title: Liver receptor homolog 1 transcriptionally regulates human bile salt export pump expression.
abstract: The metabolic conversion of cholesterol into bile acids in liver is initiated by the rate-limiting cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), whereas the bile salt export pump (BSEP) is responsible for the canalicular secretion of bile acids. Liver receptor homolog 1 (LRH-1) is a key transcriptional factor required for the hepatic expression of CYP7A1. We hypothesized that LRH-1 was also involved in the transcriptional regulation of BSEP. In support of our hypothesis, we found that overexpression of LRH-1 induced, whereas knockdown of LRH-1 decreased, BSEP expression. Consistent with its role in transcriptional regulation, LRH-1 dose-dependently transactivated the BSEP promoter. In addition, such transactivation by LRH-1 was required for maximal induction of BSEP expression through the bile acid/farnesoid X receptor (FXR) activation pathway. Bioinformatic and mutational analysis led to the identification of a functional liver receptor homolog 1-responsive element (LRHRE) in the BSEP promoter. Specific binding of LRH-1 to the LRHRE and recruitment of LRH-1 to the BSEP promoter were demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, respectively. In conclusion, LRH-1 transcriptionally activated the BSEP promoter and functioned as a modulator in bile acid/FXR-mediated BSEP regulation. These results suggest that LRH-1 plays a supporting role to FXR in maintaining hepatic bile acid levels by coordinately regulating CYP7A1 and BSEP for bile acid synthesis and elimination, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Pharmacogenomics and Molecular Therapy, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Xiulong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Rajani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaimal
authors.forename: Bingfang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Ruitang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000074020:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 11; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D034622:RNA Interference; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: C093491:ABCB11 protein, human; D000074020:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 11; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C082631:NR5A2 protein, human; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D002784:Cholesterol; D008156:Luciferases; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase