title: Chronic ethanol exposure downregulates hepatic expression of pregnane X receptor and P450 3A11 in female ICR mice.
abstract: Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a nuclear receptor that regulates cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) gene transcription in a ligand-dependent manner. Ethanol has been reported to be either an inducer or an inhibitor of CYP3A expression. In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic ethanol exposure on PXR and P450 3A11 gene expression in mouse liver. Female ICR mice were administered by gavage with different doses (1000, 2000 and 4000 mg/kg) of ethanol for up to 5 weeks. Hepatic PXR and P450 3A11 mRNA levels were measured using RT-PCR. Erythromycin N-demethylase (ERND) activity was used as an indicator of CYP3A protein expression. Results showed that chronic ethanol exposure markedly decreased hepatic PXR and P450 3A11 mRNA levels. Consistent with downregulation of P450 3A11 mRNA, chronic ethanol exposure significantly decreased ERND activity in a dose-dependent manner. Additional experiment showed that chronic ethanol exposure significantly increased plasma endotoxin level and hepatic CD14 and TLR-4 mRNA expression, all of which were blocked by elimination of Gram-negative bacteria and endotoxin with antibiotics. Correspondingly, pretreatment with antibiotics reversed the downregulation of PXR and P450 3A11 mRNA expression and ERND activity in mouse liver. Furthermore, the downregulation of hepatic PXR and P450 3A11 mRNA expression was significantly attenuated in mice pretreated with GdCl(3), a selective Kupffer cell toxicant. GdCl(3) pretreatment also significantly attenuated chronically ethanol-induced decrease in ERND activity. These results indicated that activation of Kupffer cells by gut-derived endotoxin contributes to downregulation of hepatic PXR and P450 3A11 expression during chronic alcohol intoxication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, PR China.
authors.forename: Jian-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: De-Xiang
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Mei-Fang
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yuan-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D000077297:Pregnane X Receptor; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004731:Endotoxins; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000077297:Pregnane X Receptor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; C493487:Tlr4 protein, mouse; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D000431:Ethanol; C496508:Cyp3a11 protein, mouse; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A