title: Regulation of hepatic drug metabolism: role of the nuclear receptors PXR and CAR.
abstract: Recent advances in the molecular biology of nuclear receptors have revealed that the pregnane X receptor (PXR) and the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) are able to act as sensors for lipophilic xenobiotics, including therapeutic drugs. These receptors in turn regulate enzymes and transporters involved in drug metabolism and disposition in an adaptive fashion. An unexpected finding was that the PXR was able to recognize bile acids; transgenic animals lacking this receptor are at increased risk of bile acid-induced liver injury. These findings provide new insights into hepatic drug metabolism as well as mechanisms regulating cholesterol and bile acid homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Storr Liver Unit, Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia. chris.liddle@wmi.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liddle
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goodwin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090702:Constitutive Androstane Receptor; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism; D000077297:Pregnane X Receptor; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D000090702:Constitutive Androstane Receptor; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D000077297:Pregnane X Receptor; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D014157:Transcription Factors; D015262:Xenobiotics; D002784:Cholesterol