Inhibition of human UGT2B7 gene expression in transgenic mice by the constitutive androstane receptor.

The xenobiotic receptors, constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), and pregnane X receptor (PXR) regulate and alter the metabolism of xenobiotic substrates. Among the 19 functional UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) in humans, UGT2B7 is involved in the metabolism of many structurally diverse xenobiotics and plays an important role in the clearance and detoxification of many therapeutic drugs. To examine whether this gene is regulated by CAR and PXR in vivo, transgenic mice expressing the entire UGT2B7 gene (TgUGT2B7) were created. Gene expression profiles revealed that UGT2B7 is differentially expressed in liver, kidney, adipocytes, brain, and estrogen-sensitive tissues, such as ovary and uterus. Liver UGT2B7 expression levels were decreased when TgUGT2B7 mice were treated with the CAR ligand 1,4-b-s-[2-(3,5,-dichloropyridyloxy)] (TCPOBOP) but not the PXR ligand pregnenolone 16α-carbonitrile. Although TCPOBOP decreased the levels of UGT2B7 mRNA in TgUGT2B7 mice, it had no affect on Tg(UGT2B7)Car(-/-) mice, adding support for a CAR-dependent mechanism contributing toward UGT2B7 gene suppression. Expression of promoter constructs in HepG2 cells showed the CAR-dependent inhibition was linked to hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α (HNF4α)-mediated transactivation of the UGT2B7 promoter. The inhibitory effect of CAR on UGT2B7 gene expression was validated in chromatin immunoprecipitation assays in which TCPOBOP treatment blocked HNF4α binding to the UGT2B7 promoter. These results suggest that HNF4α plays an important role in the constitutive expression of hepatic UGT2B7, and CAR acts as a negative regulator by interfering with HNF4α binding activity.

Studies on induction of lamotrigine metabolism in transgenic UGT1 mice.

A transgenic 'knock-in' mouse model expressing a human UGT1 locus (Tg-UGT1) was recently developed and validated. Although these animals express mouse UGT1A proteins, UGT1A4 is a pseudo-gene in mice. Therefore, Tg-UGT1 mice serve as a 'humanized' UGT1A4 animal model. Lamotrigine (LTG) is primarily metabolized to its N-glucuronide (LTGG) by hUGT1A4. This investigation aimed at examining the impact of pregnane X receptor (PXR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) activators on LTG glucuronidation in vivo and in vitro. Tg-UGT1 mice were administered the inducers phenobarbital (CAR), pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile (PXR), WY-14643 (PPAR-alpha), ciglitazone (PPAR-gamma), or L-165041 (PPAR-beta), once daily for 3 or 4 days. Thereafter, LTG was administered orally and blood samples were collected over 24 h. LTG was measured in blood and formation of LTGG was measured in pooled microsomes made from the livers of treated animals. A three-fold increase in in vivo LTG clearance was seen after phenobarbital administration. In microsomes prepared from phenobarbital-treated Tg-UGT1 animals, 13-fold higher CL(int) (Vmax/K(m)) value was observed as compared with the untreated transgenic mice. A trend toward induction of catalytic activity in vitro and in vivo was also observed following pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile and WY-14643 treatment. This study demonstrates the successful application of Tg-UGT1 mice as a novel tool to study the impact of induction and regulation on metabolism of UGT1A4 substrates.

Liver cells contain constitutive DNase I-hypersensitive sites at the xenobiotic response elements 1 and 2 (XRE1 and -2) of the rat cytochrome P-450IA1 gene and a constitutive, nuclear XRE-binding factor that is distinct from the dioxin receptor.

Dioxin stimulates transcription from the cytochrome P-450IA1 promoter by interaction with the intracellular dioxin receptor. Upon binding of ligand, the receptor is converted to a form which specifically interacts in vitro with two dioxin-responsive positive control elements located in close proximity to each other about 1 kb upstream of the rat cytochrome P-450IA1 gene transcription start point. In rat liver, the cytochrome P-450IA1 gene is marked at the chromatin level by two DNase I-hypersensitive sites that map to the location of the response elements and exist prior to induction of transcription by the dioxin receptor ligand beta-naphthoflavone. In addition, a DNase I-hypersensitive site is detected near the transcription initiation site and is altered in nuclease sensitivity by induction. The presence of the constitutive DNase I-hypersensitive sites at the dioxin response elements correlates with the presence of a constitutive, labile factor which specifically recognizes these elements in vitro. This factor appears to be distinct from the dioxin receptor, which is observed only in nuclear extract from treated cells. In conclusion, these data suggest that a certain protein-DNA architecture may be maintained at the response elements at different stages of gene expression.

Differential down-regulation of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A locus is an early event in human liver and biliary cancer.

One of the most important processes controlling cellular detoxification is carried out in the endoplasmic reticulum by glucuronidation, and most likely plays an important role in the defense mechanism against chemical-induced carcinogenesis. The human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase UGT1A locus encodes up to 12 unique transferases that are transcribed through selective exon sharing. Little is known about how this locus is regulated in human tissues. We present evidence that the UGT1A gene products are differentially expressed in normal liver tissue, which is composed of hepatocellular and biliary tissue, as well as in malignant and premalignant tumor tissue. In liver, UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A4, and UGT1A9 are expressed, and are all significantly down-regulated in malignant hepatocellular carcinoma and its premalignant precursor, hepatic adenoma, but not in benign focal nodular hyperplasia. UGT1A6, which is expressed abundantly in liver, is not significantly regulated in liver tumors. UGT1A10, a newly discovered UGT1A gene product, is expressed only in biliary and not hepatocellular tissue and is also significantly down-regulated in cholangiocellular carcinoma. Differential regulation between normal biliary tissue and tumor is also observed with UGT1A4. These findings implicate the regulation of the UGT1A locus as a putative early event in hepatocarcinogenesis that discriminates between benign and malignant hepatotumorigenesis and indicates that a complex mode of cellular control underlies the regulation of this locus.

Metabolism of 2-acetylaminofluorene and benzo(a)pyrene and activation of food-derived heterocyclic amine mutagens by human cytochromes P-450.

The human P-450 CYP1A1 gene and a P450IA2 complementary DNA have been expressed in Cos-1 cells and the expressed proteins were assayed for their capacity to metabolize the carcinogens 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF), benzo(a)pyrene, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline, 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) was determined. The expressed human P450IA1 and P450IA2 proteins, when run on a 7.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel, migrated with different mobilities, with the former displaying the lower molecular weight. In human liver microsomes from 18 subjects, only a protein band corresponding to P450IA2 was detectable. Cos-1 cell-expressed P450IA1 and P450IA2 were capable of N-hydroxylating AAF and these activities were inhibited by alpha-naphthoflavone. In human liver microsomes, a correlation of r = 0.76 (P less than 0.05; n = 18) was obtained between AAF N-hydroxylase activity and P450IA2 content. AAF N-hydroxylase activity of human liver microsomes was also strongly inhibited by alpha-naphthoflavone. Except in the case of PhIP, where both proteins exhibited similar activities, P450IA2 was at least an order of magnitude more efficient than P450IA1 in activating IQ, 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline, and 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline to mutagens as measured in the Ames test. Statistically significant correlations were obtained between IQ activation and P450IA2 content (r = 0.75, r2 = 0.56) and PhIP activation and P450IA2 content (r = 0.71, r2 = 0.5) in human liver microsomes. The activation of both IQ and PhIP by expressed proteins and human liver microsomes was strongly inhibited by alpha-naphthoflavone. The above data suggest a major role for P450IA2 in activation (N-hydroxylation) of aromatic amides and amines in human liver. When benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase activity was determined, only Cos-1 cell-expressed P450IA1 exhibited appreciable activity. While alpha-naphthoflavone inhibited Cos-1 cell-expressed P450IA1 benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase activity, it caused a marked stimulation of this activity in human liver microsomes, which lack P450IA1 protein. The lack of a role for P450IA proteins in benzo(a)pyrene metabolism is further supported by the poor correlation (r = 0.43, P greater than 0.05) between this activity and P450IA2 content of human liver microsomes. However, when P450IIIA3 content of the above human liver microsomes was determined by using the Western blot technique and correlated with benzo(a)pyrene metabolism, an r value of 0.70 (P less than 0.5) was obtained. These data suggest that human P450IIIA proteins are involved in benzo(a)pyrene metabolism.

Metabolism of polycyclic aza-aromatic carcinogens catalyzed by four expressed human cytochromes P450.

The role of human cytochromes P4501A1, -1A2, -3A4, and -3A5 in the metabolism of the polycyclic aza-aromatic hydrocarbons 7-methylbenz(c)acridine and dibenz(aj)acridine was investigated. The regioselectivity of the reactions was determined, as well as the associated stereoselectivity in the production of dihydrodiol metabolites and K-region oxides. Metabolite distributions were also examined in the presence of the epoxide hydrolase inhibitor 1,1,1-trichloropropylene-2,3-oxide and the P450 modulator alpha-naphthoflavone. P4501A2 was most regioselective for the production of the proximate carcinogen; the 3,4-dihydrodiol of 7-methylbenz(c)acridine and P4503A4 showed the highest regioselectivity for K-region oxidation. In contrast, the analogous putative proximate carcinogen of dibenz(aj)acridine was formed with the highest relative abundance by P4503A4, while P4501A2 was most regioselective for K-region oxidation. For both compounds the proximate carcinogens possessed predominantly the 3R,4R-absolute configuration, independent of the P450 catalyzing the reaction. The K-region dihydrodiols of 7-methylbenz(c)acridine were formed with no stereoselectivity, except with P4501A2 which favored production of the S,S isomer. In contrast the K-region dihydrodiol of dibenz(aj)acridine was formed by P4501A1 and P4501A2 as the R,R isomer with almost 100% optical purity. P4501A2 and 3A4 showed no stereoselectivity in the formation of the K-region oxide of 7-methylbenz(c)acridine, while P4501A1 produced the 5R,6S-oxide with low optical purity. For dibenz(aj)acridine 5,6-oxide, P4501A1 predominantly formed 5S,6R-oxide (80% pure). These results emphasize the importance of the composition and levels of expressed P450s of an individual in relation to the activation and detoxification of toxicants.

Cytochrome P450 1A2 is a hepatic autoantigen in autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1.

Autoantibodies directed against proteins of the adrenal cortex and the liver were studied in 88 subjects of Sardinian descent, namely six patients with autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS1), 22 relatives of APS1 patients, 40 controls with other autoimmune diseases, and 20 healthy controls. Indirect immunofluorescence, using tissue sections of the adrenal cortex, revealed a cytoplasmatic staining pattern in 4 of 6 patients with APS1. Western blotting with adrenal mitochondria identified autoantigens of 54 kDa and 57 kDa, Western blotting with placental mitochondria revealed a 54-kDa autoantigen. The 54-kDa protein was recognized by 4 of 6 patients with APS1 both in placental and adrenal tissue, whereas the 57-kDa protein was detected only by one serum. Using recombinant preparations of cytochrome P450 proteins, the autoantigens were identified as P450 scc and P450 c17. One of six APS1 patients suffered from chronic hepatitis. In this patient, immunofluorescence revealed a centrolobular liver and a proximal renal tubule staining pattern. Western blots using microsomal preparations of human liver revealed a protein band of 52 kDa. The autoantigen was identified as cytochrome P450 1A2 by use of recombinant protein preparations. P450 1A2 represents the first hepatic autoantigen reported in APS1. P450 1A2 usually is not detected by sera of patients with isolated autoimmune liver disease and might be a hepatic marker autoantigen for patients with APS1.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin induces the nuclear translocation of two XRE binding proteins in mice.

The administration of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) to mice results in their binding to the ligand binding portion of the cytosolic dioxin-(Ah)-receptor, followed by translocation of the Ah receptor complex to the nucleus where the DNA binding form of the receptor can be measured by gel retardation analysis. In this report, extended electrophoresis of the nuclear DNA binding proteins isolated from liver demonstrate that TCDD and 3MC induce two nuclear DNA binding proteins in Ah-responsive C57BL/6 mice, while only TCDD induces these proteins in the Ah-nonresponsive DBA/2 mice. The two TCDD inducible (TI) nuclear DNA binding proteins, identified as TI-1 and TI-2, bind specifically to the Cypla-1 gene dioxin-(Ah)-receptor enhancer sequences (XREs) concordant with the properties of the Ah receptor. TI-1 is the predominant inducible form that is present in liver and extrahepatic tissues and most likely represents what is thought to be the Ah receptor, while TI-2 represents a minor form that is found only in liver. The nuclear induction of the Ah receptor by TCDD can be inhibited by phorbol esters such as TPA (Okino et al., 1992), but analysis of nuclear TI-1 and TI-2 shows that TPA can selectively inhibit the appearance of TI-1. The results of differential expression with regard to tissue and also inhibition by TPA suggests that TI-1 and TI-2 are under different modes of regulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Caffeine as a probe for human cytochromes P450: validation using cDNA-expression, immunoinhibition and microsomal kinetic and inhibitor techniques.

The molecular basis for the use of caffeine (CA; 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) as a probe for specific human cytochromes P450 has been investigated. The CA 1-, 3- and 7-demethylations (to form theobromine, paraxanthine and theophylline, respectively) all followed biphasic kinetics in human liver microsomes. Mean apparent Km values for the high- and low-affinity components of the demethylations ranged from 0.13-0.31 nM and 19.2-30.0 mM, respectively. cDNA-expressed CYP1A2 catalysed all three CA demethylations, and the apparent Km for CA 3-demethylation (the major metabolic pathway in humans) by the expressed enzyme was similar to the Km for the high-affinity liver microsomal CA 3-demethylase. IC50 values for inhibition of the CA demethylations by alpha-naphthoflavone were similar for both expressed CYP1A2 and the high-affinity microsomal demethylases. Moreover, CA was a competitive inhibitor of expressed CYP1A2 catalysed phenacetin O-deethylation, with the apparent Ki (0.080 mM) closely matching the apparent Km (0.082 mM) for CA 3-demethylation by the expressed enzyme. Expressed CYP1A1 was additionally shown to catalyse the 3-demethylation of CA, although activity was lower than that observed for CYP1A2. While these data indicate that CYP1A2 is responsible for the high-affinity component of human liver CA 3-demethylation, two limitations associated with the use of CA as an in vitro probe for CYP1A2 activity have been identified: (i) CA 3-demethylation reflects hepatic CYP1A2 activity only at appropriately low substrate concentrations; and (ii) CA is a non-specific CYP1A substrate and CYP1A1 may therefore contribute to CA 3-demethylase activity in tissues in which it is expressed. An anti-CYP3A antibody essentially abolished the 8-hydroxylation of CA to form trimethyluric acid, suggesting formation of this metabolite may potentially serve as a marker of CYP3A isozyme(s) activity.

Glucuronide and glucoside conjugation of mycophenolic acid by human liver, kidney and intestinal microsomes.

Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is primarily metabolized to a phenolic glucuronide (MPAG) as well as to two further minor metabolites: an acyl glucuronide (AcMPAG) and a phenolic glucoside (MPAG1s). This study presents investigations of the formation of these metabolites by human liver (HLM), kidney (HKM), and intestinal (HIM) microsomes, as well as by recombinant UDP-glucuronosyltransferases. HLM (n=5), HKM (n=6), HIM (n=5) and recombinant UGTs were incubated in the presence of either UDP-glucuronic acid or UDP-glucose and various concentrations of MPA. Metabolite formation was followed by h.p.l.c. All microsomes investigated formed both MPAG and AcMPAG. Whereas the efficiency of MPAG formation was greater with HKM compared to HLM, AcMPAG formation was greater with HLM than HKM. HIM showed the lowest glucuronidation efficiency and the greatest interindividual variation. The capacity for MPAGls formation was highest in HKM, while no glucoside was detected with HIM. HKM produced a second metabolite when incubated with MPA and UDP-glucose, which was labile to alkaline treatment. Mass spectrometry of this metabolite in the negative ion mode revealed a molecular ion of m/z 481 compatible with an acyl glucoside conjugate of MPA. All recombinant UGTs investigated were able to glucuronidate MPA with K:(M:) values ranging from 115.3 to 275.7 microM l(-1) and V(max) values between 29 and 106 pM min(-1) mg protein(-1). Even though the liver is the most important site of MPA glucuronidation, extrahepatic tissues particularly the kidney may play a significant role in the overall biotransformation of MPA in man. Only kidney microsomes formed a putative acyl glucoside of MPA.

Cytochromes P450, 1A2, and 2C9 are responsible for the human hepatic O-demethylation of R- and S-naproxen.

A preliminary report implicated cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 in the human liver microsomal O-demethylation of S-naproxen, suggesting that this pathway may be suitable for investigation of human hepatic CYP2C9 in vitro. Kinetic and inhibitor studies with human liver microsomes and confirmatory investigations with cDNA-expressed enzymes were undertaken here to define the role of CYP2C9 and other isoforms in the O-demethylation of R- and S-naproxen. All studies utilised a newly developed sensitive and specific HPLC assay that measured the respective O-desmethyl metabolites of R- and S-naproxen in incubations of human liver microsomes and in COS cell lysates. Microsomal R- and S-naproxen O-demethylation kinetics followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with respective mean apparent Km values of 123 microM and 143 microM. Sulfaphenazole, a specific inhibitor of CYP2C9, reduced the microsomal O-demethylation of R- and S-naproxen by 43% and 47%, respectively, and the CYP1A2 inhibitor furafylline decreased R- and S-naproxen O-demethylation by 38% and 28%, respectively. R,S-Mephenytoin was a weak inhibitor of R- and S-naproxen O-demethylation, but other CYP isoform specific inhibitors (e.g., coumarin, diethyldithiocarbamate, quinidine, troleandomycin) had little or no effect on these reactions. cDNA-expressed CYP2C9 and CYP1A2 were both shown to O-demethylate R- and S-naproxen. Apparent Km values (92-156 microM) for the reactions catalysed by the recombinant enzymes were similar to those observed for human liver microsomal R- and S-naproxen O-demethylation. The data demonstrate that CYP2C9 and CYP1A2 together account for the majority of human liver R- and S-naproxen O-demethylation, precluding the use of either R- or S-naproxen as a CYP isoform-specific substrate in vitro and in vivo.

Caffeine metabolism by human hepatic cytochromes P450: contributions of 1A2, 2E1 and 3A isoforms.

Caffeine (CA) N1-, N3- and N7-demethylase, CA 8-hydroxylase and phenacetin O-deethylase activities were measured in microsomes from 18 separate human livers which had been characterized previously for a range of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoform-specific activities and immunoreactive CYP protein contents. Correlations between the high affinity components of the three separate CA N-demethylations were highly significant (r = 0.77-0.91, P < 0.001) and each of the three high affinity CA N-demethylations correlated significantly (r = 0.64-0.93, P < 0.05-0.001) with the high affinity phenacetin O-deethylase, 2-acetylaminofluorene N-hydroxylation and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) and 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) mutagenicity (all predominantly CYP1A2-mediated reactions). Consistent with these observations, cDNA-expressed human CYP1A2 catalyzed the N1-, N3- and N7-demethylation of CA and apparent Km values were similar (0.24-0.28 mM) for all three reactions and comparable to those observed previously with human liver microsomes. The low affinity components of CA N1- and N7-demethylation correlated significantly (r = 0.55-0.85, P < 0.05-0.001) with immunoreactive CYP2E1 content and the CYP2E1-specific activities 4-nitrophenol and chlorzoxazone hydroxylation. Diethyldithiocarbamate, a selective inhibitor of CYP2E1, inhibited the low affinity CA N1- and N7-demethylation, with IC50 values of 23 microM and 11 microM, respectively. The apparent Km values for CA N1- and N7-demethylation by cDNA-expressed CYP2E1 (namely 28 and 43 mM, respectively) were of a similar order to those calculated for the low affinity microsomal activities. Significant correlations (r = 0.87-0.97, P < 0.001) were observed between CA 8-hydroxylation and immunoreactive CYP3A content and the CYP3A-mediated reactions benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylation, omeprazole sulfoxidation and aflatoxin B1 mutagenesis. Effects of alpha-naphthoflavone, erythromycin, troleandomycin and nifedipine on microsomal CA 8-hydroxylation were generally consistent with CYP3A involvement. Taken together with previous data, the results indicate a major involvement of CYP1A2 in the high affinity component of all three human hepatic CA N-demethylations. In contrast, CYP2E1 appears to be the main enzyme involved in the low affinity components of CA N1- and N7-demethylation while CA 8-hydroxylation is catalysed predominantly by a CYP3A isoform(s).

Characterization of a rabbit factor IX cDNA.

A rabbit factor IX cDNA was isolated and characterized. The cDNA was 2,676 bp in length and contained the coding region for the leader peptide, the entire mature factor IX protein and a long 3' untranslated region. The deduced amino acid sequence shows a high degree of homology with the sequences of human factor IX and factor IX from other species. Northern blot analysis of liver RNA showed a single mRNA species of 2.8 kb for the rabbit factor IX.

Nuclear uptake of the Ah (dioxin) receptor in response to omeprazole: transcriptional activation of the human CYP1A1 gene.

In the presence of halogenated and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the CYP1A1 gene is regulated through induction after ligand binding to the cytosolic Ah receptor (AhR). Ligand-dependent AhR activation leads to nuclear translocation and binding of the receptor to dioxin-responsive element (DRE) sequences, an event that initiates transcriptional activation of the CYP1A1 gene. We recently established a human hepatoma cell line stably integrated with the human CYP1A1 promoter and 5'-flanking enhancer sequences fused to the firefly luciferase gene. This cell line, 101L, was used to determine whether the induction of CYP1A1 by omeprazole, a gastric proton pump inhibitor, is AhR mediated. Treatment of 101L cells with either 50 microM omeprazole or 5 nM 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin for 12-72 hr resulted in maximal activity at 24 hr for both inducers. A dose-response curve for omeprazole induction at 24 hr was determined and the EC50 for omeprazole induction of the human CYP1A1 gene was estimated to be 100 microM. The induction of the CYP1A1 gene by omeprazole corresponds to increases in CYP1A1 mRNA. To examine whether omeprazole-initiated transcriptional activation of the CYP1A1 gene correlates with nuclear accumulation of the AhR, binding of nuclear proteins to the DRE was examined. When gel mobility shift assays were performed using nuclear extracts isolated from 101L cells treated with omeprazole or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, specific binding of the AhR to the DRE was observed. These studies demonstrate that omeprazole initiates AhR activation and that induction of the human CYP1A1 gene by omeprazole is AhR dependent.

The human cytochrome Cyp1A2 gene contains regulatory elements responsive to 3-methylcholanthrene.

The regulation of the human cytochrome Cyp1A2 gene by 3-methylcholanthrene was studied through the transfection of 5'-flanking sequences into human cells. The Cyp1A2 promoter sequence and 3700 bases 5' to the cap site were linked to the procaryotic chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene. Transfection of this construct into HepG2 cells generated a 2-3-fold increase in Cyp1A2-directed chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity when the cells were treated with 3-methylcholanthrene. Deletion of flanking sequence to -1079 resulted in a loss of 3-methylcholanthrene-induced chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity. When 5'-flanking sequences of the Cyp1A2 gene were inserted into a plasmid containing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene under control of the simian virus 40 promoter, 3-methylcholanthrene-enhanced chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity was observed. The strongest 3-methylcholanthrene-induced chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity, a 4-fold increase, was observed for a DNA fragment located at -3202 to -1595. When this Cyp1A2 responsive element was transfected into human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells, 3-methylcholanthrene did not stimulate chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity. In comparison, when a DNA fragment that contained a copy of the human Cyp1A1 xenobiotic-responsive element was analyzed for enhancer activity, 3-methylcholanthrene initiated chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity in both HepG2 cells and MCF-7 cells. These results suggest that the 3-methylcholanthrene-responsive Cyp1A2 element may be regulated in a tissue-specific manner.

Genetic multiplicity of the human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases and regulation in the gastrointestinal tract.

The metabolism of ingested foods and orally administered drugs occurs in the hepato-gastrointestinal tract. This process is facilitated by several supergene families that catalyze oxidative metabolism as well as conjugation of the small molecular weight substances that enter the systemic circulation through resorption in the gastrointestinal tract. The catalytic action carried out by one of several conjugation reactions leads to the eventual elimination of the resultant metabolites from the cell. As early as 1959 (R. T. Williams, Detoxification Mechanisms) it was suggested that the detoxification of most agents is efficiently performed by the phase II conjugation reactions, because the addition of bulky, water-soluble groups to the target substrates facilitates the partitioning of these metabolites from the lipid into the aqueous compartments of the cell. The combined efforts of the phase II reactions provides remarkable redundancy in a biological system that seems to be designed to assure that many endogenously generated catabolic products as well as exogenous agents introduced through the surface tissues of the digestive tracts are efficiently removed through excretion to the bile or urine. In this review, we focus on recent findings that highlight the genetic multiplicity and regulatory patterns of the phase II superfamily UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). Although much is known regarding the number of UGTs that make up the UGT1 and UGT2 gene families, as demonstrated after the characterization of expressed cDNAs, examples are also presented in which information obtained from the human genome project will aid in the final characterization of the genetic multiplicity. In addition, tools have now been developed and examples presented to identify the expression patterns of the UGTs in human tissues, paying particular attention to expression patterns of these genes in the hepato-gastrointestinal tract.