Thyroid hormone suppresses hepatic sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase (CYP8B1) activity and messenger ribonucleic acid in rat liver: failure to define known thyroid hormone response elements in the gene. (1/58)

Sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase (CYP 8B1) is a microsomal cytochrome P450 enzyme involved in bile acid synthesis that is of critical importance for the composition of bile acids formed in the liver. Thyroidectomy of rats caused a more than twofold increase of CYP8B1 and an almost fourfold increase of the corresponding mRNA levels compared to sham-operated rats. Treatment of intact rats with thyroxine caused a 60% reduction of enzyme activity and a 50% reduction of mRNA levels compared to rats injected with saline only. To investigate whether the promoter of the gene contains thyroid hormone response elements, the complete structure of the rat gene was defined. In similarity with the corresponding gene in mouse, rabbit and man, the rat gene was found to lack introns. It had an open reading frame containing 1500 bp corresponding to a protein of 499 amino acid residues. Although thyroid hormone decreased CYP8B1 activity and mRNA in vivo, no hitherto described thyroid hormone response elements were identified 1883 bases upstream of the transcription start site. It is concluded that rat CYP8B1 is regulated by thyroid hormone at the mRNA level. The results are discussed in relation to the structure of the gene coding for the enzyme.  (+info)

Structure, evolution, and liver-specific expression of sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase P450 (CYP8B). (2/58)

The rat CYP8B cDNA encoding sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase was cloned and sequenced. The amino acid sequence of the heme-binding region of CYP8B was close to those of CYP7A (cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase) and CYP7B (oxysterol 7alpha-hydroxylase). Molecular phylogenetic analysis suggests that CYP8B and the CYP7 family derive from a common ancestor. The P450s of the CYP7 and CYP8 families, except for CYP8A (prostacyclin synthase), catalyze the oxygenation of sterols from an alpha surface in the middle of the steroid skeleton. These facts suggest that CYP8B is a P450 closely linked to those of the CYP7 family. CYP8B was expressed specifically in liver. Hepatic CYP8B mRNA level and the 12alpha-hydroxylase activity were altered by cholestyramine feeding, starvation, streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus, and administration of clofibrate, dexamethasone or thyroxin, indicating the pretranslational regulation of CYP8B expression. The enhanced CYP8B mRNA expression in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was significantly decreased by insulin within 3 h of its administration. These facts demonstrate a regulatory role of insulin in CYP8B expression as a suppressor.  (+info)

Insulin is a dominant suppressor of sterol 12 alpha-hydroxylase P450 (CYP8B) expression in rat liver: possible role of insulin in circadian rhythm of CYP8B. (3/58)

Sterol 12 alpha-hydroxylase (CYP8B) is a key enzyme for regulating the cholic acid/chenodeoxycholic acid ratio in bile acid biosynthesis. The hepatic CYP8B level was elevated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, and the elevated CYP8B was suppressed by insulin administration [Ishida, H. et al. (1999) J. Biochem. 126, 19-25]. The streptozotocin-induced elevation of hepatic CYP8B mRNA concomitantly responded to the decrement of the serum insulin level. The CYP8B mRNA level in the cultivated rat hepatoma H4TG cells was strongly suppressed by insulin, although it was affected by dibutyryl cAMP or thyroxine to lesser extents. These observations demonstrate that CYP8B expression is dominantly regulated by the direct action of insulin on hepatocytes. A marked circadian rhythm (maximum at 13:00-16:00 and minimum at 1:00) was observed both on the mRNA level and the activity of CYP8B. This rhythm was shifted from that of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, a rate-limiting enzyme of bile acid biosynthesis, showing a maximum at 22:00 and a minimum at 10:00, and this shift might oscillate the cholic acid/chenodeoxycholic acid ratio, which is increased in the late afternoon and decreased at midnight. The rhythm of CYP8B was the inverse of the circadian variation of serum insulin level and was similar to the circadian rhythm of glucose 6-phosphatase. These facts and the potent suppressive effect of insulin on CYP8B indicate that the oscillation of the serum insulin may be a factor in producing the circadian rhythm of CYP8B.  (+info)

Alpha 1-fetoprotein transcription factor is required for the expression of sterol 12alpha -hydroxylase, the specific enzyme for cholic acid synthesis. Potential role in the bile acid-mediated regulation of gene transcription. (4/58)

Cholesterol conversion to bile acids occurs via the "classic" (neutral) or the "alternative" (acidic) bile acid biosynthesis pathways. Sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase/CYP8b1 is the specific enzyme required for cholic acid synthesis. The levels of this enzyme determine the ratio of cholic acid to chenodeoxycholic acid and thus the hydrophobicity of the circulating bile acid pool. Expression of the 12alpha-hydroxylase gene is tightly down-regulated by hydrophobic bile acids. In this study, we report the characterization of two DNA elements that are required for both the 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity and bile acid-mediated regulation. Mutation of these elements suppresses 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity. Mutations of any other part of the promoter do not alter substantially the promoter activity or alter regulation by bile acids relative to the wild type promoter. These two DNA elements bind alpha(1)-fetoprotein transcription factor (FTF), a member of the nuclear receptor family. We also show that overexpression of FTF in a non-liver cell line activates the sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter. These studies demonstrate the crucial role of FTF for the expression and regulation of a critical gene in the bile acid biosynthetic pathways.  (+info)

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) regulates bile acid biosynthesis. (5/58)

Fibrates are a group of hypolipidemic agents that efficiently lower serum triglyceride levels by affecting the expression of many genes involved in lipid metabolism. These effects are exerted via the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). In addition, fibrates also lower serum cholesterol levels, suggesting a possible link between the PPARalpha and cholesterol metabolism. Bile acid formation represents an important pathway for elimination of cholesterol, and the sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase is a branch-point enzyme in the bile acid biosynthetic pathway, which determines the ratio of cholic acid to chenodeoxycholic acid. Treatment of mice for 1 week with the peroxisome proliferator WY-14,643 or fasting for 24 h both induced the sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase mRNA in liver. Using the PPARalpha knockout mouse model, we show that the induction by both treatments was dependent on the PPARalpha. A reporter plasmid containing a putative peroxisome proliferator-response element (PPRE) identified in the rat sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter region was activated by treatment with WY-14,643 in HepG2 cells, being dependent on co-transfection with a PPARalpha expression plasmid. The rat 12alpha-hydroxylase PPRE bound in vitro translated PPARalpha and retinoid X receptor alpha, albeit weakly, in electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Treatment of wild-type mice with WY-14,643 for 1 week resulted in an increased relative amount of cholic acid, an effect that was abolished in the PPARalpha null mice, verifying the functionality of the PPRE in vivo.  (+info)

Transcriptional regulation of the human sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase gene (CYP8B1): roles of heaptocyte nuclear factor 4alpha in mediating bile acid repression. (6/58)

Sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase catalyzes the synthesis of cholic acid and controls the ratio of cholic acid over chenodeoxycholic acid in the bile. Transcription of CYP8B1 is inhibited by bile acids, cholesterol, and insulin. To study the mechanism of CYP8B1 transcription by bile acids, we have cloned and determined 3389 base pairs of the 5'-upstream nucleotide sequences of the human CYP8B1. Deletion analysis of CYP8B1/luciferase reporter activity in HepG2 cells revealed that the sequences from -57 to +300 were important for basal and liver-specific promoter activities. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF4alpha) strongly activated human CYP8B1 promoter activities, whereas cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase promoter factor (CPF), an NR5A2 family of nuclear receptors, had much less effect. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay identified an overlapping HNF4alpha- and CPF-binding site in the +198/+227 region. The human CYP8B1 promoter activities were strongly repressed by bile acids, and the bile acid response element was localized between +137 and +220. Site-directed mutagenesis of the HNF4alpha-binding site markedly reduced promoter activity and its response to bile acid repression. On the other hand, mutation of the CPF-binding site had little effect on promoter activity and bile acid inhibition. A negative nuclear receptor, small heterodimer partner markedly inhibited transactivation of CYP8B1 by HNF4alpha. Mammalian two-hybrid assay confirmed that HNF4alpha interacted with small heterodimer partner. Furthermore, bile acids and farnesoid X receptor reduced the expression of nuclear HNF4alpha in HepG2 cells and rat livers and its binding to DNA. Bile acids and farnesoid X receptor also inhibited mouse HNF4alpha gene transcription. In summary, our data revealed the critical roles HNF4alpha play on CYP8B1 transcription and its repression by bile acids. Bile acids repress human CYP8B1 transcription by reducing the transactivation activity of HNF4alpha through interaction of HNF4alpha with SHP and reduction of HNF4alpha expression in the liver.  (+info)

Suppression of sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase transcription by the short heterodimer partner: insights into the repression mechanism. (7/58)

Cholesterol conversion to bile acids is subject to a feedback regulatory mechanism by which bile acids down-regulate their own synthesis. This regulation occurs at the level of transcription of several genes encoding enzymes in the bile acid biosynthetic pathway. One of these enzymes is sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase/CYP8B1 (12alpha-hydroxylase), the specific enzyme required for cholic acid synthesis. The levels of this enzyme determine the ratio of cholic acid to chenodeoxycholic acid and thus the hydrophobicity of the circulating bile acid pool. Previous studies from this laboratory showed that fetoprotein transcription factor (FTF) is required for 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity and bile acid-mediated regulation. Here, we report that the short heterodimer partner (SHP) suppresses 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity via an interaction with FTF. Hepatic nuclear factor-4 (HNF-4) binds and activates the 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter and is required for 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity. Although HNF-4 interacts with SHP, it is not involved in SHP-mediated suppression of 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity. FTF and not HNF-4 is the factor involved in regulation of 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity by bile acids through its interaction with SHP. Finally, interaction of SHP with FTF displaces FTF binding to its sites within the 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter. These results provide insights into the mechanism of action of bile acid-mediated regulation of sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase transcription.  (+info)

Differential effects of sterol regulatory binding proteins 1 and 2 on sterol 12 alpha-hydroxylase. SREBP-2 suppresses the sterol 12 alpha-hydroxylase promoter. (8/58)

The most important pathway for the catabolism and excretion of cholesterol in mammals is the formation of bile acids. Improper regulation of this pathway has implications for atherosclerosis, cholesterol gallstone formation, and some lipid storage diseases. Sterol 12 alpha-hydroxylase (12 alpha-hydroxylase) is required for cholic acid biosynthesis. The alpha(1)-fetoprotein transcription factor FTF is crucial for the expression and the bile acid-mediated down-regulation of 12 alpha-hydroxylase. Cholesterol, on the other hand, down-regulates expression of the 12 alpha-hydroxylase gene. In this study, we show that the two sterol regulatory binding proteins (SREBPs) have opposite effects on the 12 alpha-hydroxylase promoter. SREBP-1 activated the 12 alpha-hydroxylase promoter, as it does with many other cholesterol-regulated genes. In contrast, SREBP-2 suppressed 12 alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity. SREBP-1 mediates the cholesterol-down-regulation of 12 alpha-hydroxylase promoter by binding to two inverted sterol regulatory elements found approximately 300 nucleotides from the transcriptional initiation site. SREBP-2 mediated suppression of 12 alpha-hydroxylase without binding to its promoter. Data are presented suggesting that SREBP-2 suppresses the 12 alpha-hydroxylase promoter by interacting with FTF. This is the first report of a promoter responding oppositely to two members of the SREBP family of transcription factors. These studies provide a novel function and mode of action of a SREBP protein.  (+info)