title: Zearalenone activates pregnane X receptor, constitutive androstane receptor and aryl hydrocarbon receptor and corresponding phase I target genes mRNA in primary cultures of human hepatocytes.
abstract: The mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEN) is found worldwide as a contaminant in cereals and grains. ZEN subchronic and chronic toxicities are dominated by reproductive disorders in different mammalian species which have made ZEN established mammalian endocrine disrupter. Over the last 30 years of ZEN biotransformation study, the toxin was thought to undergo reductive metabolism only, with the generation in several species of α- and β-isomers of zearalenol. However, recent investigations have noticed that the mycoestrogen is prone to oxidative metabolism leading to hydroxylation of ZEN though the involvement of different cytochromes P450 (CYPs) isoforms. The aim of the present study was to further explore the effect of ZEN on regulation of some CYPs using primary cultures of human hepatocytes. For this aim, using real time RT-PCR, we monitored in a first time, the effect of ZEN on mRNA levels of pregnane X receptor (PXR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), nuclear receptors known to be involved in the regulation of some CYPs. In a second time, we looked for ZEN effect on expression of PXR, CAR and AhR corresponding phase I target genes (CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP1A1 and CYP1A2). Finally, we realised the luciferase assay in HepG2 treated with the toxin and transiently transfected with p-CYP3A4-Luc in the presence of a hPXR vector or transfected with p-CYPA1-Luc.Our results clearly showed that ZEN activated human PXR, CAR and AhR mRNA levels in addition to some of their phase I target genes mainly CYP3A4, CYP2B6 and CYP1A1 and at lesser extent CYP3A5 and CYP2C9 at ZEN concentrations as low as 0.1 μM.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Research on Biologically Compatible Compounds, Faculty of Dentistry, Rue Avicenne, 5019 Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ayed-Boussema
authors.forename: Jean Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pascussi
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maurel
authors.forename: Hassen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bacha
authors.forename: Wafa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hassen
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000090702:Constitutive Androstane Receptor; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077297:Pregnane X Receptor; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000819:agonists*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000819:agonists*; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000819:agonists*; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000090702:Constitutive Androstane Receptor; D017931:DNA Primers; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D000077297:Pregnane X Receptor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D015025:Zearalenone; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D008156:Luciferases