CYP1B1 mRNA Research Articles

Stability of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and its regulated genes in the low activity variant of Hepa-1 cell line

We examined the expression kinetics of some of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-regulated genes in LA1 variant cells compared to wild type (WT) Hepa-1 mouse hepatoma cell lines, and we investigated the stability of AhR protein as a key step in the function of this receptor. Treatment of both cell types with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) resulted in increased CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNA with a subsequent down regulation of AhR. We show here that co-treatment with transcription inhibitor actinomycin D (ActD) has reversed the TCDD-induced depletion of AhR protein in WT. However, the proteolytic degradation of AhR in absence of TCDD was significantly higher in LA1 cells than in WT, and ActD treatment reduced this loss. Induction of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNA by TCDD in WT cells each exhibited bursts of activity in the initial hour which were about 3-fold greater than in LAI cells. The induced mRNA levels in LA1 exhibited a slow and sustained increase approximating the WT levels by 20h. The induction of two other AhR-regulated genes also showed comparable turnover differences between the two types of cell. Thus, altered regulation of the AhR responsive genes in LA1 may result from a difference in AhR stability.

The catecholestrogen, 2-hydroxyestradiol-17beta, acts as a G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER/GPR30) antagonist to promote the resumption of meiosis in zebrafish oocytes.

Estradiol-17beta (E2) maintains high cAMP levels and meiotic arrest in zebrafish oocytes through activation of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER). The catecholestrogen 2-hydroxyestradiol-17beta (2-OHE2) has an opposite effect to that of E2 on oocyte maturation (OM) and cAMP levels in Indian catfish oocytes. We tested the hypothesis that 2-OHE2 is produced in zebrafish ovaries and promotes the resumption of oocyte meiosis through its action as a GPER antagonist. Ovarian 2-OHE2 production by estrogen-2-hydroxylase (EH) was up-regulated by gonadotropin treatment at the onset of OM, consistent with a physiological role for 2-OHE2 in regulating OM. The increases in EH activity and OM were blocked by treatment with CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 inhibitors. Expression of cyp1a, cyp1b1, and cyp1c mRNAs was increased by gonadotropin treatment, further implicating these Cyp1s in 2-OHE2 synthesis prior to OM. Conversely, aromatase activity and cyp19a1 mRNA expression declined during gonadotropin induction of OM. 2-OHE2 treatment significantly increased spontaneous OM in defolliculated zebrafish oocytes and reversed the inhibition of OM by E2 and the GPER agonist G-1. 2-OHE2 was an effective competitor of [(3)H]-E2 binding to recombinant zebrafish GPER expressed in HEK-293 cells. 2-OHE2 also antagonized estrogen actions through GPER on cAMP production in zebrafish oocytes, resulting in a reduction in cAMP levels. Stimulation of OM by 2-OHE2 was blocked by pretreatment of defolliculated oocytes with the GPER antibody. Collectively, the results suggest that 2-OHE2 functions as a GPER antagonist and promotes OM in zebrafish through blocking GPER-dependent E2 inhibition of the resumption of OM.

Dose-dependent difference of nuclear receptors involved in murine liver hypertrophy by piperonyl butoxide.

Nuclear receptors play important roles in chemically induced liver hypertrophy in rodents. To clarify the involvement of constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and other nuclear receptors in mouse liver hypertrophy induced by different doses of piperonyl butoxide (PBO), wild-type and CAR-knockout mice were administered PBO (200, 1,000, or 5,000 ppm) in the basal diet for 1 week. Increased liver weight and diffuse hepatocellular hypertrophy were observed at 5,000 ppm for both genotypes, accompanied by increased Cyp3a11 mRNA and CYP3A protein expression, suggesting that CAR-independent pathway, possibly pregnane X receptor (PXR), plays a major role in the induction of hypertrophy. Moreover, wild-type mice at 5,000 ppm showed enhanced hepatocellular hypertrophy and strong positive staining for CYP2B in the centrilobular area, suggesting the localized contribution of CAR. At 1,000 ppm, only wild-type mice showed liver weight increase and centrilobular hepatocellular hypertrophy concurrent with elevated Cyp2b10 mRNA expression and strong CYP2B staining, indicating that CAR was essential at 1,000 ppm. We concluded that high-dose PBO induced hypertrophy via CAR and another pathway, while lower dose of PBO induced a pathway mediated predominantly by CAR. The dose-responsiveness on liver hypertrophy is important for understanding the involvement of nuclear receptors.

Tryptophan Catabolites Directly Modulate the Immunosuppressive Effects of MSCs Via Activation of the Endogenous Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

It has been demonstrated that the catalytic degradation of tryptophan (Trp) by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a crucial determinant of the immunomodulatory effects of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). The degradation of Trp has been shown as a mechanism to deprive actively dividing T cells of an amino acid essential for proliferation. However, the deprivation model has come into question by studies showing IDO-catalyzed Trp metabolites exert bioactivity via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). AHR is a cytosolic protein expressed by a wide array of lymphomyeloid cells, that upon activation translocates to the nucleus to initiate transcription at xenobiotic response elements (XREs). Molecular activation of AHR is often shown by the upregulation of cytochrome p450 (Cyp) enzymes, Cyp1a1 and Cyp1b1. Since MSCs are known to constitutively express AHR at a basal state, we propose that the catalytic activity of IDO and signal transduction via AHR is linked, as part of an intracellular signaling pathway which deploys MSC suppressive properties. To test this hypothesis, we treated MSCs with aromatic hydrocarbons known to activate AHR: TCDD or FICZ (10 nM), ± IFN-γ (50 ng/mL). In confirmation of previous reports, we showed that human MSCs express AHR at a basal state, and that expression does not change during 48h of treatment with IFN-γ (50 ng/mL); whereas under the same conditions IFN-γ induced expression of IDO RNA transcripts by 104 to 105-fold. Upon treatment of resting MSCs (IDO negative) with the AHR ligand TCDD or FICZ (both at 10nM), we observed 50- to 100-fold induction of Cyp1a1 or Cyp1b1 mRNA, reflecting AHR-induced gene activation. We next examined the response of MSCs after 48h treatment with 1-methyl-tryptophan (1-MT), Trp, kynurenine (Kyn) or kynurenic acid (KynAc), the latter two molecules being the first and second IDO-catalyzed Trp metabolites. Each molecule was tested at final concentrations of 50, 500, and 1000 µM, ± IFN-γ (50 ng/mL). We observed that 1-MT and KynAc both induced Cyp1a1 and Cyp1b1 expression by 20- to 60-fold, with the greatest inductions being seen in cells co-treated with IFN-γ. These changes were observed to occur with the same kinetics as TCDD and FICZ treatments. Neither Trp nor Kyn alone induced Cyp1a1/Cyp1b1 expression. These data support the theory that IDO-driven catabolism of Trp generates endogenous ligand(s) such as KynAc which can directly activate AHR and its signaling pathway. To determine whether Trp catabolites can directly augment the immune suppressive function of MSCs, we performed T cell suppression assays in the presence of MSCs. Whereas activated T cells are unaffected by Kyn or KynAc, we observed that KynAc significantly enhanced the suppressive capacity of MSCs with proliferating T-cells. Interestingly, exposure to Trp catabolites did not alter MSC expression of IDO, HLA-I, HLA-DR or PD-L1 suggesting that AHR activation leads to PD-L1 and IDO-independent suppressive pathways. In conclusion, we demonstrate that MSCs express the AHR in a resting state, and treatment with the prototypical aryl hydrocarbons TCDD or FICZ deploys an AHR-driven molecular genetic response. Further, we show that 1-MT, as well as IDO-catalyzed breakdown products of Trp, can deploy the same AHR-driven molecular signature. Treatment with these aromatic hydrocarbons modulates MSC functionality, leading to altered immunosuppression. Our finding that aryl hydrocarbon treatment of MSCs initiates the AHR response suggests that endogenous AHR signals arising from IDO catalysis may play a role in MSC immunomodulation. This observation supports an entirely novel paradigm for intracellular signaling arising from catabolic conversion of Trp to AHR ligands and induction of immunomodulatory properties. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The endometrial cancer cell lines Ishikawa and HEC-1A, and the control cell line HIEEC, differ in expression of estrogen biosynthetic and metabolic genes, and in androstenedione and estrone-sulfate metabolism

Estrogens have important roles in the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer. They can have carcinogenic effects through stimulation of cell proliferation or formation of DNA-damaging species. To characterize model cell lines of endometrial cancer, we determined the expression profiles of the estrogen receptors (ERs) ESR1, ESR2 and GPER, and 23 estrogen biosynthetic and metabolic genes, and investigated estrogen biosynthesis in the control HIEEC cell line and the Ishikawa and HEC-1A EC cell lines. HIEEC and Ishikawa expressed all ERs to different extents, while HEC-1A cells lacked expression of ESR1. Considering the estrogen biosynthetic and metabolic enzymes, these cells showed statistically significant different gene expression profiles for SULT2B1, HSD3B2, CYP19A1, AKR1C3, HSD17B1, HSD17B7, HSD17B12, CYP1B1, CYP3A5, COMT, SULT1A1, GSTP1 and NQO2. In these cells, E2 was formed from E1S and E1, while androstenedione was not converted to estrogens. HIEEC and Ishikawa had similar profiles of androstenedione and E1 metabolism, but hydrolysis of E1S to E1 was weaker in Ishikawa cells. HEC-1A cells were less efficient for activation of E1 into the potent E2, but metabolized androstenedione to other androgenic metabolites better than HIEEC and Ishikawa cells. This study reveals that HIEEC, Ishikawa, and HEC-1A cells can all form estrogens only via the sulfatase pathway. HIEEC, Ishikawa, and HEC-1A cells expressed all the major genes in the production of hydroxyestrogens and estrogen quinones, and in their conjugation. Significantly higher CYP1B1 mRNA levels in Ishikawa cells compared to HEC-1A cells, together with lack of UGT2B7 expression, indicate that Ishikawa cells can accumulate more toxic estrogen-3,4-quinones than HEC-1A cells, as also for HIEEC cells. This study provides further characterization of HIEEC, Ishikawa, and HEC-1A cells, and shows that they differ greatly in expression of the genes investigated and in their capacity for E2 formation, and thus they represent different in vitro models.

HepaRG cells as human-relevant in vitro model to study the effects of inflammatory stimuli on cytochrome P450 isoenzymes.

The suppression of hepatic cytochrome P450 (P450) expression during inflammatory and infectious diseases and the relief of this suppression by successful disease treatment have been previously demonstrated to impact drug disposition. To address this clinically relevant phenomenon preclinically, the effect of proinflammatory cytokines on P450 isoenzymes in human hepatocytes has been examined by several researchers. In the present study we used the human hepatoma cell line (HepaRG) and cryopreserved primary human hepatocytes to investigate the effects of various inflammatory stimuli on P450 levels with the aim of further characterizing HepaRG cells as a useful surrogate for primary hepatocytes. In this study, HepaRG cells were exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-18 (IL-18) for 48 or 72 hours. The effects on CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4 mRNA and catalytic activity (phenacetin-O-deethylase, bupropion-hydroxylase, and midazolam-1'-hydroxylase) were measured. Cryopreserved pooled plateable hepatocytes were also exposed to IL-6 or IL-18 for 48 hours, and the effects on CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4 mRNA levels were measured. The exposure of HepaRG cells to IL-6 and LPS resulted in suppression of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4 mRNA levels as well as their catalytic activities. However, no suppression of P450 activities or mRNA levels was observed after exposure to IL-18. Similar results on CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4 mRNA levels were observed with primary hepatocytes. The present study indicates that different proinflammatory mediators influence the expression of P450 differentially and that HepaRG cells may be used as an alternative to human hepatocytes for studies on cytokine-mediated suppression of drug-metabolizing enzymes.

Effect of honokiol on the induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes in human hepatocytes.

Honokiol, 2-(4-hydroxy-3-prop-2-enyl-phenyl)-4-prop-2-enyl-phenol, an active component of Magnolia officinalis and Magnolia grandiflora, exerts various pharmacological activities such as antitumorigenic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, neurotrophic, and antithrombotic effects. To investigate whether honokiol acts as a perpetrator in drug interactions, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of phase I and II drug-metabolizing enzymes, including cytochrome P450 (CYP), UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), and sulfotransferase 2A1 (SULT2A1), were analyzed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction following 48-hour honokiol exposure in three independent cryopreserved human hepatocyte cultures. Honokiol treatment at the highest concentration tested (50 μM) increased the CYP2B6 mRNA level and CYP2B6-catalyzed bupropion hydroxylase activity more than two-fold in three different hepatocyte cultures, indicating that honokiol induces CYP2B6 at higher concentrations. However, honokiol treatment (0.5–50 μM) did not significantly alter the mRNA levels of phase I enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19) or phase II enzymes (UGT1A1, UGT1A4, UGT1A9, UGT2B7, and SULT2A1) in cryopreserved human hepatocyte cultures. CYP1A2-catalyzed phenacetin O-deethylase and CYP3A4-catalyzed midazolam 1′-hydroxylase activities were not affected by 48-hour honokiol treatment in cryopreserved human hepatocytes. These results indicate that honokiol is a weak CYP2B6 inducer and is unlikely to increase the metabolism of concomitant CYP2B6 substrates and cause pharmacokinetic-based drug interactions in humans.

Anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody-stimulated cytokines released from blood suppress CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4 in human hepatocytes in vitro.

Like most infections and certain inflammatory diseases, some therapeutic proteins cause a cytokine-mediated suppression of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes, which may lead to pharmacokinetic interactions with small-molecule drugs. We propose a new in vitro method to evaluate the whole blood-mediated effects of therapeutic proteins on drug-metabolizing enzymes in human hepatocytes cocultured with Kupffer cells. The traditional method involves treating hepatocyte cocultures with the therapeutic protein, which detects hepatocyte- and macrophage-mediated suppression of cytochrome P450 (P450). The new method involves treating whole human blood with a therapeutic protein to stimulate the release of cytokines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), after which plasma is prepared and added to the hepatocyte coculture to evaluate P450 enzyme expression. In this study, human blood was treated for 24 hours at 37°C with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or ANC28.1, an antibody against human T-cell receptor CD28. Cytokines were measured in plasma by sandwich immunoassay with electrochemiluminescense detection. Treatment of human hepatocyte cocultures with LPS or with plasma from LPS-treated blood markedly reduced the expression of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4. However, treatment of hepatocyte cocultures with ANC28.1 did not suppress P450 expression, but treatment with plasma from ANC28.1-treated blood suppressed CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4 activity and mRNA levels. The results demonstrated that applying plasma from human blood treated with a therapeutic protein to hepatocytes cocultured with Kupffer cells is a suitable method to identify those therapeutic proteins that suppress P450 expression by an indirect mechanism-namely, the release of cytokines from PBMCs.

FSH-induced p38-MAPK-mediated dephosphorylation at serine 727 of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 decreases Cyp1b1 expression in mouse granulosa cells

Most mammalian follicles undergo atresia at various stages before ovulation, and granulosa cell apoptosis is a major cause of antral follicular atresia. Estradiol is an essential mitogen for granulosa cell proliferation in vivo and inhibition of apoptosis. The estradiol-producing capacity and metabolism levels are important for follicle health, and sufficient estradiol is necessary for follicle development and ovulation. Cyp1b1, a member of the cytochrome P450 1 subfamily, is responsible for the metabolism of a wide variety of halogenated and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in diverse tissues. In mouse follicles, Cyp1b1 converts estradiol to 4-hydroxyestradiol. We investigated mouse granulosa cells (MGCs) in vivo and in vitro and found that Cyp1b1 played a crucial role in estradiol metabolism in dominant follicles. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) decreased estrogen metabolism by reducing Cyp1b1 mRNA and protein levels in MGCs. Furthermore, FSH regulated signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), a significant transcription factor of Cyp1b1, by mediating the dephosphorylation of STAT1 on serine 727 (Ser727) in MGCs. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) may be involved in the FSH-induced dephosphorylation of STAT1 on Ser727 in MGCs. These results suggested that FSH functions via p38 MAPK-induced dephosphorylation at Ser727 of STAT1 to downregulate Cyp1b1 expression and maintain the estradiol levels in mouse dominant follicles.

Effect of Panax notoginseng saponins on liver drug metablic enzyme activity, mrna and protein expressions in rats

To study the effect of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on liver drug metabolic enzyme activity, mRNA and protein expressions in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into nine groups. After administration of the test drugs, their liver microsomes, liver total RNA and total protein were extracted to detect the regulating effect of PNS on liver drug metabolic enzyme activity-related subtype enzymatic activity, mRNA and protein expression by substrate probe, quantitative PCR and Western Blot technology. The result of this experiment was that PNS could significantly induce CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 enzyme activity, mRNA expression, CYP2E1 protein expression level. PNS significantly induced CYP3A mRNA expression, but with no significant effect in CYP3A enzyme activity level. PNS had no significant effect CYP1A1 and CYP2B mRNA expressions and enzyme activity levels. PNS had selective regulations on different P450 subtypes, and the major subtypes were CYP1A2 and CYP2E1. In clinical practice, particularly in the combination with CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 metabolism-related drugs, full consideration shall be given to the possible drug interactions in order to avoid potential toxic and side effects. Meanwhile, whether the induction effect of CYP2E1 gets involved in ginsenoside's effect incavenging free radicals deserves further studies.

Selective induction of hepatic cytochrome P450 2B activity by leelamine in vivo, as a potent novel inducer.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) is an important enzyme that can act on xenobiotic substances such as toxic chemicals or drugs. Phenobarbital (PB) has been widely used to induce CYP2B activity to investigate the drug-drug interaction of CYP2B substrate drugs. Leelamine is a diterpene compound, and is the current focus of efforts to develop a treatment for diabetes. In this study, we identified the selective and potent inductive effect of leelamine on CYP2B at doses of 5, 10, or 20mg/kg in male ICR mice for 1 or 3days. In liver, the activity of CYP2B significantly increased 3.6-fold after treatment with leelamine, compared to vehicle-treated group. Activities of benzyloxyresorufin O-dealkylase and pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase significantly increased 6.3- and 5.3-fold, respectively, with a single treatment of 20mg/kg leelamine for 1day. Furthermore, immunoblot analysis showed that significantly and dose-dependently increased CYP2B10 protein levels in liver. However, PCR results showed that there were no significant changes in the CAR and CYP2B mRNA levels after leelamine treatment. Accordingly, we suggest that leelamine is a novel substitute of PB for the selective induction of CYP2B activity in vivo.

Expression profile of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 enzymes in endometrial tumors.

The cytochrome P450 CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 enzymes are phase I extrahepatic enzymes involved in the activation of pro-carcinogenic compounds to carcinogenic metabolites. Although differential overexpression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 has been documented at the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein level, studies that have examined CYP1 expression by enzyme activity assays are limited. In the current study, the expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 was investigated in a panel of human tumors of endometrial origin by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, and enzyme activity assays. The data revealed that approximately 36 % (5/14) and 43 % (6/14) of the endometrial tumors overexpressed CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNA, whereas in 57 % of the endometrial tumors, CYP1 mRNA levels were downregulated. The mean mRNA levels of CYP1B1 and CYP1A1 in endometrial tumors did not show a significant difference compared to normal tissues (p > 0.05). Western blotting confirmed the qRT-PCR results and CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 proteins were shown to be downregulated in 7/14 (50 %) of the tumors and overexpressed in 4/14 (29 %) of the tumors. As regards to enzyme activity, 21 % (3/14) of the endometrial samples revealed elevated CYP1 activity levels across the tumor counterparts. Overall, the data suggest a putative downregulation of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 expression in endometrial tumors, whereas overexpression of active CYP1 enzymes in 21 % of the tumors highlights the potential use of the latter enzymes as chemotherapeutic targets in endometrial cancer.

PCB153 and p,p'-DDE disorder thyroid hormones via thyroglobulin, deiodinase 2, transthyretin, hepatic enzymes and receptors.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and DDT are widespread environmental persistent organic pollutants that have various adverse effects on reproduction, development and endocrine function. In order to elucidate effects of PCBs and DDT on thyroid hormone homeostasis, Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed with PCB153 and p,p'-DDE intraperitoneally (ip) for five consecutive days and sacrificed within 24 h after the last dose. Results indicated that after combined exposure to PCB153 and p,p'-DDE, total thyroxine , free thyroxine, total triiodothyronine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone in serum were decreased, whereas free triiodothyronine and thyrotropin-releasing hormone were not affected. Thyroglobulin and transthyretin levels in serum were significantly reduced. mRNA expression of deiodinases 2 (D2) was also suppressed, while D1 and D3 levels were not significantly influenced after combined exposure. PCB153 and p,p'-DDE induced hepatic enzymes, UDPGTs, CYP1A1, CYP2B1, and CYP3A1 mRNA expressions being significantly elevated. Moreover, TRα1, TRβ1, and TRHr expressions in the hypothalamus displayed increasing trends after combined exposure to PCB153 and p,p'-DDE. Taken together, observed results indicate that PCB153 and p,p'-DDE could disorder thyroid hormone homeostasis via thyroglobulin, deiodinase 2, transthyretin, hepatic enzymes, and hormone receptors.

Interactions of endosulfan and methoxychlor involving CYP3A4 and CYP2B6 in human HepaRG cells.

Humans are usually exposed to several pesticides simultaneously; consequently, combined actions between pesticides themselves or between pesticides and other chemicals need to be addressed in the risk assessment. Many pesticides are efficient activators of pregnane X receptor (PXR) and/or constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), two major nuclear receptors that are also activated by other substrates. In the present work, we searched for interactions between endosulfan and methoxychlor, two organochlorine pesticides whose major routes of metabolism involve CAR- and PXR-regulated CYP3A4 and CYP2B6, and whose mechanisms of action in humans remain poorly understood. For this purpose, HepaRG cells were treated with both pesticides separately or in mixture for 24 hours or 2 weeks at concentrations relevant to human exposure levels. In combination they exerted synergistic cytotoxic effects. Whatever the duration of treatment, both compounds increased CYP3A4 and CYP2B6 mRNA levels while differently affecting their corresponding activities. Endosulfan exerted a direct reversible inhibition of CYP3A4 activity that was confirmed in human liver microsomes. By contrast, methoxychlor induced this activity. The effects of the mixture on CYP3A4 activity were equal to the sum of those of each individual compound, suggesting an additive effect of each pesticide. Despite CYP2B6 activity being unchanged and increased with endosulfan and methoxychlor, respectively, no change was observed with their mixture, supporting an antagonistic effect. Altogether, our data suggest that CAR and PXR activators endosulfan and methoxychlor can interact together and with other exogenous substrates in human hepatocytes. Their effects on CYP3A4 and CYP2B6 activities could have important consequences if extrapolated to the in vivo situation.

U0126, a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 and 2 (MEK1 and 2) inhibitor, selectively up-regulates main isoforms of CYP3A subfamily via a pregnane X receptor (PXR) in HepG2 cells.

Hepatocyte tumor cell lines lack the expression or induction properties of major cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes compared to primary human hepatocytes. The Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascade contributes to hepatocarcinogenesis, dedifferentiation and loss of hepatocyte drug metabolism in hepatocyte tumors. In the present study, we examined whether MEK1/2 inhibitors can restore the expression of CYP genes in hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. We found that U0126, a prototype dual MEK1/2 inhibitor, is a potent inducer of CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP3A7 mRNA expression (>100-fold) in HepG2 cells and CYP3A4 mRNA expression in primary human hepatocytes. This U0126-mediated induction is sensitive to the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D and was not detected for CYP2B6 or MDR1 mRNA expression. In gene reporter assays, U0126 activates a CYP3A4 promoter luciferase reporter construct containing PXR response elements (PXREs), but not a construct containing mutated PXREs. Based on a ligand binding assay and the examination of a PXR mutant expressing an obstructed ligand binding pocket, we found that U0126 is a ligand of PXR. We also found that U0126 up-regulates the mRNA expression of the nuclear receptors HNF4α, CAR, VDR and PXR but abolishes small heterodimer partner (SHP) corepressor expression in HepG2 cells. The MEK1/2 inhibitors PD0325901 and PD184352, as well as dominant-negative MEK1 expression, also down-regulate SHP mRNA expression. In contrast, dominant-negative MEK1 expression does not significantly induce CYP3A4 gene in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, we found that U0126 is an atypical PXR ligand that via direct (binding and activation of PXR) and indirect (SHP dowregulation) mechanisms selectively restores CYP3A genes in HepG2 cells.

The metabolic drug-drug interaction profile of Dabrafenib: in vitro investigations and quantitative extrapolation of the P450-mediated DDI risk.

Dabrafenib is a potent ATP-competitive inhibitor for the V600 mutant b-rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (b-raf) kinase currently approved in the United States for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Studies were conducted in human liver microsomes, recombinant human cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes, and human hepatocytes to investigate the potential of dabrafenib and its major circulating metabolites to perpetrate pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions (DDIs) as well as have their own pharmacokinetics affected (victim) by coadministered drugs. Dabrafenib metabolism was mediated by CYP2C8 (56% to 67%) and CYP3A4 (24%); in addition, it has demonstrated inhibition of CYP2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 3A4 (atorvastatin), and (nifedipine), with calculated IC50 values of 8.2, 7.2, 22.4, 16, and 32 μM. It also demonstrated metabolism-dependent inhibition of CYP3A4 with a maximal inactivation rate constant of 0.040 minute(-1) and a concentration required to achieve half-maximal inactivation for CYP3A4 of 38 μM. Hydroxy-dabrafenib inhibited CYP1A2, 2C9, and 3A4 (midazolam) with calculated IC50 values of 83, 29, and 44 μM, and carboxy-dabrafenib did not inhibit any of the P450 enzymes tested. Desmethyl-dabrafenib inhibited CYP2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, and 3A4 (midazolam, atorvastatin, and nifedipine) with calculated IC50 values of 78, 47, 6.3, 36, 17, 20, and 28 μM, respectively. At 30 μM dabrafenib showed increases in CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 mRNA expression indicative of induction. The potential clinical relevance of these findings was explored by using mechanistic static mathematical models to estimate the magnitude of change (area under the curve change) as a result of P450-mediated DDI interactions. This risk-assessment approach indicated that dabrafenib is unlikely to perpetrate any in vivo DDIs by inhibition mechanisms, but is a likely inducer of CYP3A4 and a victim of CYP3A4 and CYP2C8 inhibitors. Furthermore, inclusion of the in vitro drug interaction data for dabrafenib metabolites did not impact the overall clinical risk assessment.

Expression of microRNAs, CYP1A1 and CYP2B1 in the livers and ovaries of female rats treated with DDT and PAHs

AimsIn this study, we determined the expression level of miRNAs and the induction of CYP1A1 and CYP2B1 in the livers and ovaries of female Wistar rats treated with DDT, benzo[a]pyrene (BP), and 3-methylcholanthrene (MC). This study compared CYP1A/2B induction and miRNA expression levels to cast light on a possible role of miRNA in the tissue-specific induction of CYPs. Main methodsThe induction of CYP1A1/2B1 enzymes was detected by ethoxy-, pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylation and Western blot analysis. The CYP1A1/2B1 gene expression was determined by RT—real time PCR. Relative levels of expression for selected in silico miR species were determined by real time PCR with small nuclear U6 RNA employed as a reference gene. Key findingsAfter bioinformatic analysis, miR-21, 221, 222, and 429 were chosen as potential post-transcriptional regulators of rat CYP1A and CYP2B. It was shown that miR-21, 221, 222, and 429 expression levels decreased in the liver of DDT-, BP-, and MC-treated rats, whereas increases were observed in CYP1A1 and CYP2B1 mRNA expression levels and protein content, and EROD and PROD activities. Conversely, a tendency for elevated levels of miRNAs in the ovaries of inducer-treated female rats was observed. In the ovaries, a high level of CYP1A1 and CYP2B1 mRNA expression was observed, although protein content and enzyme activity were not visible. SignificanceThese data suggest a potential involvement of miRNA in the post-transcriptional regulation of CYP1A and CYP2B in the livers and ovaries of chemically induced rats.

Differential Expression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes in Normal and Tumor Tissues from Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma

Intratumoral expression of genes encoding Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP) might play a critical role not only in cancer development but also in the metabolism of anticancer drugs. The purpose of this study was to compare the mRNA expression patterns of seven representative CYPs in paired tumor and normal tissue of child patients with rabdomyosarcoma (RMS). Using real time quantitative RT-PCR, the gene expression pattern of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP1B1, CYP2E1, CYP2W1, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5 were analyzed in tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues from 13 child RMS patients. Protein concentration of CYPs was determined using Western blot. The expression levels were tested for correlation with the clinical and pathological data of the patients. Our data showed that the expression levels of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 were negligible. Elevated expression of CYP1B1 mRNA and protein was detected in most RMS tumors and adjacent normal tissues. Most cancerous samples exhibit higher levels of both CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 compared with normal tissue samples. Expression of CYP2E1 mRNA was found to be significantly higher in tumor tissue, however no relation was found with protein levels. CYP2W1 mRNA and/or protein are mainly expressed in tumors. In conclusion, we defined the CYP gene expression profile in tumor and paired normal tissue of child patients with RMS. The overexpression of CYP2W1, CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 in tumor tissues suggests that they may be involved in RMS chemoresistance; furthermore, they may be exploited for the localized activation of anticancer prodrugs.

Developmental and extracellular matrix-remodeling processes in rosiglitazone-exposed neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of rosiglitazone (Avandia(®)) on gene expression in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Myocytes were exposed to rosiglitazone ex vivo. The two factors examined in the experiment were drug exposure (rosiglitazone and dimethyl sulfoxide vs dimethyl sulfoxide), and length of exposure to drug (½ h, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 12 h, 18 h, 24 h, 36 h and 48 h). Transcripts that were consistently expressed in response to the drug were identified. Cardiovascular system development, extracellular matrix and immune response are represented prominently among the significantly modified gene ontology terms. Hmgcs2, Angptl4, Cpt1a, Cyp1b1, Ech1 and Nqo1 mRNAs were strongly upregulated in cells exposed to rosiglitazone. Enrichment of transcripts involved in cardiac muscle cell differentiation and the extracellular matrix provides a panel of biomarkers for further analysis in the context of adverse cardiac outcomes in humans. Original submitted 15 November 2013; Revision submitted 14 February 2014.

Investigational Small-Molecule Drug Selectively Suppresses Constitutive CYP2B6 Activity at the Gene Transcription Level: Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model Assessment of Clinical Drug Interaction Risk

The glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibitor LY2090314 specifically impaired CYP2B6 activity during in vitro evaluation of cytochrome P450 (P450) enzyme induction in human hepatocytes. CYP2B6 catalytic activity was significantly decreased following 3-day incubation with 0.1-10 μM LY2090314, on average by 64.3% ± 5.0% at 10 μM. These levels of LY2090314 exposure were not cytotoxic to hepatocytes and did not reduce CYP1A2 and CYP3A activities. LY2090314 was not a time-dependent CYP2B6 inhibitor, did not otherwise inhibit enzyme activity at concentrations ≤10 μM, and was not metabolized by CYP2B6. Thus, mechanism-based inactivation or other direct interaction with the enzyme could not explain the observed reduction in CYP2B6 activity. Instead, LY2090314 significantly reduced CYP2B6 mRNA levels (Imax = 61.9% ± 1.4%; IC50 = 0.049 ± 0.043 μM), which were significantly correlated with catalytic activity (r(2) = 0.87, slope = 0.77; Imax = 57.0% ± 10.8%, IC50 = 0.057 ± 0.027 μM). Direct inhibition of constitutive androstane receptor by LY2090314 is conceptually consistent with the observed CYP2B6 transcriptional suppression (Imax = 100.0% ± 10.8% and 57.1% ± 2.4%; IC50 = 2.5 ± 1.2 and 2.1 ± 0.4 μM for isoforms 1 and 3, respectively) and may be sufficiently extensive to overcome the weak but potent activation of pregnane X receptor by ≤10 μM LY2090314 (19.3% ± 2.2% of maximal rifampin response, apparent EC50 = 1.2 ± 1.1 nM). The clinical relevance of these findings was evaluated through physiologically based pharmacokinetic model simulations. CYP2B6 suppression by LY2090314 is not expected clinically, with a projected <1% decrease in hepatic enzyme activity and <1% decrease in hydroxybupropion exposure following bupropion coadministration. However, simulations showed that observed CYP2B6 suppression could be clinically relevant for a drug with different pharmacokinetic properties from LY2090314.