title: The WNT/β-catenin pathway is a transcriptional regulator of CYP2E1, CYP1A2, and aryl hydrocarbon receptor gene expression in primary human hepatocytes.
abstract: The wingless-type MMTV integration site family (WNT)/β-catenin/adenomatous polyposis coli (CTNNB1/APC) pathway has been identified as a regulator of drug-metabolizing enzymes in the rodent liver. Conversely, little is known about the role of this pathway in drug metabolism regulation in human liver. Primary human hepatocytes (PHHs), which are the most physiologically relevant culture system to study drug metabolism in vitro, were used to investigate this issue. This study assessed the link between cytochrome P450 expression and WNT/β-catenin pathway activity in PHHs by modulating its activity with recombinant mouse Wnt3a (the canonical activator), inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase 3β, and small-interfering RNA to invalidate CTNNB1 or its repressor APC, used separately or in combination. We found that the WNT/β-catenin pathway can be activated in PHHs, as assessed by universal β-catenin target gene expression, leucine-rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5. Moreover, WNT/β-catenin pathway activation induces the expression of CYP2E1, CYP1A2, and aryl hydrocarbon receptor, but not of CYP3A4, hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α, or pregnane X receptor (PXR) in PHHs. Specifically, we show for the first time that CYP2E1 is transcriptionally regulated by the WNT/β-catenin pathway. Moreover, CYP2E1 induction was accompanied by an increase in its metabolic activity, as indicated by the increased production of 6-OH-chlorzoxazone and by glutathione depletion after incubation with high doses of acetaminophen. In conclusion, the WNT/β-catenin pathway is functional in PHHs, and its induction in PHHs represents a powerful tool to evaluate the hepatotoxicity of drugs that are metabolized by CYP2E1.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, INSERM, U1040 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); UMR 1040, Université Montpellier 1 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); Drug Disposition Domain, Sanofi Aventis (S.K.); Department of Digestive Surgery, CHU Saint Eloi (J.M.F.); Pathological Anatomy Department, CHU Gui de Chauliac (J.R.); and Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, CHU Montpellier, (M.D.C.), Montpellier, France sabine.gerbal-chaloin@inserm.fr.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerbal-Chaloin
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, INSERM, U1040 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); UMR 1040, Université Montpellier 1 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); Drug Disposition Domain, Sanofi Aventis (S.K.); Department of Digestive Surgery, CHU Saint Eloi (J.M.F.); Pathological Anatomy Department, CHU Gui de Chauliac (J.R.); and Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, CHU Montpellier, (M.D.C.), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dumé
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, INSERM, U1040 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); UMR 1040, Université Montpellier 1 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); Drug Disposition Domain, Sanofi Aventis (S.K.); Department of Digestive Surgery, CHU Saint Eloi (J.M.F.); Pathological Anatomy Department, CHU Gui de Chauliac (J.R.); and Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, CHU Montpellier, (M.D.C.), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Briolotti
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, INSERM, U1040 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); UMR 1040, Université Montpellier 1 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); Drug Disposition Domain, Sanofi Aventis (S.K.); Department of Digestive Surgery, CHU Saint Eloi (J.M.F.); Pathological Anatomy Department, CHU Gui de Chauliac (J.R.); and Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, CHU Montpellier, (M.D.C.), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klieber
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, INSERM, U1040 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); UMR 1040, Université Montpellier 1 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); Drug Disposition Domain, Sanofi Aventis (S.K.); Department of Digestive Surgery, CHU Saint Eloi (J.M.F.); Pathological Anatomy Department, CHU Gui de Chauliac (J.R.); and Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, CHU Montpellier, (M.D.C.), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raulet
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, INSERM, U1040 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); UMR 1040, Université Montpellier 1 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); Drug Disposition Domain, Sanofi Aventis (S.K.); Department of Digestive Surgery, CHU Saint Eloi (J.M.F.); Pathological Anatomy Department, CHU Gui de Chauliac (J.R.); and Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, CHU Montpellier, (M.D.C.), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duret
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, INSERM, U1040 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); UMR 1040, Université Montpellier 1 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); Drug Disposition Domain, Sanofi Aventis (S.K.); Department of Digestive Surgery, CHU Saint Eloi (J.M.F.); Pathological Anatomy Department, CHU Gui de Chauliac (J.R.); and Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, CHU Montpellier, (M.D.C.), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fabre
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, INSERM, U1040 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); UMR 1040, Université Montpellier 1 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); Drug Disposition Domain, Sanofi Aventis (S.K.); Department of Digestive Surgery, CHU Saint Eloi (J.M.F.); Pathological Anatomy Department, CHU Gui de Chauliac (J.R.); and Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, CHU Montpellier, (M.D.C.), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, INSERM, U1040 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); UMR 1040, Université Montpellier 1 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); Drug Disposition Domain, Sanofi Aventis (S.K.); Department of Digestive Surgery, CHU Saint Eloi (J.M.F.); Pathological Anatomy Department, CHU Gui de Chauliac (J.R.); and Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, CHU Montpellier, (M.D.C.), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maurel
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, INSERM, U1040 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); UMR 1040, Université Montpellier 1 (S.G.C., A.S.D., P.B., E.R., C.D., P.M., M.D.C.); Drug Disposition Domain, Sanofi Aventis (S.K.); Department of Digestive Surgery, CHU Saint Eloi (J.M.F.); Pathological Anatomy Department, CHU Gui de Chauliac (J.R.); and Institut de Recherche en Biothérapie, CHU Montpellier, (M.D.C.), Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daujat-Chavanieu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002460:Cell Line; D019388:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 / Q000235:genetics*; D019392:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 / Q000235:genetics*; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000235:genetics*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000502:physiology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D051176:beta Catenin; D019392:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1; C504573:CYP1A2 protein, human; D019388:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; C510163:CYP3A4 protein, human