decreases in PM-MRP2 by cAMP and TLC, respectively. Studies were conducted in hepatocytes isolated from C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and MKK3-knockout (MKK3(-/-)) mice and in a hepatoma cell line (HuH7) that overexpresses sodium-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) (HuH-NTCP). Cyclic AMP activated MKK3, p38 MAPK, and p38α MAPK and increased PM-MRP2 in WT hepatocytes, but failed to activate p38α MAPK or increase PM-MRP2 in MKK3(-/-) hepatocytes. In contrast to cAMP, TLC activated total p38 MAPK but decreased PM-MRP2, and did not activate MKK3 or p38α MAPK in WT hepatocytes. In MKK3(-/-) hepatocytes, TLC still decreased PM-MRP2 and activated p38 MAPK, indicating that these effects are not MKK3-dependent. Additionally, TLC activated MKK6 in MKK3(-/-) hepatocytes, and small interfering RNA knockdown of p38β MAPK abrogated TLC-mediated decreases in PM-MRP2 in HuH-NTCP cells. Taken together, these results suggest that p38α MAPK facilitates plasma membrane insertion of MRP2 by cAMP, whereas p38β MAPK mediates retrieval of PM-MRP2 by TLC.

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.

Organic anion uptake by hepatocytes

Many of the compounds taken up by the liver are organic anions that circulate tightly bound to protein carriers such as albumin. The fenestrated sinusoidal endothelium of the liver permits these compounds to have access to hepatocytes. Studies to characterize hepatic uptake of organic anions through kinetic analyses, suggested that it was carrier-mediated. Attempts to identify specific transporters by biochemical approaches were largely unsuccessful and were replaced by studies that utilized expression cloning. These studies led to identification of the organic anion transport proteins (oatps), a family of 12 transmembrane domain glycoproteins that have broad and often overlapping substrate specificities. The oatps mediate Na(+)-independent organic anion uptake. Other studies identified a seven transmembrane domain glycoprotein, Na(+)/taurocholate transporting protein (ntcp) as mediating Na(+)-dependent uptake of bile acids as well as other organic anions. Although mutations or deficiencies of specific members of the oatp family have been associated with transport abnormalities, there have been no such reports for ntcp, and its physiologic role remains to be determined, although expression of ntcp in vitro recapitulates the characteristics of Na(+)-dependent bile acid transport that is seen in vivo. Both ntcp and oatps traffic between the cell surface and intracellular vesicular pools. These vesicles move through the cell on microtubules, using the microtubule based motors dynein and kinesins. Factors that regulate this motility are under study and may provide a unique mechanism that can alter the plasma membrane content of these transporters and consequently their accessibility to circulating ligands.

Drug Transporters and Na+/H+ Exchange Regulatory Factor PSD-95/Drosophila Discs Large/ZO-1 Proteins

Drug transporters govern the absorption, distribution, and elimination of pharmacologically active compounds. Members of the solute carrier and ATP binding-cassette drug transporter family mediate cellular drug uptake and efflux processes, thereby coordinating the vectorial movement of drugs across epithelial barriers. To exert their physiologic and pharmacological function in polarized epithelia, drug transporters must be targeted and stabilized to appropriate regions of the cell membrane (i.e., apical versus basolateral). Despite the critical importance of drug transporter membrane targeting, the mechanisms that underlie these processes are largely unknown. Several clinically significant drug transporters possess a recognition sequence that binds to PSD-95/Drosophila discs large/ZO-1 (PDZ) proteins. PDZ proteins, such as the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger regulatory factor (NHERF) family, act to stabilize and organize membrane targeting of multiple transmembrane proteins, including many clinically relevant drug transporters. These PDZ proteins are normally abundant at apical membranes, where they tether membrane-delimited transporters. NHERF expression is particularly high at the apical membrane in polarized tissue such as intestinal, hepatic, and renal epithelia, tissues important to drug disposition. Several recent studies have highlighted NHERF proteins as determinants of drug transporter function secondary to their role in controlling membrane abundance and localization. Mounting evidence strongly suggests that NHERF proteins may have clinically significant roles in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of several pharmacologically active compounds and may affect drug action in cancer and chronic kidney disease. For these reasons, NHERF proteins represent a novel class of post-translational mediators of drug transport and novel targets for new drug development.

Genetic variations of bile salt transporters

Bile salt transporters directly or indirectly influence biological processes through physicochemical or signalling properties of bile salts. The coordinated action of uptake and efflux transporters in polarized epithelial cells of the liver, biliary tree, small intestine and kidney determine bile salt concentrations in different compartments of the body. Genetic variations of bile salt transporters lead to clinical relevant phenotypes of varying severity ranging from a predisposition for drug-induced liver injury to rapidly progressing end-stage liver disease. This review focuses on the impact of genetic variations of bile salt transporters including BSEP, NTCP, ASBT and OSTα/β and discusses approaches for transporter analysis.

Protein kinase Cδ protects against bile acid apoptosis by suppressing proapoptotic JNK and BIM pathways in human and rat hepatocytes

Retained bile acids, which are capable of inducing cell death, activate protein kinase Cδ (PKC-δ) in hepatocytes. In nonhepatic cells, both pro- and antiapoptotic effects of PKC-δ are described. The aim of this study was to determine the role of PKC-δ in glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDC)-induced apoptosis in rat hepatocytes and human HUH7-Na-taurocholate-cotransporting polypeptide (Ntcp) cells. Apoptosis was monitored morphologically by Hoechst staining and biochemically by immunoblotting for caspase 3 cleavage. The role of PKC-δ was evaluated with a PKC activator (phorbol myristate acetate, PMA) and PKC inhibitors (chelerythrine, H-7, or calphostin), PKC-δ knockdown, and wild-type (WT) or constitutively active (CA) PKC-δ. PKC-δ activation was monitored by immunoblotting for PKC-δ Thr505 and Tyr311 phosphorylation or by membrane translocation. JNK and Akt phosphorylation and the amount of total bisindolylmaleimide (BIM) were determined by immunoblotting. GCDC induced the translocation of PKC-δ to the mitochondria and/or plasma membrane in rat hepatocytes and HUH7-Ntcp cells and increased PKC-δ phosphorylation on Thr505, but not on Tyr311, in HUH7-Ntcp cells. GCDC-induced apoptosis was attenuated by PMA and augmented by PKC inhibition in rat hepatocytes. In HUH-Ntcp cells, transfection with CA or WT PKC-δ attenuated GCDC-induced apoptosis, whereas knockdown of PKC-δ increased GCDC-induced apoptosis. PKC-δ silencing increased GCDC-induced JNK phosphorylation, decreased GCDC-induced Akt phosphorylation, and increased expression of BIM. GCDC translocated BIM to the mitochondria in rat hepatocytes, and knockdown of BIM in HUH7-Ntcp cells decreased GCDC-induced apoptosis. Collectively, these results suggest that PKC-δ does not mediate GCDC-induced apoptosis in hepatocytes. Instead PKC-δ activation by GCDC stimulates a cytoprotective pathway that involves JNK inhibition, Akt activation, and downregulation of BIM.

Rab11, but not Rab4, facilitates cyclic AMP- and tauroursodeoxycholate-induced MRP2 translocation to the plasma membrane

Rab proteins (Ras homologous for brain) play an important role in vesicle trafficking. Rab4 and Rab11 are involved in vesicular trafficking to the plasma membrane from early endosomes and recycling endosomes, respectively. Tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDC) and cAMP increase bile formation, in part, by increasing plasma membrane localization of multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2). The goal of the present study was to determine the role of these Rab proteins in the trafficking of MRP2 by testing the hypothesis that Rab11 and/or Rab4 facilitate cAMP- and TUDC-induced MRP2 translocation to the plasma membrane. Studies were conducted in HuH-NTCP cells (HuH7 cells stably transfected with human NTCP), which constitutively express MRP2. HuH-NTCP cells were transfected with Rab11-WT and GDP-locked dominant inactive Rab11-GDP or with Rab4-GDP to study the role of Rab11 and Rab4. A biotinylation method and a GTP overlay assay were used to determine plasma membrane MRP2 and activation of Rab proteins (Rab11 and Rab4), respectively. Cyclic AMP and TUDC increased plasma membrane MRP2 and stimulated Rab11 activity. Plasma membrane translocation of MRP2 by cAMP and TUDC was increased and inhibited in cells transfected with Rab11-WT and Rab11-GDP, respectively. Cyclic AMP (previous study) and TUDC increased Rab4 activity. However, cAMP- and TUDC-induced increases in MRP2 were not inhibited by Rab4-GDP. Taken together, these results suggest that Rab11 is involved in cAMP- and TUDC-induced MRP2 translocation to the plasma membrane.

Role of protein kinase C isoforms in bile formation and cholestasis

Transhepatic solute transport provides the osmotic driving force for canalicular bile formation. Choleretic and cholestatic agents affect bile formation, in part, by altering plasma membrane localizations of transporters involved in bile formation. These short-term dynamic changes in transporter location are highly regulated posttranslational events requiring various cellular signaling pathways. Interestingly, both choleretic and cholestatic agents activate the same intracellular signaling kinases, such as phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase C (PKC), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). An emerging theme is that choleretic and cholestatic effects may be mediated by different isoforms of these kinases. This is most evident for PKC-mediated regulation of plasma membrane localization of Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) by conventional PKCα (cPKCα), novel PKCδ (nPKCδ), nPKCε, and atypical PKCζ (aPKCζ). aPKCζ may mediate choleretic effects by inserting NTCP into the plasma membrane, and nPKCε may mediate cholestatic effects by retrieving MRP2 from the plasma membrane. On the other hand, cPKCα and nPKCδ may be involved in choleretic, cholestatic, and anticholestatic effects by inserting, retrieving, and inhibiting retrieval of transporters, respectively. The effects of PKC isoforms may be mediated by phosphorylation of the transporters, actin binding proteins (radixin and myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate), and Rab proteins. Human NTCP plays an important role in the entry of hepatitis B and D viruses into hepatocytes and consequent infection. Thus, PKCs, by regulating NTCP trafficking, may also play an important role in hepatic viral infections.

INTRACELLULAR SIGNALING BY BILE ACIDS

Bile acids, synthesized from cholesterol, are known to produce beneficial as well as toxic effects in the liver. The beneficial effects include choleresis, immunomodulation, cell survival, while the toxic effects include cholestasis, apoptosis and cellular toxicity. It is believed that bile acids produce many of these effects by activating intracellular signaling pathways. However, it has been a challenge to relate intracellular signaling to specific and at times opposing effects of bile acids. It is becoming evident that bile acids produce different effects by activating different isoforms of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Protein kinase Cs (PKCs), and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK). Thus, the apoptotic effect of bile acids may be mediated via PI3K-110γ, while cytoprotection induce by cAMP-GEF pathway involves activation of PI3K-p110α/β isoforms. Atypical PKCζ may mediate beneficial effects and nPKCε may mediate toxic effects, while cPKCα and nPKCδ may be involved in both beneficial and toxic effects of bile acids. The opposing effects of nPKCδ activation may depend on nPKCδ phosphorylation site(s). Activation of ERK1/2 and JNK1/2 pathway appears to mediate beneficial and toxic effects, respectively, of bile acids. Activation of p38α MAPK and p38β MAPK may mediate choleretic and cholestatic effects, respectively, of bile acids. Future studies clarifying the isoform specific effects on bile formation should allow us to define potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of cholestatic disorders.

Sodium-dependent bile salt transporters of the SLC10A transporter family: more than solute transporters

The SLC10A transporter gene family consists of seven members and substrates transported by three members (SLC10A1, SLC10A2 and SLC10A6) are Na(+)-dependent. SLC10A1 (sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide [NTCP]) and SLC10A2 (apical sodium-dependent bile salt transporter [ASBT]) transport bile salts and play an important role in maintaining enterohepatic circulation of bile salts. Solutes other than bile salts are also transported by NTCP. However, ASBT has not been shown to be a transporter for non-bile salt substrates. While the transport function of NTCP can potentially be used as liver function test, interpretation of such a test may be complicated by altered expression of NTCP in diseases and presence of drugs that may inhibit NTCP function. Transport of bile salts by NTCP and ASBT is inhibited by a number of drugs and it appears that ASBT is more permissive to drug inhibition than NTCP. The clinical significance of this inhibition in drug disposition and drug-drug interaction remains to be determined. Both NCTP and ASBT undergo post-translational regulations that involve phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, translocation to and retrieval from the plasma membrane and degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. These posttranslational regulations are mediated via signaling pathways involving cAMP, calcium, nitric oxide, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase C (PKC) and protein phosphatases. There appears to be species difference in the substrate specificity and the regulation of plasma membrane localization of human and rodent NTCP. These differences should be taken into account when extrapolating rodent data for human clinical relevance and developing novel therapies. NTCP has recently been shown to play an important role in HBV and HDV infection by serving as a receptor for entry of these viruses into hepatocytes.

Effects of prostaglandin E2 on p53 mRNA transcription and p53 mutagenesis during T-cell-independent human B-cell clonal expansion

Within T-cell-dependent germinal centers, p53 gene transcription is repressed by Bcl-6 and is thus less vulnerable to mutation. Malignant lymphomas within inflamed extranodal sites exhibit a relatively high incidence of p53 mutations. The latter might originate from normal B-cell clones manifesting activation-induced cytosine deaminase (AID) and up-regulated p53 following T-cell-independent (TI) stimulation. We here examine p53 gene transcription in such TI clones, with a focus on modulatory effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and evaluate progeny for p53 mutations. Resting IgM(+)IgD(+)CD27(-) B cells from human tonsils were labeled with CFSE and stimulated in vitro with complement-coated antigen surrogate, IL-4, and BAFF ± exogenous PGE2 (50 nM) or an analog specific for the EP2 PGE2 receptor. We use flow cytometry to measure p53 and AID protein within variably divided blasts, qRT-PCR of p53 mRNA from cultures with or without actinomycin D to monitor mRNA transcription/stability, and single-cell p53 RT-PCR/sequencing to assess progeny for p53 mutations. We report that EP2 signaling triggers increased p53 gene transcriptional activity in AID(+) cycling blasts (P<0.01). Progeny exhibit p53 mutations at a frequency (8.5 × 10(-4)) greater than the baseline error rate (<0.8 × 10(-4)). We conclude that, devoid of the repressive influences of Bcl-6, dividing B lymphoblasts in inflamed tissues should display heightened p53 transcription and increased risk of p53 mutagenesis.

Sodium-dependent bile salt transporters of the SLC10A transporter family: more than solute transporters

The SLC10A transporter gene family consists of seven members and substrates transported by three members (SLC10A1, SLC10A2 and SLC10A6) are Na(+)-dependent. SLC10A1 (sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide [NTCP]) and SLC10A2 (apical sodium-dependent bile salt transporter [ASBT]) transport bile salts and play an important role in maintaining enterohepatic circulation of bile salts. Solutes other than bile salts are also transported by NTCP. However, ASBT has not been shown to be a transporter for non-bile salt substrates. While the transport function of NTCP can potentially be used as liver function test, interpretation of such a test may be complicated by altered expression of NTCP in diseases and presence of drugs that may inhibit NTCP function. Transport of bile salts by NTCP and ASBT is inhibited by a number of drugs and it appears that ASBT is more permissive to drug inhibition than NTCP. The clinical significance of this inhibition in drug disposition and drug-drug interaction remains to be determined. Both NCTP and ASBT undergo post-translational regulations that involve phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, translocation to and retrieval from the plasma membrane and degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. These posttranslational regulations are mediated via signaling pathways involving cAMP, calcium, nitric oxide, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase C (PKC) and protein phosphatases. There appears to be species difference in the substrate specificity and the regulation of plasma membrane localization of human and rodent NTCP. These differences should be taken into account when extrapolating rodent data for human clinical relevance and developing novel therapies. NTCP has recently been shown to play an important role in HBV and HDV infection by serving as a receptor for entry of these viruses into hepatocytes.

Taurolithocholate-induced MRP2 retrieval involves MARCKS phosphorylation by protein kinase Cϵ in HUH-NTCP Cells

Taurolithocholate (TLC) acutely inhibits the biliary excretion of multidrug-resistant associated protein 2 (Mrp2) substrates by inducing Mrp2 retrieval from the canalicular membrane, whereas cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) increases plasma membrane (PM)-MRP2. The effect of TLC may be mediated via protein kinase Cϵ (PKCϵ). Myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) is a membrane-bound F-actin crosslinking protein and is phosphorylated by PKCs. MARCKS phosphorylation has been implicated in endocytosis, and the underlying mechanism appears to be the detachment of phosphorylated myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (pMARCKS) from the membrane. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that TLC-induced MRP2 retrieval involves PKCϵ-mediated MARCKS phosphorylation. Studies were conducted in HuH7 cells stably transfected with sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (HuH-NTCP cells) and in rat hepatocytes. TLC increased PM-PKCϵ and decreased PM-MRP2 in both HuH-NTCP cells and hepatocytes. cAMP did not affect PM-PKCϵ and increased PM-MRP2 in these cells. In HuH-NTCP cells, dominant-negative (DN) PKCϵ reversed TLC-induced decreases in PM-MRP2 without affecting cAMP-induced increases in PM-MRP2. TLC, but not cAMP, increased MARCKS phosphorylation in HuH-NTCP cells and hepatocytes. TLC and phorbol myristate acetate increased cytosolic pMARCKS and decreased PM-MARCKS in HuH-NTCP cells. TLC failed to increase MARCKS phosphorylation in HuH-NTCP cells transfected with DN-PKCϵ, and this suggested PKCϵ-mediated phosphorylation of MARCKS by TLC. In HuH-NTCP cells transfected with phosphorylation-deficient MARCKS, TLC failed to increase MARCKS phosphorylation or decrease PM-MRP2.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that TLC-induced MRP2 retrieval involves TLC-mediated activation of PKCϵ followed by MARCKS phosphorylation and consequent detachment of MARCKS from the membrane.