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Expression of CYP3A in chronic ethanol-fed mice is mediated by endogenous pregnane X receptor ligands formed by enhanced cholesterol metabolism

  • Molecular Toxicology
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Abstract

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a nuclear receptor that plays a key regulatory role in xenobiotic metabolism in a ligand-dependent manner. Recently, ethanol was reported to be either an inducer or inhibitor of Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A expression. According to our recent microarray data, chronic ethanol upregulates the expression of the genes associated with oxidative phase I drug metabolism, phase II conjugation reaction and phase III xenobiotic transport, most of which are known to be regulated by PXR. In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic ethanol on the expression and activity of CYP3A11 in mice and the role of PXR. Ethanol was administrated to male ICR mice by feeding a standard Lieber–DeCarli diet containing 36 % ethanol for 4 weeks. Ethanol significantly increased hepatic mRNA expression of Pxr and Cyp3a11. Treatment of mice with ethanol increased nuclear translocation of PXR. Consistent with the increase in nuclear PXR, ethanol significantly increased the binding of PXR to the Cyp3a11 promoter. Hepatic cholesterol level and bile acid synthesis are increased by ethanol treatment. The level of some cholesterol metabolites, such as 5β-cholestane-3α,7α,12α-triol, 7α-hydroxy-4-cholestene-3-one and lithocholic acid, that have been identified as potent PXR agonists are increased in the livers of ethanol-treated mice. In summary, chronic ethanol upregulates the expression of Pxr and Cyp3a11 mRNAs and proteins in mice by PXR activation mediated by enhanced cholesterol metabolism and bile acid synthesis. Our data provide some critical information needed to understand the molecular mechanisms of ethanol-induced CYP3A expression.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Grant of the Korea Healthcare technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (A100096).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea

    Young-Tae Je, Woo-Cheol Sim, Dong-Gwang Kim & Byung-Hoon Lee

  2. Molecular Recognition Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea

    Byung-Hwa Jung

  3. College of Environmental Education, Kongju National University, Kongju, 314-701, Republic of Korea

    Ho-Sang Shin

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  1. Young-Tae Je
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Correspondence to Byung-Hoon Lee.

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Je, YT., Sim, WC., Kim, DG. et al. Expression of CYP3A in chronic ethanol-fed mice is mediated by endogenous pregnane X receptor ligands formed by enhanced cholesterol metabolism. Arch Toxicol 89, 579–589 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-014-1268-9

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