Project description:The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a nuclear receptor activated by bile acids that regulates metabolic processes. FXR is expressed as four isoforms (α1-4), and their relative abundance is specific to tissue and bio-energetic conditions (Correia JC et al. 2015). Depending on the FXR isoform expressed, there is a degree of selectivity in target-genes activation. However, there is currently no data on how isoform-linked target selectivity is achieved. In this study we investigate the DNA binding profile of FXR isoforms on mouse liver organoids treated briefly with the FXR agonist obeticholic acid (OCA). From this analysis we concluded that FXR isoforms α2 and α4 binds to additional DNA regions, enriched for a specific discriminating binding motif. This binding led to isoform-selective gene regulation. Therefore, DNA binding selectivity therefore plays a defining role in FXR isoform-specific effects.
Project description:The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a nuclear receptor activated by bile acids that regulates metabolic processes. FXR is expressed as four isoforms (α1-4), and their relative abundance is specific to tissue and bio-energetic conditions (Correia JC et al. 2015). Depending on the FXR isoform expressed, there is a degree of selectivity in target-genes activation. In this dataset, we defined FXR-isoforms selective effects on transcription in mouse liver organoids after treatment with the FXR agonist Obeticholic acid(OCA). By linking the DNA binding profiles of the FXR isoforms with their transcriptional output, we concluded that differential DNA binding plays a defining role in FXR-isoform target gene selectivity.
Project description:The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a nuclear receptor activated by bile acids that regulates bile acid metabolism, glucose and cholesterol homeostasis. FXR is expressed as four isoforms (α1-4), and their relative abundance is tissue specific. Human livers express predominantly FXR isoforms α1 and α2. From mouse studies we know that the FXR agonist obeticholic acid (OCA) regulates expression of many genes in the liver. However, there is currently no data on the effects of OCA on FXR isoform selective gene regulation. This is particularly relevant since the relative FXR isoform amounts in the liver are regulated by general bioenergetic cues (Correia JC et al. 2015). In this study we investigate the effect of variations in FXR isoforms α1 or α2 expression on HepG2 cell lines response to treatment with OCA.
Project description:The Farnesoid-X-Receptor (FXR) is a nuclear receptor (NR) known to obligately heterodimerize with Retinoid-X-Receptor (RXR). FXR is expressed as four isoforms (α1-α4) that drive transcription from IR-1 (inverted repeat-1) DNA motifs. More recently, FXR isoforms α2/α4 were found to activate transcription predominantly from non-canonical ER-2 (everted repeat-2) DNA motifs, mediating most metabolic effects of general FXR activation.Here, we explored whether co-occupancy of FXR and RXR in the mouse liver has an influence on DNA motif binding preference. We found RXR acts as a molecular switch, promoting FXRα2 activation from IR-1 instead of ER-2 motifs. Our results showcase FXR as the first NR with RXR-dependent and independent modes of activation, highlighting a potential new layer of complexity for other RXR-heterodimerizing NRs.
Project description:To investigate the role of nuclear receptor FXR during hepatocarcinogenesis, HepG2 cels and SK-Hep-1 cells were transfected with lentiviral mediated FXR overexpressive vector or the negative control. After the cells were treated with FXR agonist GW4064 2uM for 24 h, and total RNA were isolated for detection of gene expression .
Project description:The inter-organ cross talk between liver and intestine has been focus of intense research. Key in this cross-talk are bile acids, which are secreted from the liver into the intestine and, via the enterohepatic circulation, reach back to the liver. Important new insights have been gained in the Farnesoid X receptor (Fxr)-mediated communication from intestine-to-liver in health and disease. However, liver-to-intestine communication and the role of bile acids and FXR in this cross talk remain elusive. Here, we analyse Fxr-mediated liver-to-gut communication, and its consequences in the colon. Mice in which Fxr was selectively ablated in intestine (Fxr-intKO), the liver (Fxr-livKO), or in the full body (Fxr-totKO) were engineered. The effects on colonic gene expression (RNA sequencing), on the microbiome (16S rRNA Gene Sequencing) and on mucus barrier were analyzed. Compared to Fxr-intKO and Fxr-totKO mice, more genes were differentially expressed in the colons of Fxr-livKO mice relative to control mice (731, 1824 and 3272 respectively), suggestive of a strong role of hepatic Fxr in liver-to-gut communication. The colons of Fxr-livKO showed increased expression of anti-microbial genes, such as Regenerating islet-derived 3 beta and gamma (Reg3β and Reg3γ), Toll-like receptors (Tlrs), inflammasome related genes and differential expression of genes belonging to the ‘Mucin-type O-glycan biosynthesis’ pathway. Compared to control mice, Fxr-livKO mice have decreased levels of the predicted mucin degrading bacterium Turicibacter and a concomitant increase in the thickness of the inner sterile mucus layer. In conclusion, ablation of Fxr in the liver has a major effect on colonic gene expression, the gut microbiome and on the permeability of the mucus layer. This stresses the importance of the Fxr-mediated liver-to-gut signaling.
Project description:Bile acid (BA) homeostasis is maintained through a feedback loop operated by the nuclear hormone receptors FXR and SHP. Here we show that contrary to the current models placing FXR upstream of SHP in a linear regulatory pathway, the phenotypic consequence of the combined loss of both receptors is much more severe than the relatively modest impact of the loss of either Fxr or Shp alone. This is highlighted by the dramatic elevation of hepatic and serum BA levels in the double knockout (DKO) mice as early as three weeks of age coupled with a commensurate increase in Cyp7A1 expression and alterations in BA homeostatic genes. In addition, we find several genes necessary for C21 steroid biosynthetic pathway as novel targets for FXR and SHP. The elevated BAs result in severe hepato-pathology but the DKO mice surprisingly do not develop complete liver failure and live for over a year. Their survival is accompanied by an adaptive proliferation of the resident liver progenitor cell population, known as oval cells. Overall, these data demonstrate that FXR and SHP function coordinately to maintain BA homeostasis, and identify DKO mice as a novel genetic model for juvenile cholestatic disorders and for oval cell activation. Liver samples collected from FXR-/-, SHP-/-, and FXR-/-/SHP-/- animals at 3 or 5 weeks were hybridized to Illumina mouse REF-8 v1.1 arrays in duplicate.