Genetic association of Fc receptor-like 3 polymorphisms with susceptibility to primary biliary cirrhosis: ethnic comparative study in Japanese and Italian patients.

A functional variant in the Fc receptor-like 3 (FCRL3) gene is associated with the susceptibility to several autoimmune diseases. In this study, we examined whether the FCRL3 is associated with susceptibility to primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) by comparing the two different ethnic groups, Japanese and Italians. We enrolled 232 patients with PBC and 230 controls in Japanese, and 216 PBC and 180 controls in Italians. Minor allele frequency of fcrl3_3 (-169 T>C) in the patients with PBC and controls was 0.20 and 0.09 in Japanese and 0.24 and 0.21 in Italians, respectively. We found a significant association of fcrl3_3 with PBC only in Japanese (P = 9.64 × 10(-7) ). These findings support the presence of common FCRL3-related pathological pathways in several autoimmune diseases, especially in Asians.

Replicated association of 17q12-21 with susceptibility of primary biliary cirrhosis in a Japanese cohort.

To examine the genetics of susceptibility to primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), genome-wide association studies GWAS have been performed in patients of European ancestry and have shown the significant associations of IL12-related pathways, SPIB, IRF5-TNPO3, and 17q12-21. We tested whether these findings could be extended to a Japanese cohort, 303 Japanese PBC and 298 controls. We failed to detect significant associations at IL12A (rs574808, rs1075498) and IL12RB2 (rs3790567). There was no genetic variance at IRF5-TNPO3 (rs10488631) in Japanese. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at SPIB (rs3745516) reached nominal significance, but the corrected P value did not reach significance. For the 17q12-21 region, two SNPs had nominally significant associations [GSDMB (rs2305480, P = 0.022) and ZPBP2 (rs11557467, P = 0.021)] and we noted a significant P value at a SNP in IKZF3 (rs939327, P = 0.0024, P(c) = 0.017) after correction for multiple comparisons. Thus, these results indicate a haplotype on 17q12-21 with a similar association in Japanese and European PBC.

Cyclical oxidation-reduction of the C3 position on bile acids catalyzed by rat hepatic 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. I. Studies with the purified enzyme, isolated rat hepatocytes, and inhibition by indomethacin.

We recently identified that the Y' bile acid binders are 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (3 alpha-HSD). In the present studies, purified 3 alpha-HSD catalyzed rapid 3H loss from [3 beta-3H, C24-14C]lithocholic and chenodeoxycholic acids without net conversion to 3-oxo bile acids under physiologic pH and redox conditions. [3 beta-3H]Cholic acid was a poor substrate. The Y' fraction of hepatic cytosol was exclusively responsible for this activity and 3H was transferred selectively to NADP+. Time-dependent 3H loss was also seen in isolated hepatocytes. Further hydroxylation products of lithocholic and chenodeoxycholic acids lost 3H at the same rate, whereas 3H loss from lithocholic acid rapidly ceased, which suggests compartmentation of this bile acid in hepatocytes. Indomethacin inhibited 3H loss from bile acids either in incubations with the pure enzyme or in isolated hepatocytes. Indomethacin did not alter the initial uptake rate of bile acids by hepatocytes, but caused a redistribution of unconjugated bile acids into the medium at early time points (2.5 and 5.0 min) and that of conjugated bile acids at later time intervals (30 min). 3H loss from the 3 beta position therefore can be used to probe the interaction between bile acids and cytosolic 3 alpha-HSD in intact cells, and indomethacin is capable of inhibiting this interaction.

Cyclical oxidation-reduction of the C3 position on bile acids catalyzed by 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. II. Studies in the prograde and retrograde single-pass, perfused rat liver and inhibition by indomethacin.

[3 beta-3H, 24-14C]Lithocholic, chenodeoxycholic, and cholic acids were administered in tracer bolus doses either prograde or retrograde in the isolated perfused rat liver. Little 3H loss from cholic acid was observed, whereas with the other bile acids, 20-40% of the administered 3H was lost in a single pass from perfusate to bile. Most of the 3H loss occurred rapidly (5 min) and was recovered as [3H]water in perfusate. Excretion of bile acids was delayed with retrograde administration, and 3H loss was more extensive. In both prograde and retrograde studies, indomethacin markedly inhibited the excretion of the bolus of bile acid into bile. Indomethacin inhibited the extraction of glycocholate (50 microM) during steady state perfusion without affecting transport maximum for excretion. At lower glycocholate concentration (5 microM), indomethacin inhibited both extraction and excretion. A greater effect was seen on excretion in the latter case, which suggests that displacement of bile acid from the cytosolic protein lead to redistribution in the hepatocyte as well as reflux into the sinusoid. These data suggest that binding of bile acids to cytosolic 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases occurs extensively during hepatic transit and is important in mediating the translocation of bile acids from the sinusoidal to canalicular pole of the cell.

3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity of the Y' bile acid binders in rat liver cytosol. Identification, kinetics, and physiologic significance.

Rat Y' bile acid binders (33 kD) have been previously recognized as cytosolic bile acid binding proteins (Sugiyama, Y., T. Yamada, and N. Kaplowitz, 1983, J. Biol. Chem., 258:3602-3607). We have now determined that these Y' binders are 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (3 alpha-HSD), bile acid-metabolizing enzymes. 3 alpha-HSD activity copurified with lithocholic acid-binding activity after sequential gel filtration, chromatofocusing, and affinity chromatography. Three peaks of 3 alpha-HSD activity (I, II, III) were observed in chromatofocusing and all were identified on Western blot by a specific Y' binder antiserum. 3 alpha-HSD-I, the predominant form, was purified and functioned best as a reductase at pH 7.0 with a marked preference for NADPH. Michaelis constant values for mono- and dihydroxy bile acids were 1-2 microM, and cholic acid competitively inhibited the reduction of 3-oxo-cholic acid. Under normal redox conditions, partially purified 3 alpha-HSD-I and freshly isolated hepatocytes catalyzed the rapid reduction of 3-oxo-cholic to cholic acid without formation of isocholic acid, whereas the reverse reaction was negligible. The Y' bile acid binders are therefore 3 alpha-HSD, which preferentially and stereospecifically catalyze the reduction of 3-oxo-bile acids to 3 alpha-hydroxy bile acids.

Hormone dependency of a serially transplantable human prostatic cancer (HONDA) in nude mice.

Human prostatic cancer (HONDA) serially transplanted in nude mice grew well in male mice but not at all in untreated female mice or in castrated male mice. Progressive growth in female mice was obtained by i.m. administration of 1 mg of testosterone twice a week. Estradiol inhibited the growth of the tumor in male mice to some extent; however, some growth was observed. The tumor in untreated male mice retained the histological features of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Tumors in castrated male mice showed reduction in size of tumor cell nests with relative overgrowth of stroma. The tumor in androgenized female mice consisted of columnar epithelial cells with large nuclei and more abundant cytoplasms and a large glandular lumen, showing histology of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. High levels of human prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) were detected in sera from untreated male mice. Testosterone markedly increased the content of serum PAP of androgenized female mice. Estradiol reduced the levels of PAP in sera from untreated male mice regardless of the tumor weight. High-affinity androgen receptors were present in cytosol and in nuclear extract of the tumor in untreated male mice. No measurable amount of progesterone or estrogen receptors was present in cytosol from untreated male mice.

Comparison of the effects of bile acids and GSH on the fluorescence of bound 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate and the enzymatic activity of cationic and neutral human hepatic GSH S-transferases.

Three cationic (C1, C2, A1) and a neutral (N1) glutathione (GSH) S-transferase were purified to homogeneity from human liver, as we have previously reported. GSH had no effect on the fluorescence of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) bound by transferase C1 and N1, but markedly enhanced the fluorescence with C2 and A1 without changing the affinity for ANS. This effect of GSH was saturable and with C2 was intermediate between A1 and C1. Bile acids inhibited the fluorescence of ANS bound to C1 and C2. GSH in the presence of bile acids further decreased the fluorescence of ANS bound to C1 and increased the fluorescence with C2. Transferase A1 showed decreased fluorescence in the presence of lithocholic acid and increased fluorescence in the presence of cholic acid; both changes were reversed by GSH. Transferase N1 showed increased fluorescence of bound ANS in the presence of various bile acids and this effect was diminished in the presence of GSH. Enzyme activity of the transferase was inhibited by bile acids with the exception of transferase A1. All the proteins bound lithocholic acid. The inhibition of C1 and N1 was greater at pH 6.5 than 7.4 and the order of addition of substrates and inhibitor made no difference.

Cytotoxic effect and uptake mechanism by isolated rat hepatocytes of lithocholate and its glucuronide and sulfate.

The hepatotoxicity and uptake mechanism of lithocholate and its glucuronide and sulfate were studied using isolated rat hepatocytes. Cytotoxicity was in the order of lithocholate greater than lithocholate-glucuronide greater than lithocholate-sulfate; their 50% cytotoxic concentrations on hepatocytes were 50, 150 and 700 microM, respectively. Thus, glucuronidation as well as sulfation acted to detoxify lithocholate, not relating to the previously reported higher cholestatic effect of lithocholate-glucuronide than lithocholate. Lithocholate uptake was linear up to 50 microM, whereas the uptakes of lithocholate-glucuronide and sulfate were saturable with an apparent Km and Vmax of 32 microM and 6.4 nmol/min per 10(6) cells for lithocholate-glucuronide and 26 microM and 11.8 nmol/min per 10(6) cells for lithocholate-sulfate. Na+ replacement by choline+ had no effect on the uptake of lithocholate and lithocholate-glucuronide, whereas it slightly inhibited lithocholate-sulfate uptake. Lithocholate-glucuronide uptake was inhibited by lithocholate-sulfate and sulfobromophthalein, whereas lithocholate-glucuronide and sulfobromophthalein had no effect on lithocholate-sulfate uptake. These data indicate that hepatic lithocholate uptake is mediated by simple diffusion, and that hepatic uptake of lithocholate-glucuronide and sulfate is mainly mediated by a Na(+)-independent carrier.

Binding of lithocholate and its glucuronide and sulfate by human serum albumin.

In the present study, the binding affinities of lithocholate sulfate and glucuronide by human serum albumin were compared to that of lithocholate by equilibrium dialysis, and the binding sites of these bile acids on those of various fluorescent probes and bilirubin were also studied. The dissociation constants for the primary binding sites for lithocholate sulfate and glucuronide on human serum albumin were 0.057 and 0.24 microM, respectively, which were lower than that for lithocholate (0.82 microM). Lithocholate sulfate and glucuronide, as well as lithocholate, did not simply inhibit the binding of the site II and III fluorescent probes or bilirubin to albumin. Inhibition by these bile acids of the site I fluorescent probe binding to albumin suggested that the secondary binding sites of these bile acids are equal to site I. The results of simultaneous equilibrium dialysis using [3H]lithocholate and [14C]lithocholate sulfate indicated that these compounds have the same primary binding site. In conclusion, sulfation and glucuronidation may increase the binding affinities of bile acids to human serum albumin without changing their binding site.

Comparison of biliary excretion and metabolism of lithocholic acid and its sulfate and glucuronide conjugates in rats.

Biliary excretion and biotransformation of tracer doses of [14C]lithocholic acid and its sulfate and glucuronide intravenously injected into bile-drainaged rats were compared. Biliary excretion efficiency was in the order of unconjugate sulfate glucuronide and all conjugates were completely excreted into bile within 60 min after injection. Only tracer doses of radioactivity were found in the liver and urine. About 90% of radiolabeled bile acids in bile were conjugated with taurine immediately after injection of lithocholic acid, whereas lithocholic acid-glucuronide was only partly conjugated with taurine all the time (less than 6%) and excreted into bile mainly as native compound. In the first 10 min, 66% of lithocholic acid-sulfate was conjugated with taurine and it gradually proceeded up to 87%. Hydroxylation at C-6 and C-7 positions of lithocholic acid proceeded time-dependently up to 45%. No hydroxylation was observed with lithocholic acid-sulfate or glucuronide. Differences of biliary excretion rate of these conjugates may be one of the reasons for the delayed decrease of sulfated and glucuronidated bile acids in serum after bile drainage to patients with obstructive jaundice of during the recovery of acute hepatitis than non-esterified bile acids.

Oxidation and reduction of bile acid precursors by rat hepatic 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and inhibition by bile acids and indomethacin.

Enzyme kinetics of purified rat hepatic 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase for bile acid precursors and effects of bile acids and indomethacin on those activities were studied. This enzyme catalyzed the oxidoreduction of the C3 position of bile acid precursors. Km for 7 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholestan-3-one (1.6 microM) was markedly lower than Km for 7 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-cholestan-3-one (28 microM) but Vmax was similar. Km for 3 alpha, 7 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholestane (12 microM) was lower than Km for 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholestane (150 microM) although Vmax/Km values were similar for both compounds. Bile acids and indomethacin inhibited the reduction of 3-oxo bile acid precursors. NADPH inhibited the binding of lithocholic acid (3 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-cholanic acid) by 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. These data suggest that intrahepatic bile acid concentrations may affect the reduction of 3-oxo-bile acid precursors and intrahepatic redox conditions may affect intracellular bile acid transfer.

Cholestasis induced by lithocholate and its glucuronide: their biliary excretion and metabolism.

We studied the effects of the infusion of lithocholate and lithocholate-3-sulfate and 3-glucuronide in rats (0.29 mumol/min per 100 g body weight for 40 min) on bile flow, together with their biliary excretion and metabolism. Lithocholate-glucuronide had a higher cholestatic effect than lithocholate, whereas lithocholate-sulfate had almost no effect on bile flow. Lithocholate was mainly converted to taurine or glucuronide conjugates in the bile, serum and liver and hydroxylation of the tauro-conjugate proceeded. Lithocholate-sulfate was almost completely excreted in the bile, mainly as tauro-conjugate. Lithocholate-glucuronide was excreted in bile almost without conjugation, while some taurine conjugation occurred in the serum and liver. These results suggest that the poor biotransformation of lithocholate-glucuronide is related to its higher cholestatic potency than lithocholate.

A novel binding site for bile acids on human serum albumin.

Binding sites of bile acids on human serum albumin were studied using various probes: dansylsarcosine (site I probe), 7-anilinocoumarin-4-acetic acid (ACAA, site II probe), 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonamide (DNSA, site III probe), cis-parinaric acid (probe for fatty acid binding site) and bilirubin. Bile acids competitively inhibited the binding of dansylsarcosine to human serum albumin whereas bile acids enhanced the binding of ACAA, DNSA, cis-parinaric acid and bilirubin. Considering the concentrations of bile acids required to inhibit the binding of dansylsarcosine to human serum albumin, the secondary binding site of bile acids may correspond to site I. Dissociation constants (Kd) of the primary binding sites of lithocholic and chenodeoxycholic acid to human serum albumin were approximately 0.2 and 4 microM, respectively, which was measured by equilibrium dialysis at 37 degrees C. All the bile acids and their sulfates and glucuronides inhibited the binding of chenodeoxycholic acid to human serum albumin. Lithocholic and chenodeoxycholic acid and their sulfates and glucuronides exhibited more inhibition than cholic acid and its conjugates. In conclusion, bile acids may bind to a novel binding site on human serum albumin.

Effect of indomethacin on the uptake, metabolism and excretion of 3-oxocholic acid: studies in isolated hepatocytes and perfused rat liver.

3 alpha-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase catalyzes the reduction of 3-oxo-bile acids and binds 3 alpha-hydroxy bile acids. Indomethacin is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme. In incubations of isolated rat hepatocytes, indomethacin delayed the intracellular reduction and the initial uptake of 3-oxocholic acid. Following a tracer dose of 3-oxocholic acid in perfused rat liver, rapid biliary excretion was observed mainly as taurocholic acid. Only 1.1% of the dose was recovered in the caval outflow and nearly all appeared in the first 5 min collection. When the tracer dose was given after initiating a constant infusion of indomethacin (50 microM), a dramatic decrease in biliary excretion was observed, still mainly as taurocholic acid, and 14% of the dose was recovered in the caval effluent: 10% in the first 5 min collection, mainly as 3-oxocholic acid, followed by a steady, slow release of mainly taurocholic acid. The increased intrahepatic retention of bile acids and slow release into perfusate and bile in response to indomethacin are consistent with displacement of bile acids from cytosolic protein.

Characterization of bile acid transport mediated by multidrug resistance associated protein 2 and bile salt export pump.

Biliary excretion of certain bile acids is mediated by multidrug resistance associated protein 2 (Mrp2) and the bile salt export pump (Bsep). In the present study, the transport properties of several bile acids were characterized in canalicular membrane vesicles (CMVs) isolated from Sprague--Dawley (SD) rats and Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rats (EHBR) whose Mrp2 function is hereditarily defective and in membrane vesicles isolated from Sf9 cells infected with recombinant baculovirus containing cDNAs encoding Mrp2 and Bsep. ATP-dependent uptake of [(3)H]taurochenodeoxycholate sulfate (TCDC-S) (K(m)=8.8 microM) and [(3)H]taurolithocholate sulfate (TLC-S) (K(m)=1.5 microM) was observed in CMVs from SD rats, but not from EHBR. In addition, ATP-dependent uptake of [(3)H]TLC-S (K(m)=3.9 microM) and [(3)H]taurocholate (TC) (K(m)=7.5 microM) was also observed in Mrp2- and Bsep-expressing Sf9 membrane vesicles, respectively. TCDC-S and TLC-S inhibited the ATP-dependent TC uptake into CMVs from SD rats with IC(50) values of 4.6 microM and 1.2 microM, respectively. In contrast, the corresponding values for Sf9 cells expressing Bsep were 59 and 62 microM, respectively, which were similar to those determined in CMVs from EHBR (68 and 33 microM, respectively). By co-expressing Mrp2 with Bsep in Sf9 cells, IC(50) values for membrane vesicles from these cells shifted to values comparable with those in CMVs from SD rats (4.6 and 1.2 microM). Moreover, in membrane vesicles where both Mrp2 and Bsep are co-expressed, preincubation with the sulfated bile acids potentiated their inhibitory effect on Bsep-mediated TC transport. These results can be accounted for by assuming that the sulfated bile acids trans-inhibit the Bsep-mediated transport of TC.

Dualistic effects of thyroid hormone on a human hepatoma cell line: inhibition of thyroxine-binding globulin synthesis and stimulation of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein synthesis.

In order to examine the action of thyroid hormone on the secretory proteins of the liver, we investigated the effects of thyroid hormones on the synthesis of T4-binding globulin (TBG), alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), and albumin in a human hepatoblastoma cell line, Hep G2. Hep G2 cells grown to be confluent in medium with 10% fetal calf serum were further cultured in serum-free medium for 4 days, and followed by treatment with hormones for 2 days changing the medium every 24 h. On day 2 (the second 24 h of hormone treatment), about 30% of TBG accumulation was inhibited by 10(-12) M T3 and 50% was inhibited by 10(-8) M T3, although no change was observed on day 1 (the first 24 h of hormone treatment). This inhibitory effect of T3 closely resembled the effect of T3 on [35S]methionine-labeled TBG synthesis by the cells incubated for 3 h after 42 h of pretreatment. About 30-55% of the newly synthesized [35S]TBG immunoprecipitated with anti-TBG serum was inhibited by 10(-8) M T3. These results showed that thyroid hormone inhibited TBG synthesis in Hep G2 cells. On the other hand, T3 stimulated the accumulation of AGP in the media on day 1 (140% of control by 10(-8) M T3), and the effect increased drastically on day 2 (250% of control by 10(-8) M T3). No effect of T3 on albumin accumulation or total protein synthesis was seen. The concentrations of T4 which had significant effects on TBG and AGP accumulation were 10 and 10(3) times higher than those of T3, respectively. In conclusion, thyroid hormone has dualistic effects on the secretory proteins synthesized by a human hepatoblastoma cell line: physiological concentrations of thyroid hormones decrease the synthesis of TBG, but increase the synthesis of AGP.

Purification of a 32.5 kDa monomeric sulfotransferase from rat liver with activity for bile acids and phenolic steroids.

Both bile acid and phenolic steroid sulfotransferase activities in rat liver cytosol have previously been identified in fractions corresponding to apparent molecular masses of 60-70 and 30-35 kDa. We purified the latter activity corresponding to a monomeric protein. Activity for bile acids and phenolic steroids co-eluted on sequential chromatography on Sephadex G-75 sf, Affigel blue, chromatofocusing and hydroxyapatite. The protein was homogeneous on SDS-PAGE (32.5 kDa).

The gene for the beta subunit of porcine FSH: absence of consensus oestrogen-responsive element and presence of retroposons.

To elucidate the structure and control of expression of the porcine FSH-beta subunit gene, two genomic clones were isolated and the entire gene structure was determined to the extent of 10 kb, consisting of 6 kb of the 5'-flanking region and 4 kb of the transcriptional unit. The porcine FSH-beta gene consisted of three exons the same as the human and bovine genes, but the positions of both splicing sites of porcine intron-1 were unique. It is known that the synthesis of FSH is regulated by gonadal steroids, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and inhibin. However, the consensus steroid-responsive element was unexpectedly absent in the 5'-flanking region of 6 kb. On the other hand, the potential binding sites for activator protein-1 (AP1) and AP2, which might be stimulated by the GnRH-protein kinase C cascade, were present at seven and five positions respectively. An imperfect cyclic AMP-responsive element was also present. Southern blot analyses, using the cDNA and genomic fragments as probes, gave smear patterns suggesting the presence of repetitive sequences in the porcine FSH-beta gene. A survey of homology with the repetitive sequences revealed that short interspersed repeated sequences (SINES)-type non-viral retroposons were present with about 250 bp length repeats twice in the 5'-flanking region and once each in intron-1 and the 3'-flanking region. Other SINES-like sequences were also found in intron-1, exon-2 and exon-3. In comparison with the 5'-flanking sequences of the porcine alpha and LH-beta genes, there were no significantly conserved regions, implying a lack of common modulation of the three subunit genes.

Uptake of 3,5,3'-L-tri-iodothyronine in human erythrocytes.

The mechanisms of 3,5,3'-L-tri-iodothyronine (T3) uptake into human erythrocytes were examined. Purified membranes of human erythrocytes were shown to have two classes of T3-binding sites with one being a high-affinity site (dissociation constant, 59.2 +/- 17.8 nmol/l; maximum binding capacity, 344.3 +/- 95.5 fmol/micrograms protein). Furthermore, it was shown that there were two pathways for T3 uptake in human erythrocytes; one was saturable, stereospecific (T3 much greater than thyroxine greater than 3,5,3'-D-tri-iodothyronine), energy-dependent and dominant at 15 degrees C; the other was not displaced by unlabelled T3 and was energy-independent but did not occur by passive diffusion. The former pathway which, it is suggested, is a receptor-mediated transport pathway, was inhibited by monodansylcadaverine, phloretin or oligomycin at 15 or 37 degrees C, but the latter pathway was not inhibited by these inhibitors. Our results strongly suggest that uptake of T3 by the energy-independent pathway became predominant over the energy-dependent pathway at 37 degrees C and accounted for 83% of total T3 uptake of human erythrocytes.