The pregnane X receptor regulates gene expression in a ligand- and promoter-selective fashion

Mol Endocrinol. 2005 May;19(5):1170-80. doi: 10.1210/me.2004-0434. Epub 2005 Jan 13.

Abstract

Recent studies have revealed that pregnane X receptor (PXR) can function as a master regulator to control the expression of phase I and phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes, as well as members of the drug transporter family, including multiple drug resistance (MDR) 1, which has a major role in multidrug resistance. Previously, we have demonstrated that steroid/xenobiotics metabolism by tumor tissue through the PXR-cytochrome P-450 3A (CYP3A) pathway might play an important role in endometrial cancer. In this study, we examined which endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and anticancer agents might be ligands for PXR and whether these chemicals enhanced PXR-mediated transcription through two different PXR-responsive elements (PXREs), CYP3A4 and MDR1, in endometrial cancer cell lines. Some steroids/EDCs strongly activated PXR-mediated transcription through the CYP3A4-responsive element compared with the MDR1-responsive element, whereas these steroids/EDCs also enhanced the CYP3A4 expression compared with the MDR1 expression. In contrast, the anticancer agents, cisplatin and paclitaxel, strongly activated PXR-mediated transcription through the MDR1-responsive element compared with the CYP3A4-responsive element, whereas these drugs also enhanced the MDR1 expression compared with the CYP3A4 expression. We also analyzed how these ligands regulated PXR-mediated transcription through two different PXREs. In the presence of PXR ligands, there was no difference in the DNA binding affinity of the PXR/retinoid X receptor heterodimer to each PXRE, but there were different interactions of the coactivator to each PXR/PXRE complex. These data suggested that PXR ligands enhanced PXR-mediated transcription in a ligand- and promoter-dependent fashion, which in turn differentially regulated the expression of individual PXR targets, especially CYP3A4 and MDR1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / biosynthesis
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / biosynthesis
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Histone Acetyltransferases
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Mediator Complex Subunit 1
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 1
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3
  • Pregnane X Receptor
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Steroid / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic / physiology
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
  • Ligands
  • MED1 protein, human
  • Mediator Complex Subunit 1
  • Pregnane X Receptor
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • Receptors, Steroid
  • Transcription Factors
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • CYP3A protein, human
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A
  • CYP3A4 protein, human
  • Histone Acetyltransferases
  • NCOA1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 1
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3