中药莪术激活PXR及对大鼠肝细胞色素P450 3A的影响

目的考察莪术能否通过体外激活PXR调节细胞色素P4503A4(CYP3A4)的转录表达及对大鼠肝脏CYP3A在酶活性及mRNA表达的诱导作用。方法在HepG2细胞中,采用瞬时共转染报告基因实验研究莪术对PXR介导的CYP3A4的转录调节作用;在大鼠体内,采用紫外分光光度法和RT-PCR技术检测莪术对大鼠肝脏CYP450含量及CYP3A同工酶红霉素N-脱甲基酶(ERD)的活性和CYP3A基因mRNA表达的影响。结果在体外报告基因实验研究中,莪术提取物及其有效成分能不同程度的诱导CYP3A4的表达;在大鼠体内实验中,莪术提取物能够增加CYP450蛋白含量和CYP3A酶活性;在mRNA水平上,莪术提取物能够明显诱导CYP3A1及CYP3A2的基因表达。结论莪术提取物及其有效成分能够明显激活PXR并诱导CYP3A4的转录表达;莪术提取物对大鼠体内CYP3A的酶活性及mRNA表达均有明显诱导作用。     

基于报告基因检测的PXR、FXR和LXRα激动剂高通量筛选模型的建立

目的建立基于报告基因法的高通量筛选细胞模型,用来发现PXR、FXR和LXRα受体激动剂。方法利用Real-time定量PCR方法比较HEK293、Hep G2和LS174T细胞中内源性核受体PXR、FXR和LXRα的表达量,将p SG5-h PXR和p GL3-XREM-CYP3A4、p EGFP-N3-h FXR和EcRETK-Luc、p CMX-FLAG-h LXRα和p GL3-XREM-CYP3A4等质粒分别共转染到工具细胞中,优化共转染比例,并考察阳性药与萤光素酶报告基因表达强度的量效关系、模型特异性和稳定性。结果 1根据Real-time定量PCR结果,模型选用低表达PXR、FXR和LXRα的HEK293细胞作为工具细胞;2根据不同共转染比例对报告基因活性的结果,PXR、FXR和LXRα报告基因药物筛选模型的报告基因和过表达质粒比例,最终分别选择1∶1、2∶1和2∶1;3模型中,报告基因活性均与相应阳性药物(PXR/Rif、FXR/CDCA和LXRα/T0901317)呈剂量依赖性增长;4仅PXR激动剂Rif、FXR激动剂CDCA和LXRα激动剂T0901317可分别明显增加相应筛选模型的报告基因活性,分别重复5次试验后,计算得Z'值分别为0.58、0.66和0.63。结论该研究建立的PXR、FXR和LXRα激动剂高通量筛选模型,具有良好的特异性和稳定性,适用于对PXR、FXR和LXRα受体激动剂的筛选,进而开发以核受体作为药物靶点的药物。     

Metformin suppresses pregnane X receptor (PXR)-regulated transactivation of CYP3A4 gene

Metformin is widely used in the treatment of type-2 diabetes. The pleotropic effects of metformin on glucose and lipid metabolism have been proposed to be mediated by the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the subsequent up-regulation of small heterodimer partner (SHP). SHP suppresses the functions of several nuclear receptors involved in the regulation of hepatic metabolism, including pregnane X receptor (PXR), which is referred to as a “master regulator” of drug/xenobiotic metabolism.In this study, we hypothesize that metformin suppresses the expression of CYP3A4, a main detoxification enzyme and a target gene of PXR, due to SHP up-regulation.We employed various gene reporter assays in cell lines and qRT-PCR in human hepatocytes and in Pxr^−/− mice.We show that metformin dramatically suppresses PXR-mediated expression of CYP3A4 in hepatocytes. Consistently, metformin significantly suppressed the up-regulation of Cyp3a11 mRNA in the liver and intestine of wild-type mice, but not in Pxr^−/− mice. A mechanistic investigation of the phenomenon showed that metformin does not significantly up-regulate SHP in human hepatocytes. We further demonstrate that AMPK activation is not involved in this process. We show that metformin disrupts PXR's interaction with steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC1) in a two-hybrid assay independently of the PXR ligand binding pocket. Metformin also inhibited vitamin D receptor-, glucocorticoid receptor- and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR)-mediated induction of CYP3A4 mRNA in human hepatocytes.We show, therefore, a suppressive effect of metformin on PXR and other ligand-activated nuclear receptors in transactivation of the main detoxification enzyme CYP3A4 in human hepatocytes.     

The interaction potential of herbal medicinal products: a luminescence-based screening platform assessing effects on cytochrome P450 and its use with devil's claw (Harpagophyti radix) preparations

Objectives Potential interactions between herbal medicinal products and the cytochrome (CYP) P450 system are an important safety concern. We set out to develop a screening panel for assessing such interactions and use it to evaluate the interaction potential of devil's claw. Methods The panel consisted of luminescence‐based inhibition assays for CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6 and 3A4, and a reporter gene (luciferase) assay for pregnane X receptor (PXR) activation and CYP3A4 induction. Caftaric acid and chlorogenic acid, two compounds with strong fluorescence quenching properties, were used to demonstrate the assay's resistance to interference. We tested 10 commercial devil's claw preparations as well as harpagoside and harpagide, two important constituents of devil's claw. Key findings Five preparations were found to weakly inhibit CYP3A4 (IC50 124.2–327.6 µg/ml) and five were found to weakly activate PXR (EC50 10.21–169.3 µg/ml). Harpagoside and harpagide did not inhibit CYP3A4. In agreement with published data, bergamottin, a natural product known to interact with CYP3A4, was shown to inhibit CYP3A4 with an IC50 of 13.63 µm and activate PXR with an EC50 of 6.7 µm . Conclusions Devil's claw preparations are unlikely to have a clinically relevant effect on CYP function. The assay panel proved effective in screening devil's claw preparations, demonstrating its suitability for use with plant extracts. It showed superior sensitivity and resistance to interference.     

Nonylphenol-mediated CYP induction is PXR-dependent: The use of humanized mice and human hepatocytes suggests that hPXR is less sensitive than mouse PXR to nonylphenol treatment

Nonylphenol (NP), a by-product of alkylphenol ethoxylates, is a pervasive surfactant that activates the xenosensing nuclear receptor, the pregnane X-receptor (PXR) in transactivation assays in vitro. We are interested in determining if NP activates PXR in vivo, determining if hPXR and mPXR act similarly, and investigating the role of PXR in protecting individuals from NP. Wild-type (WT), PXR-null, and humanized PXR (hPXR) mice were treated with NP at 0, 50 or 75 mg/kg/day for one week, and cytochrome P450 (CYP) induction, liver histopathology, and serum NP concentrations were examined. WT mice treated with NP showed induction of Cyp2b, and male-specific induction of Cyp2c and Cyp3a. CYPs were not induced in PXR-null mice, demonstrating that PXR is necessary for NP-mediated CYP induction. CAR-mediated CYP induction was not observed in the PXR-null mice despite previous data demonstrating that NP is also a CAR activator. hPXR mice only showed moderate Cyp induction, suggesting that hPXR is not as sensitive to NP as mPXR in vivo. NP-mediated Cyp3a induction from three human hepatocyte donors was not significant, confirming that hPXR is not very sensitive to NP-mediated CYP induction. Lastly, mice with PXR (mPXR and hPXR) showed lower NP serum concentrations than PXR-null mice treated with NP suggesting that PXR plays a role in decreasing liver toxicity by basally regulating phase I-III detoxification enzymes that promote the metabolism and elimination of NP. In summary, PXR is required for NP-mediated CYP-induction, mPXR mediates greater CYP induction than hPXR in vivo, and the presence of PXR, especially mPXR, is associated with altered histopathology and increased clearance of NP.     

The Biological Actions of Dehydroepiandrosterone Involves Multiple Receptors

Dehydroepiandrosterone has been thought to have physiological functions other than as an androgen precursor. The previous studies performed have demonstrated a number of biological effects in rodents, such as amelioration of disease in diabetic, chemical carcinogenesis, and obesity models. To date, activation of the peroxisome proliferators activated receptor alpha, pregnane X receptor, and estrogen receptor by DHEA and its metabolites have been demonstrated. Several membrane-associated receptors have also been elucidated leading to additional mechanisms by which DHEA may exert its biological effects. This review will provide an overview of the receptor multiplicity involved in the biological activity of this sterol.     

自拟葛花解酒涤脂汤对酒精性脂肪肝小鼠肝脏脂肪沉积及PXR表达的影响

目的了解自拟葛花解酒涤脂汤对酒精性脂肪肝(AFLD)小鼠肝脏脂肪沉积的影响,并观察其对肝组织孕烷受体(PXR)及其调控靶基因CYP3A11、CYP3A25蛋白及mRNA表达的影响。方法将29只雄性C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为正常组(5只),模型组(8只),高剂量干预组(8只)、低剂量干预组(8只)。采用美国国立卫生研究院酒精滥用和酒精中毒研究所(NIAAA)方法制备AFLD小鼠模型,分别灌胃给予高、低剂量葛花解酒涤脂汤水煎剂干预,连续9 d。采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清中谷丙转氨酶(ALT)及谷草转氨酶(AST)水平,组织病理学油红O染色检测肝脏脂肪沉积情况;实时荧光定量PCR及免疫组织化学方法分别检测PXR、CYP3A11、CYP3A25 mRNA及PXR蛋白的表达。结果与模型组比较,干预组小鼠肝脏脂肪沉积显著减轻,呈剂量依赖性,具有比模型组和正常组显著增加的PXR、CYP3A25表达水平(P0.01);模型组小鼠血清ALT水平显著增加(P0.01),其余各组相似;各组CYP3A11mRNA转录水平差异无显著性(P≥0.05)。结论自拟葛花解酒涤脂汤对实验小鼠AFLD具有明显的治疗作用,可能与促进PXR及其靶基因CYP3A25表达有关。