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. 2013 Feb;41(2):457–465. doi: 10.1124/dmd.112.048835

The Role of Cytochrome P450–Dependent Metabolism in the Regulation of Mouse Hepatic Growth Hormone Signaling Components and Target Genes by 3-Methylcholanthrene

Chunja Lee 1, Xinxin Ding 1, David S Riddick 1,✉
PMCID: PMC3558870  PMID: 23169610

Abstract

3-Methylcholanthrene (MC) is a readily metabolized aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist. MC disrupts expression of mouse hepatic growth hormone (GH) signaling components and suppresses cytochrome P450 2D9 (Cyp2d9), a male-specific gene controlled by pulsatile GH via signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (STAT5b). To determine if these effects of MC depend on hepatic microsomal P450–mediated activity, we examined biologic responses to MC treatment in liver Cpr–null (LCN) mice with hepatocyte-specific conditional deletion of NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR). MC caused mild induction of Por and a hepatic inflammatory marker in wild-type mice, whereas MC caused strong induction of AHR target genes, Cyp1a1, Cyp1a2, and Cyp1b1 in wild-type and LCN mice. Two mouse hepatic STAT5b target genes, Cyp2d9 and major urinary protein 2 (Mup2), were suppressed by MC in wild-type mice, and the CYP2D9 mRNA response was maintained in LCN mice. In wild-type mice only, MC decreased hepatic GH receptor (GHR) mRNA but increased GHR protein levels. There was an apparent impairment of STAT5 phosphorylation by MC in wild-type and LCN mice, but large interanimal variation prevented achievement of statistical significance. In vehicle-treated mice, basal levels of MUP2 mRNA, GHR mRNA, GHR protein, and the activation status of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 and Akt were influenced by hepatic Por genetic status. These results indicate that the effects of MC on hepatic GH signaling components and target genes are complex, involving aspects that are both dependent and independent of hepatic microsomal P450–mediated activity.

Introduction

3-Methylcholanthrene (MC) is a carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) that binds and activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) (Riddick et al., 1994), resulting in the transcriptional induction of multiple cytochrome P450 (P450) genes such as CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1 (Whitlock, 1999). Constitutively expressed and inducible P450s can biotransform MC into several oxidative metabolites, some of which are reactive and toxic (Wood et al., 1978; Mathieu et al., 2001). As such, it can be challenging to determine if biologic responses elicited by MC are due to AHR activation by the parent compound or the generation of metabolites.

Some constitutive rodent hepatic P450s that are under hormonal control are suppressed by MC treatment (Riddick et al., 2003, 2004). For example, CYP2C11 is a male-specific rat hepatic P450 regulated by the pulsatile pattern of growth hormone (GH) secretion via a mechanism that at least partly depends on signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (STAT5b) (Park and Waxman, 2001; Ahluwalia et al., 2004; Clodfelter et al., 2006). In vivo administration of MC to male rats suppresses hepatic CYP2C11 expression at the transcriptional level (Jones and Riddick, 1996; Lee and Riddick, 2000). Furthermore, MC suppresses luciferase reporter constructs driven by the CYP2C11 promoter and 5′-flank when delivered to the liver of live rats via a hydrodynamics-based injection procedure (Sawaya and Riddick, 2008a). Although the AHR appears to be involved (Safa et al., 1997) and the activated AHR binds to a putative dioxin-responsive element in the CYP2C11 5′-flanking region (Bhathena et al., 2002), no luciferase suppression in response to AHR agonists is seen in transiently transfected cell lines or primary hepatocytes (Bhathena et al., 2002; Sawaya and Riddick, 2008b). MC does not disrupt GH-stimulated STAT5b signaling in rat liver or H4IIE rat hepatoma cells (Timsit and Riddick, 2002); however, MC does interfere with the stimulation of hepatic CYP2C11 expression by GH in the liver of hypophysectomized rats (Timsit and Riddick, 2000). Full mechanistic details for CYP2C11 suppression by MC and other AHR agonists remain to be determined.

MC also causes a similar response in the liver of male mice, characterized by decreased expression of Cyp2d9 (Lee et al., 2006), a male-specific steroid 16α-hydroxylase regulated by pulsatile GH in a STAT5b-dependent manner (Udy et al., 1997; Davey et al., 1999; Clodfelter et al., 2006). Our mouse studies showed that MC also decreases hepatic mRNA levels for the GH receptor (GHR) and major urinary protein 2 (MUP2), a GH-regulated and STAT5b-dependent transcript (Lee et al., 2006). Another group demonstrated AHR-dependent decreases in the following mouse hepatic mRNAs in response to MC: GHR, Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), and two STAT5b targets, MUP2 and cytokine-inducible Src homology domain-containing protein (CIS) (Nukaya et al., 2004).

Are the effects of MC on constitutive mouse hepatic P450s, GH signaling components, and STAT5b target genes caused by the parent compound or metabolites? We have recently taken two approaches to answer this question. First, we used 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin as an essentially nonmetabolized AHR agonist and Ahr-null mice to demonstrate that AHR activation per se decreases hepatic mRNA levels for GHR, JAK2, and STAT5a/b, as well as two STAT5b target genes, Cyp2d9 and Mup2 (Lee and Riddick, 2012). Second, in the present study, we make use of mice that are essentially devoid of hepatic microsomal P450–dependent metabolism because of hepatocyte-specific conditional deletion of NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR or POR), the obligate electron transfer partner for all microsomal P450s. Two independent groups previously generated and characterized such mice, referred to as hepatic P450 reductase-null (HRN) mice (Henderson et al., 2003) or liver Cpr–null (LCN) mice (Gu et al., 2003). Both mouse strains showed a profound decrease in all hepatic microsomal P450 functions, a compensatory increased expression of several P450 proteins, reduced circulating levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, and hepatic lipidosis (Gu et al., 2003; Henderson et al., 2003).

Using MC as a readily metabolized AHR agonist and LCN mice as a model to examine the dependence of biologic responses on hepatic microsomal P450–mediated activity, our goal was to answer the following questions with respect to hepatic GH signaling components and STAT5b targets at the mRNA and protein levels: 1) Are basal expression levels in the absence of MC treatment influenced by Por genetic status? 2) Are expression levels altered by MC treatment? 3) Are responses elicited by MC treatment dependent on hepatic microsomal P450 activity? 4) Are the effects of MC accompanied by induction of selected hepatic inflammatory markers?

Materials and Methods

Animals and Treatment.

Adult male (8 to 9 weeks of age) LCN mice (Alb-Cre +/−/Por lox/lox) (Gu et al., 2003) and wild-type littermates (Alb-Cre −/−/Por lox/lox), both on a C57BL/6 background, were used in this study. Animals were maintained at 22°C with a 12 hours on/12 hours off light cycle and were allowed free access to water and a standard laboratory diet. Animal experimentation was conducted in accordance with the National Institutes of Health–adopted Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, 2011), and animal use protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Wadsworth Center.

Groups of four LCN and wild-type mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of MC (80 mg/kg) or an equivalent volume of corn oil vehicle. At 72 hours after injection, mice were euthanized, and harvested liver tissue was immediately frozen on dry ice and stored at −80°C until use. The isolation of total RNA and the preparation of whole-liver homogenate and hepatic microsomes followed established procedures (Lee et al., 2006). Protein concentrations were determined by the method described by Lowry et al. (1951).

For the time-course analysis of hepatic inflammatory markers, frozen hepatic RNA samples were used from a previous study (Lee et al., 2006) in which male C57BL/6 mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of MC (80 mg/kg) or corn oil vehicle and were euthanized at 24, 48, 72, 96, or 168 hours after injection. Integrity of stored RNA was verified by inspection of the 28S and 18S rRNA bands on ethidium bromide–stained agarose gels.

Analysis of mRNA Levels by Semiquantitative Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Hepatic levels of mRNAs encoding CYP1A1, CIS, MUP2, JAK2, and STAT5a/b, normalized to β-actin as the internal reference standard, were determined by measuring the intensity of polymerase chain reaction products on Vistra Green (GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences, Baie d'Urfé, Quebec, Canada)–stained polyacrylamide gels using the primers and optimized assay conditions validated in our previous study (Lee et al., 2006).

Analysis of mRNA Levels by Real-Time Quantitative Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Hepatic levels of mRNAs encoding POR, CYP2D9, serum amyloid protein P (SAP), suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), and GHR, normalized to β-actin as the internal reference standard, were determined by the comparative threshold cycle relative quantitation method on the ABI Prism 7500 Sequence Detection System (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) using the primers and optimized assay conditions validated in our previous study (Lee and Riddick, 2012).

POR Activity.

Liver microsomes (30 µg of protein) were assayed at room temperature in 1-ml incubation mixtures containing 300 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.7) and 70 µM cytochrome c. Reactions were initiated by the addition of 1 mM NADPH, and the rate of cytochrome c reduction was determined spectrophotometrically at 550 nm based on ε = 21 mM-1cm−1 (Strobel and Dignam, 1978). Absorbance of a control reaction in which microsomes were omitted was subtracted from each sample, and activities were normalized for microsomal protein content.

CYP1A1 Activity.

The catalytic activity of CYP1A1 was estimated using a P450-Glo Assay (Promega, Madison, WI). Liver microsomes (2 µg of protein) were incubated with luciferin 6′ chloroethyl ether (Luc-CEE) substrate for 30 minutes followed by incubation with the NADPH regeneration system (Promega) for 30 minutes. Luciferin detection reagent (25 µl) was added to each 25-µl reaction mixture, and luminescence was read 30 minutes later using a TD-20/20 luminometer (Turner Designs, Sunnyvale, CA). Luminescence of a control reaction in which microsomes were omitted was subtracted from each sample, and activities were normalized for microsomal protein content. All steps took place at room temperature, and the final concentration of Luc-CEE in the enzyme reactions was 30 µM. CYP1B1 also metabolizes Luc-CEE (Cali et al., 2006); however, catalytic contributions from CYP1B1 in our study are expected to be minor in comparison with CYP1A1, which displays a higher turnover of Luc-CEE and much higher levels in mouse liver following induction by MC (Cali et al., 2006; Hrycay and Bandiera, 2009).

Immunoblot Analysis.

General procedures for electrophoresis, transfer, antibody incubations, chemiluminescence detection, and film scanning and quantitation were described previously (Lee et al., 2006). The following primary antibodies were used to probe blots from gels originally loaded with 0.15– 5 µg of hepatic microsomal protein: goat polyclonal against rat POR, dilution 1:10,000 (BD Gentest, Bedford, MA); mouse monoclonal 1-31-2 against rat CYP1A1, dilution 1:5000 (Dr. Harry V. Gelboin, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD); mouse monoclonal against rat CYP1A2, dilution 1:20,000 (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA); rabbit polyclonal against human CYP1B1, dilution 1:1000 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA); and rabbit polyclonal against mouse CYP2D9, dilution 1:5000 (Dr. Masahiko Negishi, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC). The following primary antibodies were used to probe blots from gels originally loaded with 40 µg of whole-liver homogenate: goat polyclonal against mouse GHR, dilution 1:500 (R & D Systems, Minneapolis, MN); mouse monoclonal against mouse STAT5b, dilution 1:1000 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology); rabbit polyclonal against mouse phosphorylated STAT5 (pSTAT5), dilution 1:1000 (Cell Signaling Technology, Danvers, MA); rabbit polyclonal against a conserved peptide in human/rat extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk1/2), dilution 1:1000 (Enzo Life Sciences, Farmingdale, NY); rabbit polyclonal against human phosphorylated Erk1 (pErk1), dilution 1:1000 (Cell Signaling Technology); rabbit polyclonal against mouse Akt, dilution 1:1,000 (Cell Signaling Technology); and rabbit polyclonal against a conserved phosphopeptide in human/rat/mouse Akt1, dilution 1:4000 (R & D Systems).

Statistical Analysis.

All data are expressed as the mean ± S.D. of determinations from four mice. All statistical analyses were performed on the original raw data and not on the percentage of control data presented in the figures. Data were analyzed initially using a randomized-design two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify significant influences of the two independent variables and their interaction (treatment; genotype or time; treatment x genotype or time interaction). Post-test analyses for the planned comparisons (treatment effect, genotype or time effect) were performed to assess whether there were significant differences between particular groups. Post tests were Bonferroni corrected for multiple comparisons and used the mean square residual (pooled variance) and corresponding degrees of freedom from the two-way ANOVA. A result was considered statistically significant at P < 0.05.

The decision to conduct this study with four mice per treatment group was based on a formal sample size/power calculation. This sample size provided 80% power (β = 0.20), at a level of significance of α = 0.05, to detect cases where the ratio of the estimated S.D. to the minimum effect magnitude is 0.5. A typical example from our previous and current studies of the regulation of constitutive rodent liver P450s would be a 50% increase or decrease in expression with an S.D. for the measured parameter equal to 25% of the mean. For some specific measured endpoints where the observed interanimal variability exceeded our a priori estimates (e.g., CIS mRNA, SAP mRNA, SOCS3 mRNA, and STAT5 phosphorylation status), this study may have inadequate power to detect a difference; potentially interesting data patterns in such cases are described conservatively as trends that did not achieve statistical significance.

Results

This study examined the expression of selected GH signaling components and STAT5b target genes in the liver of male LCN and wild-type mice following a single intraperitoneal dose of MC (80 mg/kg). A schematic of the signal transduction pathways under investigation is shown in Fig. 1. In addition to the GHR-JAK2-STAT5b pathway described previously, binding of GH to the cell-surface GHR in hepatocytes activates at least two other cascades (Lanning and Carter-Su, 2006): 1) the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway leading to phosphorylation of Akt, and 2) a mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade leading to phosphorylation of Erk1/2. All three GH signaling pathways were examined in this study, as were three hepatic STAT5b target genes: Cyp2d9, Cis, and Mup2. The MC dose and timing were based on our previous mouse study (Lee et al., 2006) in which we saw no overt signs of toxicity, strong AHR activation as evidenced by Cyp1a1 induction, and significant suppression of Ghr and Cyp2d9 expression.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1.

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Schematic representation of the potential disruption of hepatic GH signaling pathways by MC. GH triggers dimerization of the cell-surface GHR leading to activation of at least three signal transduction cascades: the GHR-JAK2-STAT5b pathway leading to transcription of STAT5b target genes such as Cyp2d9, Cis, and Mup2; the PI3K pathway leading to phosphorylation of Akt; and a mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade leading to phosphorylation of Erk1/2. MC may disrupt these signaling pathways via P450-dependent or P450-independent mechanisms. MC’s effects may also be accompanied by induction of hepatic inflammatory markers (e.g. SAP and SOCS3). Abbreviations not appearing elsewhere in text: IRS-1, insulin receptor substrate-1; Shc, (Src homology 2 domain containing)-transforming protein; Grb2, growth factor receptor-bound protein 2; Sos, son of sevenless.

Confirmation of POR Status.

LCN mice showed dramatically diminished hepatic POR mRNA (Fig. 2A), protein (Fig. 2B), and catalytic activity (Fig. 2C) in comparison with wild-type mice, regardless of MC treatment. POR mRNA levels (Fig. 2A) and cytochrome c reduction activity (Fig. 2C) in LCN mice were 2%–3% and 4%, respectively, of levels in vehicle-treated wild-type mice, whereas POR protein was undetectable in LCN mice under our immunoblot conditions (Fig. 2B). POR mRNA levels (Fig. 2A) and catalytic activity (Fig. 2C) were increased by 78% and 30%, respectively, following MC treatment in wild-type mice, and a small increase in POR protein levels was apparent (Fig. 2B), although detection conditions did not permit quantitation. As expected, the induction of Por expression by MC was not observed in LCN mice (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2.

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Effect of MC treatment on hepatic POR mRNA (A), protein (B), and catalytic activity (C) in wild-type and LCN mice. (B) Immunoblot of microsomal protein (3 µg) using polyclonal antibody against rat POR, showing results for two vehicle (V)- and MC (M)-treated mice per genotype. Quantitative analysis of POR mRNA levels, relative to β-actin (A) and cytochrome c reduction activity (C). Data represent the mean ± S.D. of determinations from four mice per group, expressed as a percentage of the mean for the vehicle-treated wild-type mice. Mean cytochrome c reduction activity for the vehicle-treated wild-type mice was 176 ± 25 nmol/min/mg protein. The P values for the two-way ANOVA main effects were P = 0.0753 (treatment), P < 0.0001 (genotype), and P = 0.0802 (interaction) for POR mRNA, and P = 0.0172 (treatment), P < 0.0001 (genotype), and P = 0.0172 (interaction) for POR activity. Post-test outcomes were as follows: *significantly different (P < 0.05) from genotype-matched vehicle-control mice; †significantly different (P < 0.05) from treatment-matched wild-type mice.

Inducible P450s under AHR Control.

As established positive control responses to MC treatment, we demonstrated AHR activation by assessing induction of Cyp1a1, Cyp1a2, and Cyp1b1. CYP1A1 mRNA (Fig. 3A) and protein (Fig. 3B) were not detectable in vehicle-treated wild-type and LCN mice, and a pronounced induction response was observed following MC treatment in both mouse strains at the mRNA (Fig. 3A) and protein (Fig. 3B) levels. In vehicle-treated mice, the basal level of CYP1A2 protein was 3-fold higher in LCN mice compared with wild-type mice (Fig. 3C), although this trend did not achieve statistical significance. CYP1A2 protein levels were elevated strongly by MC treatment in both wild-type and LCN mice (Fig. 3C). CYP1B1 protein was not detectable in vehicle-treated wild-type and LCN mice, and a pronounced induction response was observed following MC treatment in both mouse strains (Fig. 3D). At the functional level, we used a P450-Glo Assay with Luc-CEE as the substrate to assess the activity of CYP1A1, a microsomal P450 that depends on POR for electron transfer. In vehicle-treated mice, the basal Luc-CEE activity of LCN mice was 8% of that seen in wild-type mice (Fig. 3E). This activity was induced by 130-fold in wild-type mice following MC treatment; importantly, the MC-induced Luc-CEE activity in LCN mice was only 4% of the induced level achieved in wild-type mice (Fig. 3E).

Fig. 3.

Fig. 3.

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Effect of MC treatment on hepatic CYP1A1 mRNA (A), CYP1A1 protein (B), CYP1A2 protein (C), CYP1B1 protein (D), and CYP1A1-mediated Luc-CEE catalytic activity (E) in wild-type and LCN mice. (A) Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of CYP1A1 and β-actin mRNA levels as visualized on Vistra Green–stained polyacrylamide gels, showing results for two vehicle (V)- and MC (M)-treated mice per genotype. Immunoblot of microsomal protein (CYP1A1: 5 µg; CYP1A2: 3 µg for V and 0.15 µg for M; CYP1B1: 5 µg) using monoclonal antibody against rat CYP1A1 (B), monoclonal antibody against rat CYP1A2 (C), and polyclonal antibody against human CYP1B1 (D), showing results for two V- and M-treated mice per genotype. Quantitative analysis of CYP1A2 protein levels (C) and Luc-CEE activity (E). Data represent the mean ± S.D. of determinations from four mice per group, expressed as a percentage of the mean for the vehicle-treated wild-type mice. The P values for the two-way ANOVA main effects were P = 0.0003 (treatment), P = 0.8699 (genotype), and P = 0.8342 (interaction) for CYP1A2 protein, and P < 0.0001 (treatment), P < 0.0001 (genotype), and P < 0.0001 (interaction) for Luc-CEE activity. Post-test outcomes were as follows: *significantly different (P < 0.05) from genotype-matched vehicle-control mice; †significantly different (P < 0.05) from treatment-matched wild-type mice. (D) Quantitative analysis of CYP1B1 protein levels. Data represent the mean ± S.D. of determinations from four mice per group, expressed as a percentage of the mean for the MC-treated wild-type mice. bp, base pair; n.d., not detectable.

STAT5b Target Genes.

Cyp2d9 encodes a male-specific steroid 16α-hydroxylase regulated by pulsatile GH in a STAT5b-dependent manner (Udy et al., 1997; Davey et al., 1999; Clodfelter et al., 2006). Following MC treatment, hepatic CYP2D9 mRNA levels were decreased by 40% and 44% in wild-type and LCN mice, respectively (Fig. 4A). In vehicle-treated mice, the basal CYP2D9 mRNA levels did not differ between wild-type and LCN mice (Fig. 4A). As in our earlier mouse study (Lee et al., 2006), we also assessed CYP2D9 protein levels using a well characterized polyclonal antibody known to recognize three protein bands (labeled a, b, and c in Fig. 4B) in microsomes from male mice, with the middle band b identified as the male-specific CYP2D9 (Udy et al., 1997; Davey et al., 1999). In wild-type mice, CYP2D9 protein levels following MC treatment were 45% of the vehicle control levels (Fig. 4B), although this trend did not achieve statistical significance. There was no such trend for CYP2D9 protein suppression by MC in LCN mice; in fact, CYP2D9 protein levels following MC treatment were 2.7-fold higher in LCN mice compared with wild-type mice (Fig. 4B).

Fig. 4.

Fig. 4.

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Effect of MC treatment on hepatic CYP2D9 mRNA (A), CYP2D9 protein (B), CIS mRNA (C), and MUP2 mRNA (D) in wild-type and LCN mice. (B) Immunoblot of microsomal protein (5 µg) using polyclonal antibody against mouse CYP2D9, showing results for two vehicle (V)- and MC (M)-treated mice per genotype. The labels on the right side indicate that this antibody recognizes three protein bands (a, b, and c) in mouse hepatic microsomes, and the middle band, b, represents the male-specific CYP2D9. Quantitative analysis of CYP2D9 mRNA (A), CIS mRNA (C), and MUP2 mRNA (D) levels, relative to β-actin, and CYP2D9 protein levels (B). Data represent the mean ± S.D. of determinations from four mice per group, expressed as a percentage of the mean for the vehicle-treated wild-type mice. The P values for the two-way ANOVA main effects were P < 0.0001 (treatment), P = 0.0176 (genotype), and P = 0.6825 (interaction) for CYP2D9 mRNA; P = 0.0756 (treatment), P = 0.0082 (genotype), and P = 0.2127 (interaction) for CYP2D9 protein; P = 0.9873 (treatment), P = 0.5051 (genotype), and P = 0.1122 (interaction) for CIS mRNA; and P = 0.0018 (treatment), P = 0.1347 (genotype), and P = 0.0114 (interaction) for MUP2 mRNA. Post-test outcomes were as follows: *significantly different (P < 0.05) from genotype-matched vehicle-control mice; †significantly different (P < 0.05) from treatment-matched wild-type mice.

Cis, a GH-inducible STAT5b target gene, plays a role in negative feedback inhibition of GH signaling (Landsman and Waxman, 2005). Hepatic CIS mRNA levels were not influenced by MC treatment or hepatic Por genetic status (Fig. 4C), although high interanimal variability was noted.

Pulsatile GH signaling via the STAT5b pathway confers male-predominant expression of MUP2 (Udy et al., 1997), an α2-microglobulin–related liver secretory protein and a significant protein component of mouse urine. MC caused a 66% decrease in hepatic MUP2 mRNA levels in wild-type mice, and this suppression response was not observed in LCN mice (Fig. 4D). In vehicle-treated mice, the basal MUP2 mRNA levels were 1.8-fold higher in wild-type mice compared with LCN mice (Fig. 4D).

Hepatic Inflammatory Markers.

Inflammatory conditions often trigger downregulation of constitutive hepatic P450s (Riddick et al., 2004; Morgan et al., 2008). Because MC treatment suppressed CYP2D9 mRNA levels in both wild-type and LCN mice, we assessed the potential induction by MC of two known hepatic inflammatory markers: SAP, a key reactant in the acute-phase response to inflammation in mice (Charles et al., 2006), and SOCS3, a feedback inhibitor of hepatic cytokine signaling induced by proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (Yang et al., 2005).

Hepatic SAP mRNA levels were not influenced by MC treatment or hepatic Por genetic status (Fig. 5A). In a time-course study conducted in wild-type mice, SAP mRNA levels appeared to increase 5.1-fold at 72 hours following MC treatment, but this trend was variable and did not achieve statistical significance (Fig. 5B).

Fig. 5.

Fig. 5.

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Effect of MC treatment on hepatic SAP mRNA (A) and SOCS3 mRNA (C) in wild-type and LCN mice, and time course of the effects of MC on hepatic SAP mRNA (B) and SOCS3 mRNA (D) in wild-type mice. Quantitative analysis of SAP mRNA (A) and SOCS3 mRNA (C) levels relative to β-actin. Data represent the mean ± S.D. of determinations from four mice per group, expressed as a percentage of the mean for the vehicle-treated wild-type mice. The P values for the two-way ANOVA main effects were P = 0.1140 (treatment), P = 0.1698 (genotype), and P = 0.6243 (interaction) for SAP mRNA, and P = 0.0024 (treatment), P = 0.6164 (genotype), and P = 0.4201 (interaction) for SOCS3 mRNA. Post-test outcomes were as follows: *significantly different (P < 0.05) from genotype-matched vehicle-control mice. Quantitative analysis of SAP mRNA (B) and SOCS3 mRNA (D) levels relative to β-actin. Data represent the mean ± S.D. of determinations from four MC-treated mice per group, expressed as a percentage of the mean for the vehicle-treated controls at each time point. The P values for the two-way ANOVA main effects were P = 0.0636 (treatment), P < 0.0001 (time), and P = 0.4036 (interaction) for SAP mRNA, and P = 0.0962 (treatment), P = 0.1113 (time), and P = 0.0908 (interaction) for SOCS3 mRNA. Post-test outcomes, showing only significant treatment effects for clarity of presentation, were as follows: *significantly different (P < 0.05) from vehicle-control mice at a specified time point.

Hepatic SOCS3 mRNA levels were increased 3.9-fold by MC treatment in wild-type mice, and a trend for induction did not achieve statistical significance in LCN mice (Fig. 5C). A similar 4.3-fold induction of SOCS3 mRNA levels at 72 hours following MC treatment was observed in the time-course study for wild-type mice (Fig. 5D). In vehicle-treated mice, the basal SOCS3 mRNA levels did not differ between wild-type and LCN mice (Fig. 5C).

Components of the Hepatic GHR-JAK2-STAT5b Signal Transduction Pathway.

Two STAT5b target genes, Cyp2d9 and Mup2, were suppressed by MC treatment (Fig. 4); therefore, we checked for potential disruption of the GHR-JAK2-STAT5b pathway known to confer male-specific hepatic expression of these two genes. In wild-type mice, but not LCN mice, MC decreased hepatic GHR mRNA levels by 46% (Fig. 6A). In vehicle-treated mice, the basal GHR mRNA levels were 2.1-fold higher in wild-type mice compared with LCN mice (Fig. 6A). Surprisingly, MC treatment and hepatic Por genetic status influenced GHR protein levels in opposite directions compared with GHR mRNA levels. In wild-type mice, but not LCN mice, MC increased hepatic GHR protein levels 2.6-fold (Fig. 6B). In vehicle-treated mice, the basal GHR protein levels were 2.5-fold higher in LCN mice compared with wild-type mice (Fig. 6B). Hepatic JAK2 mRNA levels were not influenced by MC treatment or hepatic Por genetic status (Fig. 6C). In LCN mice, but not wild-type mice, MC decreased hepatic STAT5a/b mRNA levels by 22% (Fig. 6D). In vehicle-treated mice, the basal STAT5a/b mRNA levels did not differ between wild-type and LCN mice (Fig. 6D). We examined the ratio of pSTAT5 (at Tyr694) to total STAT5b protein as an index of activation of the GHR-JAK2-STAT5b pathway, realizing that pSTAT5 levels are expected to vary in male mice depending on the phase of a GH pulse that an individual mouse is experiencing at the time of euthanasia. Indeed, our measures of the pSTAT5/STAT5b ratio were characterized by large interanimal variability and no overall influence of MC treatment or hepatic Por genetic status (Fig. 6E). However, there was a trend toward diminished STAT5 activation following MC treatment in both wild-type and LCN mice (Fig. 6E).

Fig. 6.

Fig. 6.

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Effect of MC treatment on hepatic GHR mRNA (A), GHR protein (B), JAK2 mRNA (C), STAT5a/b mRNA (D), and pSTAT5/STAT5b protein ratio (E) in wild-type and LCN mice. Immunoblot of whole-liver homogenate protein (40 µg) using polyclonal antibody against mouse GHR (B), polyclonal antibody against mouse pSTAT5, and monoclonal antibody against mouse STAT5b (E), showing results for two vehicle (V)- and MC (M)-treated mice per genotype. Quantitative analysis of GHR mRNA (A), JAK2 mRNA (C), and STAT5a/b mRNA (D) levels, relative to β-actin, and GHR protein levels (B) and pSTAT5/STAT5b protein ratio (E). Data represent the mean ± S.D. of determinations from four mice per group, expressed as a percentage of the mean for the vehicle-treated wild-type mice. The P values for the two-way ANOVA main effects were P = 0.0013 (treatment), P = 0.0002 (genotype), and P = 0.0292 (interaction) for GHR mRNA; P = 0.0172 (treatment), P = 0.0280 (genotype), and P = 0.0030 (interaction) for GHR protein; P = 0.4616 (treatment), P = 0.0984 (genotype), and P = 0.3760 (interaction) for JAK2 mRNA; P = 0.0018 (treatment), P = 0.0284 (genotype), and P = 0.6588 (interaction) for STAT5a/b mRNA; and P = 0.2441 (treatment), P = 0.6964 (genotype), and P = 0.6669 (interaction) for pSTAT5/STAT5b protein ratio. Post-test outcomes were as follows: *significantly different (P < 0.05) from genotype-matched vehicle-control mice; †significantly different (P < 0.05) from treatment-matched wild-type mice.

Other Hepatic GH Signal Transduction Pathways.

We examined the ratios of pErk1 (at Thr202/Tyr204) to total Erk1 protein and pErk2 (at Thr185/Tyr187) to total Erk2 protein as indices of the status of this mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. The pErk1/Erk1 ratio was not influenced by MC treatment or hepatic Por genetic status (Fig. 7A, left panel). MC treatment did not alter the pErk2/Erk2 ratio in wild-type or LCN mice (Fig. 7A, right panel). In vehicle-treated mice, the basal pErk2/Erk2 ratio was 2.8-fold higher in wild-type mice compared with LCN mice (Fig. 7A, right panel).

Fig. 7.

Fig. 7.

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Effect of MC treatment on hepatic pERK1/Erk1 and pErk2/Erk2 protein ratios (A) and pAkt/Akt protein ratio (B) in wild-type and LCN mice. Immunoblot of whole-liver homogenate protein (40 µg) using polyclonal antibody against human pErk1 and polyclonal antibody against a peptide conserved in human/rat Erk1/2 (A), and polyclonal antibody against a conserved phosphopeptide in human/rat/mouse Akt1 and polyclonal antibody against mouse Akt (B), showing results for two vehicle (V)- and MC (M)-treated mice per genotype. Quantitative analysis of pErk1/Erk1 (A, left panel), pErk2/Erk2 (A, right panel), and pAkt/Akt (B) protein ratios. Data represent the mean ± S.D. of determinations from four mice per group, expressed as a percentage of the mean for the vehicle-treated wild-type mice. The P values for the two-way ANOVA main effects were P = 0.7505 (treatment), P = 0.2507 (genotype), and P = 0.3681 (interaction) for the pErk1/Erk1 protein ratio; P = 0.3040 (treatment), P = 0.0122 (genotype), and P = 0.2497 (interaction) for the pErk2/Erk2 protein ratio; and P = 0.0921 (treatment), P = 0.0011 (genotype), and P = 0.4803 (interaction) for the pAkt/Akt protein ratio. Post-test outcomes were as follows: †significantly different (P < 0.05) from treatment-matched wild-type mice.

We examined the ratio of phosphorylated Akt (pAkt; at Ser473 in Akt1, Ser474 in Akt2, and Ser472 in Akt3) to total Akt protein as an index of activation of the PI3K pathway. MC treatment did not alter the pAkt/Akt ratio in wild-type or LCN mice (Fig. 7B). In vehicle-treated mice, the basal pAkt/Akt ratio was 2.5-fold higher in wild-type mice compared with LCN mice (Fig. 7B).

Discussion

The physiologic functions of POR are diverse because this flavoprotein serves as the electron-transfer partner for all microsomal P450s, cytochrome b5, squalene mono-oxygenase, and heme oxygenase (Hart and Zhong, 2008). Also, POR can directly catalyze one-electron reductive bioactivation of antineoplastic agents such as tirapazamine (Ramji et al., 2003). Although germ-line deletion of Por in mice results in multiple developmental defects and embryonic lethality (Shen et al., 2002; Otto et al., 2003), mice with hepatocyte-specific conditional deletion of Por (i.e., LCN and HRN mice) are interesting models essentially devoid of all hepatic microsomal P450 activity (Gu et al., 2003; Henderson et al., 2003). Microarray studies demonstrate altered regulation of numerous hepatic genes in these mice, with estimates of 63 (Weng et al., 2005) or 268 (Wang et al., 2005) differentially expressed genes versus wild-type controls, depending on the specific model and analysis parameters. Hepatic Por deletion results in hepatomegaly and fatty liver, with pronounced alterations in lipid metabolism (Mutch et al., 2007; Gonzalez et al., 2011). Increased expression of several P450 mRNAs and proteins is thought to result from activation of the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) (Weng et al., 2005), possibly by accumulated unsaturated fatty acids (Finn et al., 2009). Although we used LCN mice in the present study to eliminate hepatic microsomal P450–dependent metabolism of MC, it must be recognized that these mice display complex physiologic changes in response to hepatic Por deletion.

Considering our current focus on constitutive and PAH-inducible hepatic P450s, inflammatory markers, GH signaling components, and STAT5b target genes (Fig. 1), we have identified several genes whose basal expression or activation state is influenced by hepatic Por genetic status alone. On the one hand, basal mRNA levels for MUP2 and GHR and the pErk2/Erk2 and pAkt/Akt ratios are higher in wild-type versus LCN mice. On the other hand, basal GHR protein levels are lower in wild-type versus LCN mice. These are novel findings with no clear mechanistic explanations currently, whereas the pronounced loss of POR mRNA, protein, and catalytic activity in LCN mice clearly confirmed the primary genetic alteration in this model (Gu et al., 2003). Although the links between hepatic Por deletion and modulation of GHR signaling components and target genes have not been studied and remain unclear, loss of POR function in hepatocytes increases activation of CAR and decreases activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (Weng et al., 2005); both CAR (Schuetz et al., 1990; Shapiro et al., 1994) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (Shipley and Waxman, 2004; Ljungberg et al., 2007) engage in cross talk with GH signaling cascades. Our finding that CYP2D9 mRNA levels do not differ between wild-type and LCN mice is consistent with a gene expression microarray study performed in HRN mice (Wang et al., 2005).

Regarding basal expression of P450s under AHR control, our characterizations of Cyp1a1, Cyp1a2, and Cyp1b1 are consistent with earlier reports. Basal CYP1A1 mRNA levels did not differ between wild-type and LCN mice (Gu et al., 2003), and LCN mice showed an approximately 2- and 3-fold elevation of basal CYP1A2 mRNA and CYP1A protein, respectively (Gu et al., 2003; Weng et al., 2005). Basal CYP1B1 mRNA was reported as nondetectable in the liver of wild-type and HRN mice (Wang et al., 2005). Mouse Ahr is a known CAR target gene (Maglich et al., 2002), and CAR activation by unsaturated fatty acids (Finn et al., 2009) and/or cholesterol biosynthesis precursors (Kocarek and Mercer-Haines, 2002) likely accounts for the 2.2-fold increase in hepatic AHR mRNA levels in LCN mice (Weng et al., 2005). Augmented AHR expression, along with potential accumulation of endogenous or dietary AHR agonists due to diminished hepatic microsomal P450–mediated metabolism (Ito et al., 2007), may lead to elevated basal CYP1A2 mRNA and CYP1A protein in LCN mice.

Together with our previous work (Lee et al., 2006), we have shown the following MC effects in wild-type mice: induction of Por expression and function; induction of CYP1A1 mRNA, protein, and activity; induction of CYP1A2 and CYP1B1 protein; suppression of Cyp2d9 expression and function; suppression of MUP2 mRNA; induction of SOCS3 mRNA; suppression of GHR mRNA but induction of GHR protein; and a nonstatistically significant trend toward impaired STAT5 phosphorylation. Decreased mRNA levels for GHR, JAK2, CIS, MUP2, and impaired binding of STAT5 to DNA were shown to be AHR-dependent responses to MC (Nukaya et al., 2004). However, with a readily metabolized AHR agonist such as MC, AHR dependence can involve activation of the AHR by the parent compound and/or metabolite generation by AHR-regulated drug-metabolizing enzymes. LCN mice, which possess an intact AHR pathway but lack hepatic microsomal P450–mediated activity, showed different patterns of modulation of MC responses, depending on the specific endpoint. Some MC responses were maintained in wild-type and LCN mice (e.g., induction of CYP1A1 mRNA/protein, induction of CYP1A2 and CYP1B1 protein, suppression of CYP2D9 mRNA, and a trend toward impaired STAT5 phosphorylation), suggesting independence from hepatic microsomal P450–mediated activity. Some MC responses in wild-type mice were diminished in LCN mice (e.g., induction of CYP1A1 activity, suppression of CYP2D9 protein, suppression of MUP2 mRNA, induction of SOCS3 mRNA, suppression of GHR mRNA, and induction of GHR protein), suggesting dependence on hepatic microsomal P450–mediated activity. One MC response (suppression of STAT5a/b mRNA) occurred only in LCN mice, suggesting that hepatic microsomal P450–mediated activity prevents this response. Where hepatic microsomal P450–mediated activity is implicated in MC responses, we cannot currently distinguish between contributions from direct conversion of MC to metabolites versus roles of the microsomal P450/POR system in endogenous substance metabolism.

A limitation of our study is that we did not compare MC pharmacokinetics in wild-type versus LCN mice. However, relevant data are available for a very similar PAH, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), which was studied in HRN (Arlt et al., 2008) and LCN (Fang and Zhang, 2010) mice. Following a single intraperitoneal dose of BaP (125 mg/kg) in HRN mice (Arlt et al., 2008) or single BaP doses given orally (30 mg/kg) or intraperitoneally (45 mg/kg) in LCN mice (Fang and Zhang, 2010), there were no differences from wild-type mice in BaP pharmacokinetic parameters. Thus, differences in MC responses between wild-type and LCN mice are not likely due to changes in whole-body pharmacokinetics, but may instead reflect alterations in local hepatic generation of MC metabolites. Similar to our findings, BaP caused a small-magnitude induction of POR protein in wild-type mice, pronounced induction of CYP1A protein in both wild-type and HRN mice, and a much higher induced level of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation activity in wild-type mice versus HRN mice (Arlt et al., 2008).

Because inflammatory mediators are commonly implicated in the downregulation of constitutive hepatic P450s (Riddick et al., 2004; Morgan et al., 2008), we assessed two known hepatic inflammatory markers: SAP and SOCS3. MC increased SOCS3 mRNA levels at 72 hours in wild-type mice, with no statistically significant effects on SAP mRNA levels. MC responses were compared in wild-type versus LCN mice at 72 hours following exposure because we previously reported maximal Cyp1a1 induction and suppression of Ghr and constitutive P450s at this time (Lee et al., 2006). It is interesting that the induction of hepatic inflammatory markers by MC also peaks at 72 hours; however, our time-course results do not show induction of SOCS3 mRNA prior to the onset of suppression of Ghr and constitutive P450s (Lee et al., 2006), as might be expected if inflammatory processes were playing a causal role. The AHR is a key player in immune system regulation, and AHR agonists can display both pro- and anti-inflammatory properties (Stockinger et al., 2011). Repetitive daily MC dosing in rats with MC causes persistent induction of hepatic acute-phase genes and inflammation (Kondraganti et al., 2005). The relatively mild and transient induction of a single hepatic inflammatory marker in our study suggests that inflammatory mediators are not likely to play key roles in the effects of MC on constitutive hepatic P450s, GH signaling components, and target genes.

In conclusion, studies with LCN mice have provided new insights into the dependence of MC responses on hepatic microsomal P450–mediated activity. First, Por genetic status alone modulates basal levels of MUP2 mRNA, GHR mRNA, GHR protein, and the activation status of Erk2 and Akt. Second, acute exposure of wild-type mice to MC suppresses hepatic Cyp2d9 and Mup2, two STAT5b-dependent GH target genes, and these responses are accompanied by altered GHR mRNA/protein levels and a trend toward diminished STAT5 phosphorylation. Third, the CYP2D9 mRNA response and STAT5 phosphorylation trend are maintained in MC-treated LCN mice, which are essentially devoid of hepatic microsomal P450–dependent activity; however, the effects of MC on Mup2 and Ghr expression are absent in LCN mice. Finally, MC triggered a relatively mild and transient induction of SOCS3 mRNA in wild-type mice, suggesting that inflammatory mediators may not be major contributors to the observed MC effects. Overall, the effects of MC on hepatic GH signaling components and target genes are complex, involving aspects that are both dependent on and independent of hepatic microsomal P450–mediated activity. The relative importance of P450-mediated metabolism in the biologic effects of MC appears to depend on the specific outcome under investigation.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Hong Wu (Wadsworth Center) for assistance with mouse work and sample processing, Dr. Graham R. Robertson (University of Sydney) for helpful discussions regarding hepatic inflammatory markers, and Drs. Harry V. Gelboin (National Cancer Institute) and Masahiko Negishi (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) for their kind gifts of antibodies.

Abbreviations

AHR

aryl hydrocarbon receptor

ANOVA

analysis of variance

BaP

benzo[a]pyrene

CAR

constitutive androstane receptor

CIS

cytokine-inducible Src homology 2 domain-containing protein

CPR or POR

NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase

Erk

extracellular signal-regulated kinase

GH

growth hormone

GHR

growth hormone receptor

HRN

hepatic P450 reductase-null

JAK2

Janus kinase 2

LCN

liver Cpr–null

Luc-CEE

luciferin-6′-chloroethyl ether

MC

3-methylcholanthrene

MUP2

major urinary protein 2

P450

cytochrome P450

PAH

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

pAkt

phosphorylated Akt

pErk

phosphorylated Erk

PI3K

phosphoinositide 3-kinase

pSTAT5

phosphorylated STAT5

SAP

serum amyloid protein P

SOCS3

suppressor of cytokine signaling 3

STAT5

signal transducer and activator of transcription 5

Authorship Contributions

Participated in research design: Lee, Ding, Riddick.

Conducted experiments: Lee.

Performed data analysis: Lee, Riddick.

Wrote or contributed to the writing of the manuscript: Lee, Ding, Riddick.

Footnotes

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research [Grant MOP-93759] and National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute [Grant CA092596].

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