Nathan J Cherrington

Full-length cDNA clones encoding FMO1 and FMO5 have been isolated from a library constructed with mRNA from the liver of a female CD-1 mouse. The derived sequence of FMO1 contains 2310 bases: 1596 in the coding region, 301 in the 5'-flanking region, and 413 in the 3'-flanking region. The sequence for FMO5 consists of 3168 bases; 1599 in the coding region, 812 in the 5'-flanking region, and 757 in the 3'-flanking region. The sequence of FMO1 encodes a protein of 532 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 59.9 kDa and shows 83.3% identity to human FMO1 and 83-94% identity to other FMO1 homologs. FMO5 encodes a protein of 533 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 60.0 kDa and 84.1% identity to human FMO5 and 83-84% identity to other FMO5 orthologs. Two GxGxxG putative pyrophosphate binding domains exist beginning at positions 9 and 191 for FMO1, and 10 and 192 for FMO5. Mouse FMO1 and FMO5 were expressed in E. coli and show similar mobility to the native proteins as determined by SDS-PAGE. The expressed FMO1 protein showed activity toward methimazole, and FMO5 was active toward noctylamine. In addition, FMO1 was shown to metabolize radiolabeled phorate, whereas FMO5 showed no activity toward phorate.

PMID: 18488193;Abstract:

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a disease that compromises hepatic function and the capacity to metabolize numerous drugs. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), pregnane X receptor (PXR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), and nuclear factor-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) are xenobiotic activated transcription factors that regulate induction of a number of drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs). The purpose of the current study was to determine whether experimental NASH alters the xenobiotic activation of these transcription factors and induction of downstream DME targets Cyp1A1, Cyp2B10, Cyp3A11, Cyp4A14 and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (Nqo1), respectively. Mice fed normal rodent chow or methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet for 8 weeks were then treated with microsomal enzyme inducers β-naphoflavone (BNF), 1,4-bis-[2-(3,5- dichloropyridyloxy)] benzene (TCPOBOP), pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile (PCN), clofibrate (CFB) or oltipraz (OPZ), known activators of AhR, CAR, PXR, PPARα and Nrf2, respectively. Results of this study show that (1) Hepatic PXR mRNA levels were significantly increased (1.4-fold) in mice fed MCD diet, while AhR, CAR, PPARα and Nrf2 were not affected. (2) The MCD diet did not alter hepatic inducibility of Cyp1A1, Cyp2B10, Cyp3A11 mRNA levels by their respective microsomal inducers. (3) Constitutive levels of Cyp4A14 mRNA were significantly increased in mice fed the MCD diet, yet further induction by clofibrate was not observed. (4) Hepatic Nqo1 mRNA levels were significantly increased by the MCD diet; however, additional induction of Nqo1 was still achievable following treatment with the Nrf2 activator OPZ. © 2008 Springer-Verlag.

Bile duct ligation (BDL) causes hepatocellular oxidative stress and injury. The transcription factor nuclear factor-E2-related factor (Nrf2) induces expression of numerous genes including NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (Nqo1) during periods of oxidative stress. Therefore, we hypothesized that BDL increases liver expression of mouse antioxidant genes in an Nrf2-dependent manner. BDL or sham surgeries were performed on male C57BL/6, Nrf2-null, and wild-type mice. Livers were collected at 1, 3, and 7 days after surgery for analysis of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of Nrf2-responsive genes as well as Nqo1 protein and activity. BDL increased mRNA expression of multiple Nrf2 genes in mouse liver, compared to sham-operated controls. Follow-up studies investigating protein expression, enzyme activity, and Nrf2 dependency were limited to Nqo1. Nqo1 protein expression and activity in mouse livers was increased 2- to 3-, and 4- to 5-fold at 3 and 7 days after BDL, respectively. Studies also showed that BDL increases Nqol mRNA, protein expression, and enzyme activity in livers from wild-type mice, but not in Nrf2-null mice. In conclusion, expression of Nrf2-dependent genes is increased during cholestasis. These studies also demonstrate that Nqo1 expression and activity in mouse liver are induced via an Nrf2-dependent mechanism.

Metformin is an antihyperglycemic drug that is widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes mellitus and is currently being investigated for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH is known to alter hepatic membrane transporter expression and drug disposition similarly in humans and rodent models of NASH. Metformin is almost exclusively eliminated through the kidney primarily through active secretion mediated by Oct1, Oct2, and Mate1. The purpose of this study was to determine how NASH affects kidney transporter expression and metformin pharmacokinetics. A single oral dose of [(14)C]metformin was administered to C57BL/6J (wild type [WT]) and diabetic ob/ob mice fed either a control diet or a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet. Metformin plasma concentrations were slightly increased in the WT/MCD and ob/control groups, whereas plasma concentrations were 4.8-fold higher in ob/MCD mice compared with WT/control. The MCD diet significantly increased plasma half-life and mean residence time and correspondingly decreased oral clearance in both genotypes. These changes in disposition were caused by ob/ob- and MCD diet-specific decreases in the kidney mRNA expression of Oct2 and Mate1, whereas Oct1 mRNA expression was only decreased in ob/MCD mice. These results indicate that the diabetic ob/ob genotype and the MCD disease model alter kidney transporter expression and alter the pharmacokinetics of metformin, potentially increasing the risk of drug toxicity.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may progress from simple steatosis to severe, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in 7-14% of the U.S. population through a 2(nd) 'hit' in the form of increased oxidative stress and inflammation. ER stress signaling and the unfolded protein response (UPR) are triggered when high levels of lipids and misfolded proteins alter ER homeostasis creating a lipotoxic environment within NAFLD livers. The objective of this study was to determine the coordinate regulation of ER stress-associated genes in the progressive stages of human NAFLD. Human liver samples categorized as normal, steatosis, NASH (Fatty) and NASH (Not Fatty) were analyzed by individual Affymetrix GeneChip Human 1.0ST microarrays, immunoblots, and immunohistochemistry. A gene set enrichment analysis was performed on autophagy, apoptosis, lipogenesis and ER stress/UPR gene categories. An enrichment of downregulated genes in the ER stress associated-lipogenesis and ER stress/UPR gene categories was observed in NASH. Conversely, an enrichment of upregulated ER stress-associated genes for autophagy and apoptosis gene categories was observed in NASH. Protein expression of the adaptive liver response protein STC2 and the transcription factor XBP-1s were significantly elevated among NASH samples while other downstream ER stress proteins including CHOP, ATF4 and phosphorylated JNK and eIF2α were not significantly changed in disease progression. Increased nuclear accumulation of total XBP-1 protein was observed in steatosis and NASH livers. The findings reveal the presence of a coordinated, adaptive transcriptional response to hepatic ER stress in human NAFLD.