Pregnane X receptor regulates drug metabolism and transport in the vasculature and protects from oxidative stress.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Circulating endogenous, dietary, and foreign chemicals can contribute to vascular dysfunction. The mechanism by which the vasculature protects itself from these chemicals is unknown. This study investigates whether the pregnane X receptor (PXR), the major transcriptional regulator of hepatic drug metabolism and transport that responds to such xenobiotics, mediates vascular protection by co-ordinating a defence gene programme in the vasculature.

Methods and results

PXR was detected in primary human and rat aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells (SMC) and blood vessels including the human and rat aorta. Metabolic PXR target genes cytochrome P450 3A, 2B, 2C, and glutathione S-transferase mRNA and activity were induced by PXR ligands in rodent and human vascular cells a

SUBMITTER: Swales KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3291088 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature