TY - JOUR
T1 - Levothyroxine up-regulates P-glycoprotein independent of the pregnane X receptor
AU - Mitin, Tim
AU - Von Moltke, Lisa L.
AU - Court, Michael H.
AU - Greenblatt, David J.
PY - 2004/8
Y1 - 2004/8
N2 - P-Glycoprotein (P-gp) and cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) constitute a physiologic barrier in the intestine for many of the same substrates. Their expression can be influenced by nuclear receptor NR1I2 (pregnane X receptor; PXR), which acts as a receptor for various endobiotics and xenobiotics. However, P-gp and CYP3A4 are not identical in anatomic localization, suggesting unique as well as shared regulatory mechanisms of gene expression. We used established human colon carcinoma cell lines (LS180 and Caco-2) and measured mRNA and protein levels in cells after exposures to levothyroxine (L-T4), triiodo-L-thyronine (L-T3), and rifampin. Results indicate that L-T4, L-T3, and rifampin can up-regulate the expression of P-gp mRNA and protein in LS180 cells, but only L-T4 and L-T 3 can produce the same effect in Caco-2 cells, which are relatively lacking in PXR. In addition, L-T4 and L-T3 did not affect the expression of CYP3A4 in either cell line. We conclude that P-gp, but not CYP3A4, can be up-regulated by thyroid hormones in vitro by a PXR-independent mechanism. Considering the widespread prescription use of L-T4 preparations in the older adult population, these results may be important for the clinical consideration of drug-drug interactions mediated by P-gp.
AB - P-Glycoprotein (P-gp) and cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) constitute a physiologic barrier in the intestine for many of the same substrates. Their expression can be influenced by nuclear receptor NR1I2 (pregnane X receptor; PXR), which acts as a receptor for various endobiotics and xenobiotics. However, P-gp and CYP3A4 are not identical in anatomic localization, suggesting unique as well as shared regulatory mechanisms of gene expression. We used established human colon carcinoma cell lines (LS180 and Caco-2) and measured mRNA and protein levels in cells after exposures to levothyroxine (L-T4), triiodo-L-thyronine (L-T3), and rifampin. Results indicate that L-T4, L-T3, and rifampin can up-regulate the expression of P-gp mRNA and protein in LS180 cells, but only L-T4 and L-T 3 can produce the same effect in Caco-2 cells, which are relatively lacking in PXR. In addition, L-T4 and L-T3 did not affect the expression of CYP3A4 in either cell line. We conclude that P-gp, but not CYP3A4, can be up-regulated by thyroid hormones in vitro by a PXR-independent mechanism. Considering the widespread prescription use of L-T4 preparations in the older adult population, these results may be important for the clinical consideration of drug-drug interactions mediated by P-gp.
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U2 - 10.1124/dmd.32.8.779
DO - 10.1124/dmd.32.8.779
M3 - Article
C2 - 15258100
AN - SCOPUS:3242728359
SN - 0090-9556
VL - 32
SP - 779
EP - 782
JO - Drug Metabolism and Disposition
JF - Drug Metabolism and Disposition
IS - 8
ER -