Release of targeted p53 from the mitochondrion as an early signal during mitochondrial dysfunction.

Increased accumulation of p53 tumor suppressor protein is an early response to low-level stressors. To investigate the fate of mitochondrial-sequestered p53, mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (MEFs) on a p53-deficient genetic background were transfected with p53-EGFP fusion protein led by a sense (m53-EGFP) or antisense (c53-EGFP) mitochondrial import signal. Rotenone exposure (100nM, 1h) triggered the translocation of m53-EGFP from the mitochondrion to the nucleus, thus shifting the transfected cells from a mitochondrial p53 to a nuclear p53 state. Antibodies for p53 serine phosphorylation or lysine acetylation indicated a different post-translational status of recombinant p53 in the nucleus and mitochondrion, respectively. These data suggest that cycling of p53 through the mitochondria may establish a direct pathway for p53 signaling from the mitochondria to the nucleus during mitochondrial dysfunction. PK11195, a pharmacological ligand of mitochondrial TSPO (formerly known as the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor), partially suppressed the release of mitochondria-sequestered p53. These findings support the notion that p53 function mediates a direct signaling pathway from the mitochondria to nucleus during mitochondrial dysfunction.

Activator protein-1 regulation of murine aldehyde dehydrogenase 1a1.

Previously we demonstrated that aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) 1a1 is the major ALDH expressed in mouse liver and is an effective catalyst in metabolism of lipid aldehydes. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed a ≈2.5- to 3-fold induction of the hepatic ALDH1A1 mRNA in mice administered either acrolein (5 mg/kg acrolein p.o.) or butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA) (0.45% in the diet) and of cytosolic NAD⁺-dependent ALDH activity. We observed ≈2-fold increases in ALDH1A1 mRNA levels in both Nrf2⁺/⁺ and Nrf2⁻/⁻ mice treated with BHA compared with controls, suggesting that BHA-induced expression is independent of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The levels of activator protein-1 (AP-1) mRNA and protein, as well as the amount of phosphorylated c-Jun were significantly increased in mouse liver or Hepa1c1c7 cells treated with either BHA or acrolein. With use of luciferase reporters containing the 5'-flanking sequence of Aldh1a1 (-1963/+27), overexpression of c-Jun resulted in an ≈4-fold induction in luciferase activity, suggesting that c-Jun transactivates the Aldh1a1 promoter as a homodimer and not as a c-Jun/c-Fos heterodimer. Promoter deletion and mutagenesis analyses demonstrated that the AP-1 site at position -758 and possibly -1069 relative to the transcription start site was responsible for c-Jun-mediated transactivation. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay analysis with antibodies against c-Jun and c-Fos showed that c-Jun binds to the proximal AP-1 site at position -758 but not at -1069. Recruitment of c-Jun to this proximal AP-1 site by BHA was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis, indicating that recruitment of c-Jun to the mouse Aldh1a1 gene promoter results in increased transcription. This mode of regulation of an ALDH has not been described before.

Differential programming of p53-deficient embryonic cells during rotenone block.

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in chemical toxicities. The present study used an in vitro model to investigate the differential expression of metabolic pathways during cellular stress in p53-efficient embryonic fibroblasts compared to p53-deficient cells. These cell lines differed with respect to NADH/NAD(+) balance. This ratio constitutes a driving force for NAD- and NADH-dependent reactions and is inversed upon exposure to Rotenone (complex I inhibitor). Rotenone perturbed the structure of the elongated fibrillar tubulin network and decreased mRNA expression of tubulin genes both suggesting reprogramming and reorganization of the cytoskeleton in both cell lines. These changes were reflected in the abundance of specific mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) species as determined from genome-based analysis. Changes in mRNA and miRNA expression profiles reflected differences in energy utilizing pathways, consistent with the notion that the p53 pathway influences the cellular response to mitochondrial dysfunction and that at least some control may be embedded within specific mRNA/miRNA networks in embryonic cells.

A novel NADP(+)-dependent dehydrogenase activity for 7alpha/beta- and 11beta-hydroxysteroids in human liver nuclei: A third 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

Human tissue from uninvolved liver of cancer patients was fractionated using differential centrifugation and characterized for 11betaHSD enzyme activity against corticosterone, dehydrocorticosterone, 7alpha- and 7beta-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone, and 7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone. An enzyme activity was observed in nuclear protein fractions that utilized either NADP(+) or NAD(+), but not NADPH and NADH, as pyridine nucleotide cofactor with K(m) values of 12+/-2 and 390+/-2microM, compared to the K(m) for microsomal 11betaHSD1 of 43+/-8 and 264+/-24microM, respectively. The K(m) for corticosterone in the NADP(+)-dependent nuclear oxidation reaction was 102+/-16nM, compared to 4.3+/-0.8microM for 11betaHSD1. The K(cat) values for nuclear activity with NADP(+) was 1687nmol/min/mg/micromol, compared to 755nmol/min/mg/micromol for microsomal 11betaHSD1 activity. Inhibitors of 11betaHSD1 decreased both nuclear and microsomal enzyme activities, suggesting that the nuclear activity may be due to an enzyme similar to 11betaHSD Type 1 and 2.

Regulation of the rat UGT1A6 by glucocorticoids involves a cryptic glucocorticoid response element.

Glucocorticoids precociously induce fetal rat UGT1A6 and potentiate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-dependent induction of this enzyme in vivo and in isolated rat hepatocytes. To establish whether induction was due to glucocorticoid receptor (GR), luciferase reporter vectors were tested in transfection assays with HepG2 cells. Using a reporter construct containing approximately 2.26 kilobases of the 5'-flanking region of the UGT1A6-noncoding leader exon (A1*), dexamethasone increased basal activity 3- to 7-fold in cells cotransfected with an expression plasmid for GR. PAH increased gene expression 23-fold, but the presence of dexamethasone only induced PAH-dependent expression by 1.5-fold, suggesting interaction between GR and the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor. Furthermore, the GR antagonist RU 38486 [17beta-hydroxy-11beta-(4-dimethylamino-phenyl)-17alpha-(prop-1-ynyl)-estra-4,9-dien-3-one] was a partial agonist that increased, rather than inhibited, basal activity 3-fold. 5'-deletion analysis defined the 5'-boundary for a functional glucocorticoid-responsive unit between base pairs -141 and -118 relative to the transcription start site. This region contains the Ah receptor response element (AhRE), and both PAH and glucocorticoid-dependent gene activation were lost when this area was deleted. Mutation of a single base pair located in the AhRE region simultaneously reduced induction by PAH and increased glucocorticoid induction. Thus, the sequences of both the AhRE and glucocorticoid response elements seem to overlap, suggesting that Ah receptor binding may decrease glucocorticoid-dependent induction due to interactions of these two cis-acting elements. Mutation of a putative GRE located between base pair -81 and -95 reduced, but did not completely eliminate, glucocorticoid-dependent induction of the reporter, suggesting that a nonclassic mechanism of induction is involved in this response.

7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene inhibition of steroid production in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells is not directly linked to induction of CYP1B1.

Testosterone, which is essential for spermatogenesis, is synthesized in the Leydig cells of the testis. This study addresses whether male reproductive toxicity from exposure to polycyclic or polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons, such as 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), may be due to direct effects on Leydig cell function. Using a cell-based assay, the effects of TCDD, benz[a]anthracene (BA), and DMBA on steroid production and cytochrome P4501B1 (CYP1B1) expression in treated MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells or primary cultures of rat Leydig cells was determined. (Bu)(2)cAMP-stimulated steroid production was inhibited approximately 25% and approximately 80% by DMBA treatment of MA-10 cells and rat Leydig cells, respectively, while BA or TCDD were without effect. Conversely, male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with TCDD displayed a 75% decrease in serum testosterone levels, while DMBA-treated rats had circulating testosterone levels comparable to control rats. Injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 1 h prior to euthanasia restored testosterone levels in TCDD-treated rats to 79% of the hCG-stimulated levels in control rats. Steady-state levels of CYP1B1 mRNA, as detected by RT-PCR, are present in the MA-10 cells and treatment with TCDD, BA, DMBA, or the cAMP analog (Bu)(2)cAMP induced CYP1B1 mRNA expression levels. CYP1B1 was constitutively expressed in rat testis, adrenal, liver, and kidney tissues while CYP1A1 was undetectable. TCDD treatment induced CYP1B1 expression in the adrenal and liver and CYP1A1 in the kidney and liver. DMBA treatment induced only CYP1A1 levels in kidney and liver. In sum, DMBA or a reactive DMBA metabolite, but not TCDD, has a direct effect on steroidogenesis in isolated Leydig cells. CYP1B1 expression levels, however, cannot be directly correlated to potential in vitro or in vivo toxic effects of TCDD or DMBA.

Regulation of the rat glutathione S-transferase A2 gene by glucocorticoids: involvement of both the glucocorticoid and pregnane X receptors.

Glucocorticoids regulate the rat glutathione S-transferase A2 (GSTA2) gene in a biphasic manner in cultured hepatocytes that repress gene expression at low concentration (10--100 nM) but induce gene expression at high concentration (>1 microM). High concentrations of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist RU38486 (5--10 microM) also induced the expression of GSTA2. These effects were reproduced in HepG2 cells transfected with a luciferase reporter containing 1.6 kilobase pairs of 5'-flanking sequence of GSTA2 and expression plasmids for either GR, pregnane X receptor (PXR) or a combination of both. Dexamethasone t-butylacetate (1 microM t-Bu-DEX) repressed gene expression between 60 to 75% when only GR was expressed. When PXR was expressed, both basal and t-Bu-DEX-dependent gene expression was increased over 2-fold, respectively. Biphasic regulation of gene expression was observed over a broad range of t-Bu-DEX concentrations when expression plasmids for both receptors were cotransfected. Other steroids of the pregnane class induced GSTA2 expression as expected for a PXR-dependent process. Because no canonical responsive element for the PXR-RXR alpha heterodimer was observed in the 5'-flanking region of the construct, deletion analysis was used to identify a pregnane responsive region between base pairs -700 and -683; this 20-bp region contains the antioxidant response element (ARE). When the ARE sequence was mutated, basal, t-butylhydroquinone- and 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone-inducible expression were all lost. These results suggest that PXR interacts with factors binding to the ARE to elicit the pregnane inductive response for GSTA2.

Short heterodimer partner (SHP) orphan nuclear receptor inhibits the transcriptional activity of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)/AHR nuclear translocator (ARNT).

SHP (short heterodimer partner) is an orphan nuclear receptor lacking a DNA binding domain that interacts with nuclear receptors (NR) including thyroid receptor (TR), retinoic acid receptors (RAR and RXR), and estrogen receptors alpha and beta (ERalpha and ERbeta). SHP acts as a negative regulator of these receptors by inhibiting DNA binding and transcriptional activation. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) binds to arylhydrocarbon receptor (AHR), activating the AHR/AHR nuclear translocator (ARNT) heterodimer. We investigated the physical and functional interaction of SHP with AHR/ARNT. In RL95-2 human endometrial carcinoma cells, SHP inhibited TCDD-stimulated reporter activity from the AHR-responsive CYP1A1 and UGT1A6 gene promoters in a concentration-dependent manner. In GST pull-down assays, ARNT interacted directly with SHP in vitro, but AHR did not interact with GST-SHP. SHP inhibited AHR/ARNT-DNA binding in vitro. These results identify ARNT as a novel SHP target. We speculate a role for SHP in the suppression of agonist-activated AHR/ARNT activity.

Molecular regulation of genes encoding xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes: mechanisms involving endogenous factors.

It is widely recognized that xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes play a fundamental role in the basic processes of carcinogenesis and toxicity on one hand, and chemoprevention and drug efficacy on the other. Realization that different factors can profoundly affect the expression of these enzymes at the genome level has resulted in an enhanced appreciation of the importance these genes play in our modern industrialized age. There continues to be rapid proliferation of studies addressing the molecular regulation of these genes. The discovery of common signal transduction pathways and transcription factors that dictate tissue and developmental-specific expression, as well as variation in expression within a given tissue, suggest that there may be significant interaction among these various regulatory systems. This report is a summary of a symposium that was part of the Structure, Function and Regulation of Cytochromes P450 and Xenobiotic Metabolizing Enzymes satellite meeting of the 2000 joint meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, the French Pharmacological Society, and the Pharmacological Society of Canada held in Boston, Massachusetts. This symposium brought together several speakers who addressed specific receptor-mediated signal transduction pathways involved in the regulation of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes, as well as other molecular mechanisms whereby endogenous factors are involved in controlling tissue- and developmental-specific expression.

Negative regulation of rat hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase 3 by glucocorticoids.

The expression of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 3 gene is known to be controlled by multiple regulatory processes. In liver, inducible expression appears to be mediated by two AhRE sequences which allow regulation of this gene by xenobiotic compounds which are ligands for the Ah receptor (Takimoto et al., 1994; this work). Constitutive expression of ALDH3 in tissues such as the cornea also involves the -3,500 region which contains an AhRE (Boesch et al., 1996; Boesch et al, 1998). However, the constellation of transcription factors which appear to interact with the AhRE in constitutively expressing corneal cells does not include either the Ah receptor nor the prototypical ARNT protein (Boesch et al., 1998). For both inducible and constitutive ALDH3 expression the more distal 5' flanking region sequences appear to interact with more proximal regulatory elements. Of particular interest is the region near -1 kb which includes the GC (-930 to -910) and cAMP (-1057 to -991) responsive elements as well as the 2 NF1 sites (-916 to -815), all of which appear to act as negative modulators of ALDH3 expression. A second putative ALDH3 negative regulatory region lies even more distal than -3,500 bp. To date, this region has been little studied, but appears to be involved in regulating both inducible and constitutive ALDH3 expression. This region may also be responsible for some of the tissue-specificity of ALDH3 expression. With respect to the work described here, in both isolated hepatocytes and HepG2 cells, no consistent negative regulation by glucocorticoids was observed in the basal expression of ALDH3. This indicates that the mechanism of GC-mediated negative regulation involves direct interference with ALDH3 gene activation mediated by the Ah receptor. Our results suggest a complex interplay between multiple transcription factors, including the GC and Ah receptors, regulates the hepatic expression of the ALDH3 gene. Active recruitment of transcription factors needed for gene transactivation, amelioration of the actions of negative regulatory trans-acting factors or cis-acting elements and/or chromatin remodeling may be required for achieve proper regulation of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 3 gene.

Negative regulation of the rat glutathione S-transferase A2 gene by glucocorticoids involves a canonical glucocorticoid consensus sequence.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) repress both basal and polyaromatic hydrocarbon-induced expression of the glutathione S-transferase Ya1 gene (gstA2) in isolated rat hepatocytes and rat liver in vivo. Transient transfection experiments with HepG2 cells were used to identify GC-responsive elements (GREs). With cotransfected GC receptor, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) constructs containing a palindromic GRE (pGRE) and three GRE hexanucleotide half-sites between -1.6 and -1.1 kb of the 5'-flanking region of gstA2 were repressed >50% by GC when induced with polyaromatic hydrocarbon. This pGRE, if either mutated or deleted, significantly reduces GC responsiveness of the gene to 20-30%; no effect of GC was observed with CAT constructs containing -1.15 kb of the 5'-flanking region. The dexamethasone concentration dependence of the repression was consistent with involvement of the GC receptor and was antagonized by RU38486. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that pGRE formed a specific DNA/protein complex, which was prevented by the addition of excess unlabeled or mouse mammary tumor virus GRE but not by unrelated or mutated gstA2 GRE double-stranded oligonucleotides. This complex was supershifted by incubation of nuclear extracts containing GC receptor with anti-GC receptor globulins. Constructs containing multiple copies of pGRE sequence were either nonresponsive or positively responsive (three copies) to GC. Luciferase constructs containing -1.62 to -1.03 kb of the 5'-flanking region also were regulated positively by GC. Chimeric GC-peroxisome proliferator activated receptor activated the constructs that were positively responsive to GC but did not mediate the negative effect in constructs containing 1.6 kb of 5'-flanking region. We conclude that pGRE and half-site GREs of gstA2 participate in regulation of this gene; however, a second unidentified responsive element must exist between -1.03 and -0.164 kb, resulting in repression of gstA2 expression.

Modulation of methylnitrosourea-induced breast cancer in Sprague Dawley rats by dehydroepiandrosterone: dose-dependent inhibition, effects of limited exposure, effects on peroxisomal enzymes, and lack of effects on levels of Ha-Ras mutations.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), the major steroid precursor of androgens and estrogens produced in peripheral tissues in primates, is an effective chemopreventive agent in the N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced rat mammary tumor model. Dietary DHEA (5-600 ppm; 600 mg/kg diet) was administered beginning 1 week before MNU and administered continually throughout the duration of the experiment. The highest dose of DHEA (600 ppm) significantly decreased tumor incidence from 95 to 45% and increased tumor latency and decreased tumor multiplicity from 4.1 to 0.5 tumors/rat. Lower doses of DHEA (5, 24, and 120 ppm) were also effective, decreasing tumor multiplicity by 28, 40, and 55%, respectively, increasing tumor latency in a dose-dependent manner but only minimally affecting final tumor incidence. DHEA in the diet caused a dose-dependent increase in serum levels of DHEA. The 120-ppm dietary dose of DHEA resulted in serum levels of DHEA of approximately 42 pmol/ml levels, similar to those seen in young humans. When we examined whole mounts of mammary glands derived from rats exposed to higher levels of DHEA (600 ppm), we observed a striking increase in lobular development. The doses of DHEA used in these studies (< or =600 ppm) had minimal effects on the induction of fatty acid CoA synthetase, a peroxisome-associated enzyme. In contrast, a dose of 2000 ppm substantially increased levels of peroxisome-associated fatty acid CoA synthetase. The varied and striking efficacy of DHEA was achieved in the absence of any significant effect on body weight gain in the treated rats. Furthermore, tumors from rats treated with MNU alone or rats treated with MNU plus DHEA were examined for the presence of mutations in the Ha-Ras oncogene. There was a slight decrease in the percentage of tumors bearing Ha-Ras mutations in tumors derived from MNU-control rats as contrasted with tumors from MNU-DHEA (120 and 600 ppm)-treated rats. Based on the striking chemopreventive efficacy of continual exposure to DHEA, we examined the effects of more limited exposure to DHEA. Rats were treated with DHEA for a period of 7 weeks immediately before and after MNU injection. Rats were then placed on the control diet for the ensuing 15 weeks. Even this limited exposure to DHEA for a period of 7 weeks profoundly decreased final tumor incidence and multiplicity. Additionally, we examined the effects of intermittent dosing with DHEA. Rats were treated alternatively at 3-week intervals either with diet containing DHEA or with control diet. It was found that this intermittent dosing with DHEA also substantially inhibited the formation of mammary tumors.

Human NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase induction in human hepatoma cells after exposure to industrial acrylates, phenolics, and metals.

Induction of the endogenous human NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (HQOR1) gene in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 was measured at both the enzyme activity and RNA levels after exposure to a variety of industrial compounds. An RNA probe was designed that was complementary to portions of both the coding region and the 3'-nontranslated region unique to the largest (2.7-kilobase) HQOR1 transcript. Induction by three strong inducers of HQOR1 verified the utility of the antisense RNA probe. Ten industrial chemicals were evaluated as potential inducers, i.e. acrylonitrile, Sb2O3, BaO, CdCl2, CuCl, ethyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, MoO3, phenol, and toluene. Induction at the RNA level was about 2-fold higher than at the enzyme activity level except in the case of acrylonitrile, for which induction at the enzyme activity and RNA levels was similar. There was no preferential induction of the 2.7-kilobase transcript for any chemical tested, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin, which had previously been reported to preferentially induce this transcript. Six of the 10 industrial chemicals, including four previously untested chemicals (phenol, Sb2O3, CuCl, and MoO3), were found to induce the HQOR1 gene. By comparison, previous studies in rodent systems failed to accurately predict the human HQOR1 gene response. Two chemicals previously shown to be inducers in rodent systems (methyl acrylate and CdCl2 failed to induce the HQOR1 gene. These results emphasize the importance of analyzing induction of the endogenous human gene, rather than simply extrapolating from rodent systems or gene fusion experiments.

cAMP-dependent negative regulation of rat aldehyde dehydrogenase class 3 gene expression.

We investigated the inhibitory effects of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in regulating class 3 aldehyde dehydrogenase (aldh3) gene expression using cultures of primary rat hepatocytes and transient transfection experiments with HepG2 cells. In addition to regulation by an Ah receptor-dependent mechanism, expression of many members of the Ah gene battery have been shown to be negatively regulated. As was seen for the cytochrome P450 (cyp1A1) gene, aldh3 is transcriptionally inducible by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and this induction involving function of the arylhydrocarbon (Ah) receptor is inhibited by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine di-HCl (H7) and staurosporine. However, PAH induction of ALDH-3 activity, protein, and mRNA was potentiated 2-4-fold by addition of the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors, N-(2-(methylamino)ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide di-HCl (H8) and N-(2-guanidinoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide HCl (HA1004). These PKA inhibitors had no effect on the PAH induction of the cyp1A1. Protein kinase A activity of cultured hepatocytes was specifically inhibited by H8 and HA1004 in a concentration-dependent manner, but not by H7, and there was an inverse correlation observed between potentiation of PAH-induced aldh3 gene expression and inhibition of specific PKA activity by the PKA inhibitors. The cAMP analog dibutyryl cAMP, the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin, and the protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitor okadaic acid all dramatically inhibited both PAH induction and H8 potentiation of PAH induction of aldh3 expression but had no effect on induction of cyp1A1 expression in cultured hepatocytes. Both basal and PAH-dependent expression of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression plasmid containing approximately 3.5 kilobase pairs of the 5'-flanking region of aldh3 (pALDH3.5CAT) were enhanced 3-4-fold by the PKA inhibitor H8 but not by the PKC inhibitor H7 (>20 microM). cAMP analogs, activators of PKA activity, or protein phosphatase inhibitors diminished expression of the reporter gene in a manner identical to the native gene in cultured rat hepatocytes. Using deletion analysis of the pALDH3.5CAT construct, we demonstrated the existence of a negative regulatory region in the 5'-flanking region between -1057 and -991 base pairs which appears to be responsible for the cAMP-dependent regulation of this gene under both basal and PAH-induced conditions. At least two apparently independent mechanisms which involve protein phosphorylation regulate aldh3 expression. One involves function of the Ah receptor which requires PKC protein phosphorylation to positively regulate both aldh3 and cyp1A1 gene expression and the other a cAMP-responsive process which allows PKA activity to negatively regulate expression of aldh3 under either basal or inducible conditions.

Hormonal regulation of hepatic enzymes involved in foreign compound metabolism.

The regulation of hepatic P450s has been the focus of numerous studies because of the importance of these proteins in endocrinology, oncology, and toxicology, as well as drug development. Considerable evidence exists demonstrating that many hepatic P450s are regulated by developmental, sex, or hormonal factors in addition to receptors that interact with foreign chemicals. The focus of work in our laboratory has been on the effects of steroid hormones, especially glucocorticoids, on expression of genes regulated by the Ah receptor. We have shown that most rat hepatic genes of the Ah receptor gene battery are regulated by glucocorticoids. We have used glucocorticoid-deficient animal models to demonstrate that these steroids do modulate the expression (basal and inducible) of these genes in vivo. Using cultured rat hepatocytes, we have demonstrated that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) induction of cytochrome P4501A1, glutathione S-transferase Ya1, and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1*6 are apparently potentiated two- to fourfold upon inclusion of glucocorticoids in the media to activate the glucocorticoid receptor and further, that the receptor antagonist RU 38486 reverses these phenomenon. NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase and aldehyde dehydrogenase 3 gene expression were repressed 70-80% by glucocorticoids in cultured hepatocytes through a glucocorticoid receptor-mediated process as well. The effect of glucocorticoid concentration on PAH induction of glutathione S-transferase Ya1 subunit for glucocorticoids was biphasic, but at physiological concentrations gene expression was repressed to approximately 20-40% of control. At supraphysiological concentrations, glucocorticoids alone induced expression two- to threefold and potentiated the PAH-inducible expression of the Ya1 subunit gene. Subsequent work in our laboratory has focused on defining the molecular basis of this hormonal regulation, specifically elucidating responsive elements responsible for the action of the glucocorticoid receptor and the mechanisms by which some of these genes are positively regulated and others are negatively regulated.

Regulation of the Ah gene battery via Ah receptor-dependent and independent processes in cultured adult rat hepatocytes.

A number of genes under the control of the arylhydrocarbon (Ah) receptor were tested for the effects of glucocorticoids on their expression in cultured primary rat hepatocytes. Treatment of cultured hepatocytes with 1.0 microM dexamethasone potentiated the induction (2- to 3-fold) of cytochrome P4501A1, glutathione S-transferase Ya subunit (GSTYa), and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase gene expression by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), whereas the glucocorticoid agonist suppressed PAH induction of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (QOR) subunit and aldehyde dehydrogenase 3C gene expression by 60-80%. These results were seen at the level of enzyme activity for induction by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and at the level of enzyme activity, protein, and specific mRNA for induction by 1,2-benzanthracene. Two of these rat genes, GSTYa and QOR are also induced by electrophilic agents, such as t-butylhydroquinone. In the presence of t-butylhydroquinone, dexamethasone caused a similar level of potentiation of GSTYa subunit expression and suppression of QOR subunit expression as was seen with the PAH, 1,2-benzanthracene. Studies using the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU38486, demonstrated that the modulation of PAH induction by glucocorticoids of cytochrome P4501A1 and QOR activity is apparently dependent on action of the glucocorticoid receptor. These results suggest that the positive and negative changes observed are the result of specific alterations in the rates of transcription of these genes because of the action of the glucocorticoid receptor, thereby affecting regulation of GSTYa and QOR by both Ah receptor-dependent and independent mechanisms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Induction of microsomal and peroxisomal enzymes by dehydroepiandrosterone and its reduced metabolite in rats.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) given to rodents in pharmacological doses induces several hepatic enzymes including cytochromes P4504A, NADPH:P450 oxidoreductase, palmitoyl coenzyme A oxidase, and other enzymes associated with the peroxisomal beta-oxidation pathway, leading to peroxisome proliferation and development of hepatocellular carcinoma in rodents. Comparison of the inductive potency of DHEA and other intermediates of the steroid biosynthetic path demonstrated that only DHEA, 5-ene-androstene-3 beta,17 beta-diol (ADIOL), and to a lesser extent, 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, a precursor of DHEA, induce cytochromes P4504A protein and other enzymes associated with the peroxisome proliferative response in vivo. ADIOL exerted its inductive response at a somewhat lower dosage than DHEA, whereas ADIOL and DHEA both induced the microsomal enzymes (P4504A and its oxidoreductase) at somewhat lower dosages than those required to induce peroxisomal enzymes. Northern analysis demonstrated increases in the mRNAs encoding the cytochromes P4504A (> 20-fold) and NADPH:P450 oxidoreductase (> 10-fold) in the livers of DHEA- and ADIOL-treated rats. Run-on transcription analysis demonstrated that DHEA induces CYP4A gene expression 11-fold at the level of transcription initiation. Comparison of the responsiveness of individual rat CYP4A genes (4A1, 4A2, and 4A3) to DHEA and ADIOL in immature versus mature male rats revealed 2-3-fold higher levels of induced CYP4A1 and 4A3 mRNAs in immature rat livers. In contrast, hepatic CYP4A2 mRNA was induced to 6-10-fold higher levels in mature rats. No basal or significant inducible expression of mRNA for CYP4A1 and 4A3 was noted in rat kidney. Significant basal levels of kidney CYP4A2 mRNA were observed only in mature animals, where they were inducible by ADIOL and DHEA to a 3-5-fold greater extent than in the kidneys of immature rats. These studies demonstrate developmental differences in the responsiveness of CYP4A mRNA levels to DHEA and ADIOL in rat kidney and liver. Moreover, the striking inducibility of CYP4A protein and mRNAs, together with the increased rates of synthesis of nascent CYP4A mRNA transcripts in hepatic nuclei from DHEA-treated rats, establish that DHEA increases the expression of these microsomal enzymes at the transcriptional level.