title: Evidence for the ligand-independent activation of the AH receptor.
abstract: Benzimidazole derivatives are potent inducers of CYP1A1 in rabbit and human hepatocytes, but apparently do not bind the AH receptor. To resolve this paradoxical behaviour, studies have been concerned with the question of whether an alternative ligand-independent mechanism could explain the activation of the AH receptor. From experiments in cultured rabbit hepatocytes we show that benzimidazoles bind early and transiently to an unknown protein. Moreover, they are able to deplete the AHR in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In contrast, benzimidazoles are unable to induce CYP1A1 mRNA in mouse hepa-1 cells and to deplete the high-affinity AHR form from these cells. Taken together these data suggest that a signal transduction pathway, similar to that involved in the ligand-independent activation of steroid receptors, could only activate the low-affinity forms of AHR as those existing in rabbit and human cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie, INRA, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lesca
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peryt
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Larrieu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvinerie
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galtier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daujat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maurel
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hoogenboom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008024:Ligands; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011402:Pronase / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D001562:Benzimidazoles; D008024:Ligands; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D011402:Pronase; D009853:Omeprazole; C011030:oxfendazole