title: Down-regulation of the rat hepatic sterol 27-hydroxylase gene by bile acids in transfected primary hepatocytes: possible role of hepatic nuclear factor 1alpha.
abstract: In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that the sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27) gene is transcriptionally repressed by hydrophobic bile acids. The molecular mechanism(s) of repression of CYP27 by bile acids is unknown. To identify the bile acid responsive element (BARE) and transcription factor(s) that mediate the repression of CYP27 by bile acids, constructs of the CYP27 5'-flanking DNA were linked to either the CAT or luciferase reporter gene and transiently transfected into primary rat hepatocytes. Taurocholate (TCA), taurodeoxycholate (TDCA) and taurochenodeoxycholate (TCDCA) significantly reduced CAT activities of the -840/+23, -329/+23, and -195/+23 mCAT constructs. A -76/+23 construct showed no regulation by bile acids. When a DNA fragment (-110/-86) from this region was cloned in front of an SV 40 promoter it showed down-regulation by TDCA. 'Super'-electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) indicated that both HNF1alpha and C/EBP bind to the -110 to -86 bp DNA fragment. Recombinant rat HNF1alpha and C/EBPalpha competitively bound to this DNA fragment. 'Super'-EMSA showed that TDCA addition to hepatocytes in culture decreased HNF1alpha, but not C/EBP, binding to the -110/-86 bp DNA fragment. A four base pair substitution mutation (-103 to -99) in this sequence eliminated TCA and TDCA regulation of the (-840/+23) construct. The substitution mutation also eliminated (>95%) HNF1alpha, but not C/EBP, binding to this DNA fragment. We conclude that bile acids repress CYP27 transcription through a putative BARE located between -110 and -86 bp of the CYP27 promoter. The data suggest that bile acids repress CYP27 transcriptional activity by decreasing HNF1alpha binding to the CYP27 promoter.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298, USA.
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Z R
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Vlahcevic
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Stravitz
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Mallonee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mullick
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Avadhani
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Hylemon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000502:physiology*; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053493:Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D051537:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1; D051538:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha; D051539:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051538:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha; C496489:Hnf1a protein, rat; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051537:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1; D051539:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D053493:Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase