Investigation on regulation of N-acetyltransferase 2 expression by nuclear receptors in human hepatocytes

IntroductionArylamine N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) expresses a well-defined genetic polymorphism in humans that modifies drug and xenobiotic metabolism. Recent studies and genome wide association studies have reported that genetic variants of NAT2 are associated with differential risks of developing...

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Main Authors: Kyung U. Hong, Anthony P. Aureliano, Kennedy M. Walls, David W. Hein
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1488367/full
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author Kyung U. Hong
Kyung U. Hong
Anthony P. Aureliano
Kennedy M. Walls
David W. Hein
author_facet Kyung U. Hong
Kyung U. Hong
Anthony P. Aureliano
Kennedy M. Walls
David W. Hein
author_sort Kyung U. Hong
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionArylamine N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) expresses a well-defined genetic polymorphism in humans that modifies drug and xenobiotic metabolism. Recent studies and genome wide association studies have reported that genetic variants of NAT2 are associated with differential risks of developing dyslipidemia and cardiometabolic disorders, suggesting a previously unrecognized role of NAT2 in pathophysiology of metabolic disorders. In support of this notion, we recently showed that human NAT2 expression is differentially regulated by glucose and insulin. Moreover, our in silico analysis showed that NAT2 is co-expressed with nuclear receptors enriched in the liver, e.g., NR1H4 (FXR) and NR1I2 (PXR), that have been previously implicated in regulation of hepatic glucose and lipid homeostasis. Identification of transcriptional regulator(s) of human NAT2 would aid in understanding novel functions that it may play in the liver. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate if NAT2 is transcriptionally regulated by hepatic nuclear receptors.MethodsTo test this, we treated cryopreserved human hepatocytes with agonists towards four different hepatic transcription factors/nuclear hormone receptors, namely FXR (NR1H4), PXR (NR1I2), LXR (NR1H3), and PPARα (PPARA), and measured their effects on the level of NAT2 mRNA.ResultsWhile the treatment with a FXR, PXR, or LXR agonist (i.e., GW-4064, SR-12813, or GW-3965) significantly induced their respective target genes, treatment with these agonists did not significantly alter the transcript level of NAT2 in human hepatocytes. PPARα agonist, GW-7647, treatment resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the NAT2 transcript level. However, its magnitude was marginal.ConclusionIn summary, hepatic nuclear receptors we examined in the present study (FXR, PXR, LXR, and PPARα) did not significantly alter NAT2 expression in cryopreserved human hepatocytes. Additional studies are needed to identify transcriptional regulators of hepatic NAT2 expression.
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spelling doaj-art-4175c5e31b5e4fdc84cf8a99ae730b1c2024-11-18T04:23:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122024-11-011510.3389/fphar.2024.14883671488367Investigation on regulation of N-acetyltransferase 2 expression by nuclear receptors in human hepatocytesKyung U. Hong0Kyung U. Hong1Anthony P. Aureliano2Kennedy M. Walls3David W. Hein4Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, United StatesDepartment of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Western New England University, Springfield, MA, United StatesDepartment of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Western New England University, Springfield, MA, United StatesDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, United StatesDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, United StatesIntroductionArylamine N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) expresses a well-defined genetic polymorphism in humans that modifies drug and xenobiotic metabolism. Recent studies and genome wide association studies have reported that genetic variants of NAT2 are associated with differential risks of developing dyslipidemia and cardiometabolic disorders, suggesting a previously unrecognized role of NAT2 in pathophysiology of metabolic disorders. In support of this notion, we recently showed that human NAT2 expression is differentially regulated by glucose and insulin. Moreover, our in silico analysis showed that NAT2 is co-expressed with nuclear receptors enriched in the liver, e.g., NR1H4 (FXR) and NR1I2 (PXR), that have been previously implicated in regulation of hepatic glucose and lipid homeostasis. Identification of transcriptional regulator(s) of human NAT2 would aid in understanding novel functions that it may play in the liver. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate if NAT2 is transcriptionally regulated by hepatic nuclear receptors.MethodsTo test this, we treated cryopreserved human hepatocytes with agonists towards four different hepatic transcription factors/nuclear hormone receptors, namely FXR (NR1H4), PXR (NR1I2), LXR (NR1H3), and PPARα (PPARA), and measured their effects on the level of NAT2 mRNA.ResultsWhile the treatment with a FXR, PXR, or LXR agonist (i.e., GW-4064, SR-12813, or GW-3965) significantly induced their respective target genes, treatment with these agonists did not significantly alter the transcript level of NAT2 in human hepatocytes. PPARα agonist, GW-7647, treatment resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the NAT2 transcript level. However, its magnitude was marginal.ConclusionIn summary, hepatic nuclear receptors we examined in the present study (FXR, PXR, LXR, and PPARα) did not significantly alter NAT2 expression in cryopreserved human hepatocytes. Additional studies are needed to identify transcriptional regulators of hepatic NAT2 expression.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1488367/fullN-acetyltransferase 2NAT2hepatocytesnuclear receptorsFXRPPARα
spellingShingle Kyung U. Hong
Kyung U. Hong
Anthony P. Aureliano
Kennedy M. Walls
David W. Hein
Investigation on regulation of N-acetyltransferase 2 expression by nuclear receptors in human hepatocytes
Frontiers in Pharmacology
N-acetyltransferase 2
NAT2
hepatocytes
nuclear receptors
FXR
PPARα
title Investigation on regulation of N-acetyltransferase 2 expression by nuclear receptors in human hepatocytes
title_full Investigation on regulation of N-acetyltransferase 2 expression by nuclear receptors in human hepatocytes
title_fullStr Investigation on regulation of N-acetyltransferase 2 expression by nuclear receptors in human hepatocytes
title_full_unstemmed Investigation on regulation of N-acetyltransferase 2 expression by nuclear receptors in human hepatocytes
title_short Investigation on regulation of N-acetyltransferase 2 expression by nuclear receptors in human hepatocytes
title_sort investigation on regulation of n acetyltransferase 2 expression by nuclear receptors in human hepatocytes
topic N-acetyltransferase 2
NAT2
hepatocytes
nuclear receptors
FXR
PPARα
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1488367/full
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AT anthonypaureliano investigationonregulationofnacetyltransferase2expressionbynuclearreceptorsinhumanhepatocytes
AT kennedymwalls investigationonregulationofnacetyltransferase2expressionbynuclearreceptorsinhumanhepatocytes
AT davidwhein investigationonregulationofnacetyltransferase2expressionbynuclearreceptorsinhumanhepatocytes