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.     

Bromuconazole-induced hepatotoxicity is accompanied by upregulation of PXR/CYP3A1 and downregulation of CAR/CYP2B1 gene expression

Despite widespread use of bromuconazole as a pesticide for food crops and fruits, limited studies have been done to evaluate its toxic effects. Here, we evaluated the hepatotoxic effect of bromuconazole using classical toxicological (biochemical analysis and histopathological examination) and gene-based molecular methods. Male rats were treated either orally or topically with bromuconazole at doses equal to no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) and 1/10 LD50 for 90?d. Bromuconazole increased activities of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, and ACP), and levels of bilirubin. It also induced hepatic oxidative stress as evidenced by significant decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and significant increase in levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver. In addition, bromuconazole caused an increase in liver weights and necrobiotic changes (vacuolation and hepatocellular hypertrophy). It also strongly induced the expression of PXR and its downstream target CYP3A1 gene as well as the activity of CYP3A1. However, it inhibited the expression of CAR and its downstream target CYP2B1 gene without significant changing in CYP2B1 activity. Overall, the oral route showed higher hepatotoxic effect and molecular changes than the dermal route and all changes were dose dependent. This is the first investigation to report that bromuconazole-induced liver oxidative damage is accompanied by upregulation of PXR/CYP3A1 and downregulation of CAR/CYP2B1.     

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。     

Induction of human cytochrome P450 3A4 by the irreversible myeloperoxidase inactivator PF-06282999 is mediated by the pregnane X receptor

1. 2-(6-(5-Chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxo-2-thioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl) acetamide (PF-06282999) is a member of the thiouracil class of irreversible inactivators of human myeloperoxidase enzyme and a candidate for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. PF-06282999 is an inducer of CYP3A4 mRNA and midazolam-1′-hydroxylase activity in human hepatocytes, which is consistent with PF-06282999-dose dependent decreases in mean maximal plasma concentrations (C_max) and area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC) of midazolam in humans following 14-day treatment with PF-06282999.

2. In the present study, the biochemical mechanism(s) of CYP3A4 induction by PF-06282999 was studied. Incubations in reporter cells indicated that PF-06282999 selectively activated human pregnane X receptor (PXR). Treatment of human HepaRG cells with PF-06282999 led to ～14-fold induction in CYP3A4 mRNA and 5-fold increase in midazolam-1′-hydroxylase activity, which was nullified in PXR-knock out HepaRG cells. TaqMan® gene expression analysis of human hepatocytes treated with PF-06282999 and the prototypical PXR agonist rifampin demonstrated increases in mRNA for CYP3A4 and related CYPs that are regulated by PXR.

3. Docking studies using a published human PXR crystal structure provided insights into the molecular basis for PXR activation by PF-06282999. Implementation of PXR transactivation assays in a follow-on discovery campaign should aid in the identification of back-up compounds devoid of PXR activation and CYP3A4 induction liability.     

Characterization of CYP2C Induction in Cryopreserved Human Hepatocytes and Its Application in the Prediction of the Clinical Consequences of the Induction

CYP2C enzymes play key roles in drug metabolism, and clinical drug-drug interactions caused by CYP2C induction have been reported. The aim of this study was to establish a method to predict the potency of CYP2C inductions considering the mechanism. We first investigated the relations of CYP2C induction with CYP3A4 or CYP2B6 induction in human hepatocytes after 48-h exposure with 19 inducers. The fold-induction values of CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 were well correlated with those of CYP3A4, whereas the inducers were separated into 2 groups showing different correlations with CYP2B6 induction for CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 induction. In the regression models established, the fold-induction values of CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 were well expressed as the functions of those of CYP3A4 and CYP2B6, while no such obvious correlation was observed for CYP2C19 induction. These results suggest that CYP2Cs are not simply coinduced with CYP3A4 and that CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 inductions are regulated by both pregnane X receptor and constitutive androstane receptor with different contributions. Finally, simple correlations were proposed using the experimental E_max values obtained and plasma concentrations of CYP2C9 substrates from the literature, and positive correlations were observed. These data provide methods to estimate the clinical impact of CYP2C9 induction from in vitro data.     

Role of the SLCO1B1 haplotypes on the rifampicin-induced CYP3A activity

Rifampin, a member of the rifamycin class of antibiotics, is well known for its ability to activate the pregnant X receptor and induce drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters. Available data suggest rifampin entry into hepatocytes is mediated by OATP1B1. Accordingly, it is therefore plausible that modulation of the intracellular concentration of rifampin by OATP1B1 genetic polymorphisms would influence the degree of CYP3A induction. AIM： To study the association between haplotypes of the SLCO1B1 and the rifampicin-mediated inducible CYP3A4 activity. A single-point determination of midazolam plasma concentration method was developed to assess the constitutive and inducible CYP3A4 activity. A pharmacokinetic study of a single dose of 450 mg rifampicin was conducted to evaluate the mechanism of rifampicin-midazolam interaction in different SLCO1B1 genotypic subjects.METHODS： Twenty-three healthy volunteers with different SLCO1B1 haplotypes （7 for SLCO1B1 ＊ 1a/＊ 1a, 7 for SLCO1B1 ＊ 1b/＊ 1b, 7 for SLCO1B1 ＊ 1b / ＊ 15 and 2 for SLCO1B1 ＊ 15/＊ 15） were enrolled in this study. Each was given a single oral dose of 7.5 nag naidazolam on day 0 and day 6. Rifampicin of 450 nag was given from day 1 to day 5. Plasma concentrations of midazolam were measured for up to 8 hours by LC-MS, and its pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed. Plasma concentrations of a single oral dose of 450 nag rifampicin were measured for up to 12 hours.[第一段]     

A Ligand-Based Approach to Understanding Selectivity of Nuclear Hormone Receptors PXR,CAR, FXR,LXRα, and LXRβ

Pharmaceutical Research - In recent years discussion of nuclear hormone receptors, transporters, and drug-metabolizing enzymes has begun to take place as our knowledge of the overlapping ligand...