The pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a ligand-activated nuclear receptor controlling hepatocyte expression of numerous genes. Although expression changes in xenobiotic-metabolizing, lipogenic, gluconeogenic and bile acid synthetic genes have been described after PXR activation, the temporal dynamics of their expression is largely unknown. Recently, 3D spheroids of primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) have been characterized as the most phenotypically relevant hepatocyte model. We used 3D PHHs to assess time-dependent expression profiles of 12 prototypic PXR-controlled genes in the time course of 168 h of rifampicin treatment (1 or 10 µM). We observed a similar bell-shaped time-induction pattern for xenobiotic-handling genes (CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2B6, and MDR1). However, we observed either biphasic profiles for genes involved in endogenous metabolism (FASN, GLUT2, G6PC, PCK1, and CYP7A1), a decrease for SHP or oscillation for PDK4 and PXR. The rifampicin concentration determined the expression profiles for some genes. Moreover, we calculated half-lives of CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 mRNA under induced or basal conditions and we used a mathematical model to describe PXR-mediated regulation of CYP3A4 expression employing 3D PHHs. The study shows the importance of long-term time-expression profiling of PXR target genes in phenotypically stable 3D PHHs and provides insight into PXR function in liver beyond our knowledge from conventional 2D in vitro models.

• Klíčová slova
• Gene expression dynamics, Mathematical modelling, Pregnane X receptor, Primary human hepatocytes, Rifampicin, Spheroids,
• MeSH
• cytochrom P-450 CYP3A metabolismus   MeSH
• hepatocyty metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pregnanový X receptor genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• receptory cytoplazmatické a nukleární metabolismus   MeSH
• steroidní receptory * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cytochrom P-450 CYP3A MeSH
• pregnanový X receptor MeSH
• receptory cytoplazmatické a nukleární MeSH
• steroidní receptory * MeSH

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is the major regulator of xenobiotic metabolism. PXR itself is controlled by various signaling molecules including glucocorticoids. Moreover, negative feed-back regulation has been proposed at the transcriptional level. We examined the involvement of the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of NR1I2 mRNA and microRNAs in PXR- and glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated regulation of NR1I2 gene expression. PXR ligands were found to significantly downregulate NR1I2 mRNA expression in a set of 14 human hepatocyte cultures. Similarly, PXR was downregulated by PCN in the C57/BL6 mice liver. In mechanistic studies with the full-length 3'-UTR cloned into luciferase reporter or expression vectors, we showed that the 3'-UTR reduces PXR expression. From the miRNAs tested, miR-18a-5p inhibited both NR1I2 expression and CYP3A4 gene induction. Importantly, we observed significant upregulation of miR-18a-5p expression 6 h after treatment with the PXR ligand rifampicin, which indicates a putative mechanism underlying NR1I2 negative feed-back regulation in hepatic cells. Additionally, glucocorticoids upregulated NR1I2 expression not only through the promoter region but also via 3'-UTR regulation, which likely involves downregulation of miR-18a-5p. We conclude that miR-18a-5p is involved in the down-regulation of NR1I2 expression by its ligands and in the upregulation of NR1I2 mRNA expression by glucocorticoids in hepatic cells.

• Klíčová slova
• 3′-UTR, 3′-untranslated region, CAR, constitutive androstane receptor, CYP3A4, cytochrome P450 3A4, Cytochrome P450 3A4, DEX, dexamethasone, DMEs, drug metabolizing enzymes, DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide, ER, estrogen receptor, GRα, glucocorticoid receptor α, Gene expression, Gluc, Gaussia luciferase, Glucocorticoid, LBD, ligand binding domain, MRE, miRNA-response element, MicroRNA, NR, nuclear receptor, PB, phenobarbital, PCN, pregnenolone 16α-carbonitrile, PHHs, primary human hepatocytes, PPARα, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, PXR, pregnane X receptor, Pregnane X receptor, RXRα, retinoid X receptor α, Regulation, Rif, rifampicin, SEAP, secreted alkaline phosphatase, miRNA, microRNA,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

4-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), an essential nutrient for many human pathogens, but dispensable for humans, and its derivatives have exhibited various biological activities. In this study, we combined two pharmacophores using a molecular hybridization approach: this vitamin-like molecule and various aromatic aldehydes, including salicylaldehydes and 5-nitrofurfural, via imine bond in one-step reaction. Resulting Schiff bases were screened as potential antimicrobial and cytotoxic agents. The simple chemical modification of non-toxic PABA resulted in constitution of antibacterial activity including inhibition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (minimum inhibitory concentrations, MIC, from 15.62 µM), moderate antimycobacterial activity (MIC ≥ 62.5 µM) and potent broad-spectrum antifungal properties (MIC of ≥ 7.81 µM). Some of the Schiff bases also exhibited notable cytotoxicity for cancer HepG2 cell line (IC50 ≥ 15.0 µM). Regarding aldehyde used for the derivatization of PABA, it is possible to tune up the particular activities and obtain derivatives with promising bioactivities.

• Klíčová slova
• 4-aminobenzoic acid, Schiff bases, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, cytotoxicity, synthesis, vitamin,
• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• buňky Hep G2 MeSH
• cytotoxiny chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• kyselina 4-aminobenzoová chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• kyselina listová chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• methicilin rezistentní Staphylococcus aureus účinky léků   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
• viabilita buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antibakteriální látky MeSH
• cytotoxiny MeSH
• kyselina 4-aminobenzoová MeSH
• kyselina listová MeSH

The selection of a suitable combination of reference genes (RGs) for data normalization is a crucial step for obtaining reliable and reproducible results from transcriptional response analysis using a reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. This is especially so if a three-dimensional multicellular model prepared from liver tissues originating from biologically diverse human individuals is used. The mRNA and miRNA RGs stability were studied in thirty-five human liver tissue samples and twelve precision-cut human liver slices (PCLS) treated for 24 h with dimethyl sulfoxide (controls) and PCLS treated with β-naphthoflavone (10 µM) or rifampicin (10 µM) as cytochrome P450 (CYP) inducers. Validation of RGs was performed by an expression analysis of CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 on rifampicin and β-naphthoflavone induction, respectively. Regarding mRNA, the best combination of RGs for the controls was YWHAZ and B2M, while YWHAZ and ACTB were selected for the liver samples and treated PCLS. Stability of all candidate miRNA RGs was comparable or better than that of generally used short non-coding RNA U6. The best combination for the control PCLS was miR-16-5p and miR-152-3p, in contrast to the miR-16-5b and miR-23b-3p selected for the treated PCLS. Our results showed that the candidate RGs were rather stable, especially for miRNA in human PCLS.

• Klíčová slova
• RT-qPCR, human liver, mRNA, miRNA, precision-cut liver slices, reference gene,
• MeSH
• beta-2-mikroglobulin genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• beta-naftoflavon farmakologie   MeSH
• cytochrom P-450 CYP1A2 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• cytochrom P-450 CYP3A genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• dimethylsulfoxid farmakologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• játra účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• kvantitativní polymerázová řetězová reakce normy   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• messenger RNA genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• mikro RNA genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteiny 14-3-3 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• referenční standardy MeSH
• rifampin farmakologie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese normy   MeSH
• systém (enzymů) cytochromů P-450 farmakologie   MeSH
• transkriptom MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• B2M protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• beta-2-mikroglobulin MeSH
• beta-naftoflavon MeSH
• CYP1A2 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• CYP3A4 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• cytochrom P-450 CYP1A2 MeSH
• cytochrom P-450 CYP3A MeSH
• dimethylsulfoxid MeSH
• messenger RNA MeSH
• mikro RNA MeSH
• proteiny 14-3-3 MeSH
• rifampin MeSH
• systém (enzymů) cytochromů P-450 MeSH
• YWHAZ protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč