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.