UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are a family of phase II drug metabolizing enzymes that catalyze glucuronidation of numerous endogenous and exogenous substrates. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is widely used to develop liver injuries mimicking human liver diseases. However, effects of CCl4 on the expression and activities of UGTs and the mechanism have not been fully elucidated. The present study aims to elucidate the dysregulation patterns of major UGTs induced by CCl4. Biochemical and histopathological results showed that CCl4 exerted hepatotoxicity in rats. The mRNA levels of UGTs were all significantly reduced in acute liver injury rats. However, mRNA levels of UGT1A1, 1A6, 2B1 and 2B2 were up-regulated while the UGT2B3, 2B6 and 2B12 levels were reduced in chronic CCl4-induced liver fibrosis rats. The protein expression of UGT1A1, 1A6 and 2B were decreased in acute liver injury rats. UGT1A1 and 1A6 proteins were increased, whereas UGT2B protein was reduced in liver fibrosis rats. In addition, CCl4 inhibited the enzyme activities of UGTs in rats. Moreover, the dysregulation of UGTs was accompanied by the decreased mRNA expression of Nrf2, CAR, FXR, PXR, PPAR-α and their corresponding target genes, except for Nrf2, HO-1, AhR and CYP1A1 in liver fibrosis rats. These findings suggest that dysregulation of UGTs under CCl4 exposure is isoform-specific, which could have a complex impact on drug efficacy and endogenous metabolism. Different exposure durations of CCl4 (single vs multiple doses) could have differential effects on rat hepatic UGTs expression.
Keywords: CCl(4); Liver injury; Nuclear receptors; UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases.
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