Effect of 5-fluorouracil on mRNA expression of drug metabolizing enzyme and transporter genes in human hepatoma cell lines.

Fluoropyrimidines such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are well known to have drug-drug interactions with anticoagulant medications such as warfarin. This study investigated the mRNA expression of pharmacokinetic (PK)-related genes in response to 5-FU using the hepatocarcinoma cell lines after examining relevant gene expression via RNA sequencing. We used HepaRG cells for 5-FU treatment analysis because these cells displayed PK-related gene expression. 5-FU exposure significantly reduced cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) mRNA expression. Additionally, the mRNA expression of nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group I member 2 (also known as pregnane X receptor), a nuclear receptor transcription factor that promotes the expression of many CYP genes, was also decreased in HepaRG cells following 5-FU treatment. The mRNA expressions of the CYP2B6 and ATP-binding cassette transporter genes were decreased after 5-FU treatment. This study revealed that 5-FU treatment reduced PK-related gene expression in HepaRG cells. These findings should be useful for further drug-drug interaction research.

Am80 induces neuronal differentiation via increased tropomyosin-related kinase B expression in a human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line.

Am80, a synthetic retinoid, has been used in differentiation therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) as one of natural retinoid has been also used to treat APL. ATRA treatment causes neuronal differentiation by inducing tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) expression and increasing the sensitivity to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a TrkB ligand. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Am80 on neuronal differentiation, BDNF sensitivity and TrkB expression in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Treatment with Am80 induced morphological differentiation of neurite outgrowth and increased the expression of GAP43 mRNA, a neuronal differentiation marker. Additionally, TrkB protein was also increased, and exogenous BDNF stimulation after treatment with Am80 induced greater neurite outgrowth than without BDNF treatment. These results suggest that Am80 induced neuronal differentiation by increasing TrkB expression and BDNF sensitivity.

Am80 induces neuronal differentiation in a human neuroblastoma NH-12 cell line.

Retinoids including natural vitamin A, its derivatives and synthetic compounds work as transcription factors through the retinoic acid receptors (RAR, RXR). All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a family of retinoids, is an internal ligand of RAR and well known as a useful differentiation inducer to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). ATRA therapy is now established as an initial treatment for APL. Recently, to improve therapeutic potency and reduce adverse effects of ATRA, a novel synthetic selective agonist for RARalpha and beta, Am80, was developed and applied to APL treatment. In this study, we tested whether Am80 was capable of inducing neuronal differentiation in a human neuroblastoma cell line, NH-12 and compared the differentiation effects between Am80 and ATRA. Morphological studies demonstrated that Am80 induced more potent neurite outgrowth and also proved lesser cell toxicity than ATRA. Am80 up-regulated the expression of tropomyosin-related kinase B as well as ATRA. Moreover, Am80 increased the expression of the neuronal marker, growth-associated protein 43. These findings suggest that Am80 induces neuronal differentiation to a greater extent than ATRA and thus may help establishing therapeutic strategies against neuronal degenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease.