Regulation of Cytochrome P-450 (CYP) Genes by Nuclear Receptors

Abstract

Many xenobiotics are metabolized and detoxified by cytochrome P-450s (CYP). The xenobiotics metabolizing CYPs are induced by various kinds of receptors. To induce CYP1A1, the Ah receptor requires a ligand for its activation as a transcription factor. On the other hand, benzimidazole compounds can induce CYP1A1 without binding to the Ah receptor as a ligand (ligand-independent pathway). In response to phenobarbital (PB) and other PB-type inducers, the nuclear receptor CAR (the NR-constitutive active receptor) translocates to the nucleus, forms a dimer with the retinoid X receptor (RXR), and activates the PB-responsive enhancer module (PBREM) in the PB-inducible CYP2B genes. For human CYP3A4 genes, pregnane X receptor (PXR) binds to the xenobiotic-responsive enhancer module (XREM) and upon induction by rifampicin, a PXR: RXR heterodimer could transactivate XREM.