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Xenobiotica
the fate of foreign compounds in biological systems
Volume 39, 2009 - Issue 4
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Research Article

Intestinal flora induces the expression of Cyp3a in the mouse liver

, , , , , , & show all
Pages 323-334 | Received 28 Oct 2008, Accepted 27 Nov 2008, Published online: 01 Apr 2009
 

Abstract

  1. In order to determine the effects of intestinal flora on the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP), the mRNA expression of CYP was compared between specific pathogen-free (SPF) and germ-free (GF) mice.

  2. Most of the major CYP isozymes showed higher expression in the livers of SPF mice compared with GF mice.

  3. Nuclear factors such as pregnane − receptor (PXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), as well as transporters and conjugation enzymes involved in the detoxification of lithocholic acid (LCA), also showed higher expression in SPF mice.

  4. The findings suggest that in the livers of SPF mice, LCA produced by intestinal flora increases the expression of CYPs via activation of PXR and CAR.

  5. Drugs such as antibiotics, some diseases and ageing, etc. are known to alter intestinal flora. The present findings suggest that such changes also affect CYP and are one of the factors responsible for individual differences in pharmacokinetics.

Acknowledgements

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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