Sphingosine Kinase 2 Regulates Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocation and Target Gene Activation.

Sphingolipids play vital roles in metabolism and regulation. Previously, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor, was reported to directly regulate ceramide synthesis genes by binding to their promoters. Herein, sphingosine kinase 2 (SPHK2), responsible for producing sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), was found to interact with AHR through LXXLL motifs, influencing AHR nuclear localization.

Immune cell-intrinsic Ah receptor facilitates the expression of antimicrobial REG3G in the small intestine.

The intestinal epithelial layer is susceptible to damage by chemical, physiological and mechanical stress. While it is essential to maintain the integrity of epithelium, the biochemical pathways that contribute to the barrier function have not been completely investigated. Here we demonstrate an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)-dependent mechanism facilitating the production of the antimicrobial peptide AMP regenerating islet-derived protein 3 gamma (REG3G), which is essential for intestinal homeostasis.

Induction of AHR Signaling in Response to the Indolimine Class of Microbial Stress Metabolites.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that plays an important role in gastrointestinal barrier function, tumorigenesis, and is an emerging drug target. The resident microbiota is capable of metabolizing tryptophan to metabolites that are AHR ligands (e.g.

Complex chemical signals dictate Ah receptor activation through the gut-lung axis.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) mediates intestinal barrier homeostasis. Many AHR ligands are also CYP1A1/1B1 substrates, which can result in rapid clearance within the intestinal tract, limiting systemic exposure and subsequent AHR activation. This led us to the hypothesis that there are dietary substrates of CYP1A1/1B1 that functionally increase the half-life of potent AHR ligands.

Metabolomic Approaches Reveal the Role of CAR in Energy Metabolism.

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR; NR1I3) contributes important regulatory roles in biotransformation, xenobiotic transport function, energy metabolism and lipid homeostasis. In this investigation, global serum and liver tissue metabolomes were assessed analytically in wild type and CAR-null transgenic mice using NMR, GC-MS and UPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomics. Significantly, CAR activation increased serum levels of fatty acids, lactate, ketone bodies and tricarboxylic acid cycle products, whereas levels of phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, amino acids and liver glucose were decreased following short-term activation of CAR.

In vivo genome-wide binding interactions of mouse and human constitutive androstane receptors reveal novel gene targets.

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR; NR1I3) is a nuclear receptor orchestrating complex roles in cell and systems biology. Species differences in CAR's effector pathways remain poorly understood, including its role in regulating liver tumor promotion. We developed transgenic mouse models to assess genome-wide binding of mouse and human CAR, following receptor activation in liver with direct ligands and with phenobarbital, an indirect CAR activator.

Activation of the Constitutive Androstane Receptor by Monophthalates.

Humans in industrialized areas are continuously exposed to phthalate plasticizers, prompting concerns of their potential toxicities. Previous studies from our laboratory and others have shown that various phthalates activate several mammalian nuclear receptors, in particular the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), the pregnane X receptor (PXR), and the peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), although often at concentration levels of questionable relevance to human exposure. We discovered that di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP), two of the highest volume production agents, were potent activators of human CAR2 (hCAR2), a unique human CAR splice variant and, to a lesser degree, human PXR (hPXR).

Bioinformatic analysis of microRNA networks following the activation of the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) in mouse liver.

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR; NR1I3) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that functions as a xenosensor, serving to regulate xenobiotic detoxification, lipid homeostasis and energy metabolism. CAR activation is also a key contributor to the development of chemical hepatocarcinogenesis in mice. The underlying pathways affected by CAR in these processes are complex and not fully elucidated.

Human receptor activation by aroclor 1260, a polychlorinated biphenyl mixture.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental toxicants, present in 100% of U.S. adults and dose-dependently associated with obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Proteasomal interaction as a critical activity modulator of the human constitutive androstane receptor.

The CAR (constitutive androstane receptor; NR1I3) is a critical xenobiotic sensor that regulates xenobiotic metabolism, drug clearance, energy and lipid homoeostasis, cell proliferation and development. Although constitutively active, in hepatocytes CAR is normally held quiescent through a tethering mechanism in the cytosol, anchored to a protein complex that includes several components, including heat-shock protein 90. Release and subsequent nuclear translocation of CAR is triggered through either direct binding to ligand activators such as CITCO {6-(4-chlorophenyl)imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole-5-carbaldehyde O-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)oxime} or through indirect chemical activation, such as with PB (phenobarbital).

The human constitutive androstane receptor promotes the differentiation and maturation of hepatic-like cells.

Expression of the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR, NR1I3) is enriched in the mature mammalian liver and increasingly recognized for its prominent role in regulating a myriad of processes including biotransformation, chemical transport, energy metabolism and lipid homeostasis. Previously, we demonstrated that CAR levels were markedly enhanced during the differentiation of hepatic-like cells derived from hESCs, prompting the hypothesis that CAR contributes a key functional role in directing human hepatogenesis. Here we demonstrate that over-expression of CAR in human embryonic stem cells (ESCs), transduced by a lentiviral vector, accelerates the maturation of hepatic-like cells, with CAR over-expressing cells exhibiting a 2.

Multi-species analyses of direct activators of the constitutive androstane receptor.

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR; NR1I3) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily and functions as an important xenochemical sensor and transcriptional modulator in mammalian cells. Upon chemical activation, CAR undergoes nuclear translocation and heterodimerization with the retinoid X receptor subsequent to its DNA target interaction. CAR is unusual among nuclear receptors in that it possesses a high level of constitutive activity in cell-based assays, obscuring the detection of ligand activators.

Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells along a hepatic lineage.

The limited availability of hepatic tissue suitable for the treatment of liver disease and drug discovery research advances the generation of hepatic-like cells from alternative sources as a valuable approach. In this investigation we exploited a unique hepatic differentiation approach to generate hepatocyte-like cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). hESCs were cultured for 10-20 days on collagen substrate in highly defined and serum free hepatocyte media.