title: Expression and functional regulation of the nuclear receptors AHR, PXR, and CAR, and the transcription factor Nrf2 in rat parotid gland.
abstract: Nuclear receptors and transcription factors regulate the functions of many genes involved in cellular physiology and pathology (e.g. tumorigenesis and autoimmune diseases). The present study was performed to define the expression and the regulation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), pregnane X receptor (PXR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the rat parotid gland. Constitutive expression, as well as expression after stimulation with specific inducers for AhR [2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzylo-p-dioxin (TCDD)], Nrf2(oltipraz), PXR (dexamethasone), and CAR (phenobarbital), was evaluated using the quantitative PCR. Cellular localization of the nuclear receptors and the transcription factor was visualized by immunohistochemical staining. The study revealed constitutive expression of AhR as well as Nrf2, and their induction by TCDD andoltipraz, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed constitutive, predominantly cytoplasmic, expression of the AhR receptor, especially in interlobular striated duct cells, with nuclear shift upon exposure to TCDD. Inducible expression of Nfr2 was found mainly in the cytoplasm of intralobular striated duct cells. Constitutive expression of PXR and CAR was not found. Bearing in mind the involvement of AhR and Nrf2 in the regulation of many genes, it seems that these factors may play also a role in salivary gland physiology and pathology.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Droździk
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wajda
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Łapczuk
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laszczyńska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000090702:Constitutive Androstane Receptor; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077297:Pregnane X Receptor; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D018987:Salivary Ducts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D013871:Thiones; D013876:Thiophenes
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D000090702:Constitutive Androstane Receptor; D003907:Dexamethasone; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D010634:Phenobarbital; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D000077297:Pregnane X Receptor; D011719:Pyrazines; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D013871:Thiones; D013876:Thiophenes; C000595703:Ahr protein, rat; C495637:Nfe2l2 protein, rat; C026209:oltipraz