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Farnesoid X receptor (FXR, NR1H4) plays an important role in the regulation of bile acid homeostasis in liver and intestine and may exert protective effects against certain forms of cancer such as colon carcinoma. However, the role of FXR in cell growth regulation, apoptosis, and carcinogenesis is still controversial. Similar to FXR, microRNA-192 (miR-192) is mainly expressed in the liver and colon and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of colon carcinoma. In this study, we investigated the extent to which FXR is regulated by miR-192. Two in silico-predicted binding sites for miR-192-3p within the NR1H4-3' untranslated region (UTR) were examined in vitro by luciferase reporter assays. Wild-type and mutated forms of the NR1H4-3'UTR were subcloned into a pmirGLO vector and cotransfected into Huh-7 cells with miR-192-3p. To study the effects of miR-192 on the expression of FXR, FXR target genes and cell proliferation, Huh-7 and Caco-2 cells were transfected with miR-192-5p and -3p mimics or antagomirs. In addition, the correlation between FXR and miR-192 expression was studied by linear regression analyses in colonic adenocarcinoma tissue from 27 patients. MiR-192-3p bound specifically to the NR1H4-3'UTR and significantly decreased luciferase activity. Transfection with miR-192 led to significant decreases in NR1H4 mRNA and protein levels as well as the mRNA levels of the FXR-inducible bile acid transporters OSTα-OSTβ and OATP1B3. Significant inverse correlations were detected in colonic adenocarcinoma between NR1H4 mRNA and miR-192-3p expression. In summary, microRNA-192 suppresses the expression of FXR and FXR target genes in vitro and in vivo., (Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.)

The pH-sensing receptor ovarian cancer G protein-coupled receptor 1 (OGR1; GPR68) is expressed in the gut. Inflammatory bowel disease is typically associated with a decrease in local pH, which may lead to altered epithelial barrier function and subsequent gastrointestinal repair involving epithelial cell adhesion and migration. As the mechanisms underlying the response to pH changes are not well understood, we have investigated OGR1-mediated, pH-dependent signaling pathways in intestinal epithelial cells. Caco-2 cells stably overexpressing OGR1 were created and validated as tools to study OGR1 signaling. Barrier function, migration, and proliferation were measured using electric cell-substrate impedance-sensing technology. Localization of the tight junction proteins zonula occludens protein 1 and occludin and the rearrangement of cytoskeletal actin were examined by confocal microscopy. Paracellular permeability and protein and gene expression analysis using DNA microarrays were performed on filter-grown Caco-2 monolayers. We report that an acidic pH shift from pH 7.8 to 6.6 improved barrier function and stimulated reorganization of filamentous actin with prominent basal stress fiber formation. Cell migration and proliferation during in vitro wound healing were inhibited. Gene expression analysis revealed significant upregulation of genes related to cytoskeleton remodeling, cell adhesion, and growth factor signaling. We conclude that acidic extracellular pH can have a signaling function and impact the physiology of intestinal epithelial cells. The deconstruction of OGR1-dependent signaling may aid our understanding of mucosal inflammation mechanisms., (Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.)

Although the kidney is believed to play a minor role in bile acid (BA) excretion, chronic renal failure (CRF) has been reported to be associated with increased serum bile acid levels and alterations in BA homeostasis. The mechanisms for elevated BA levels are poorly understood in both clinical and experimental studies. This study was designed to examine the effects of naturally progressing CRF of longer duration on the hepatic and renal mRNA and protein levels of the BA-synthesizing enzyme Cyp7a1 and the BA transporters Ntcp, Bsep, Mrp3, Ost-α, and Ost-β. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to the CRF group (⅚ nephrectomy) or to the sham-operated control group and were analyzed 8 wk after surgery. Results obtained in the CRF rats were compared with those obtained in rats that had undergone uninephrectomy (UNX). The CRF group exhibited significantly increased plasma cholesterol and BA concentrations. Hepatic Cyp7a1 mRNA and protein levels were almost identical in the two groups. Hepatic Mrp3, Ost-α, and Ost-β expression was increased, suggesting increased basolateral efflux of bile acids into the blood. However, no such changes in BA transporter expression were observed in the remnant kidney. In UNX rats, similar changes in plasma BA levels and in the expression of BA transporters were found. We hypothesize that the increase in plasma BA is an early event in the progression of CRF and is caused by increased efflux across the basolateral hepatocyte membrane.

The apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) is expressed abundantly in the ileum and mediates bile acid absorption across the apical membranes. Caudal-type homeobox proteins CDX1 and CDX2 are transcription factors that regulate genes involved in intestinal epithelial differentiation and proliferation. Aberrant expression of both ASBT and CDXs in Barrett's esophagus (BE) prompted us to study, whether the expression of the ASBT gene is regulated by CDXs. Short interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of CDXs resulted in reduced ASBT mRNA expression in intestinal cells. CDXs strongly induced the activity of the ASBT promoter in reporter assays in esophageal and intestinal cells. Nine CDX binding sites were predicted in silico within the ASBT promoter, and binding of CDXs to six of them was verified in vitro and within living cells by electrophoretic mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, respectively. RNAs were extracted from esophageal biopsies from 20 BE patients and analyzed by real-time PCR. Correlation with ASBT expression was found for CDX1, CDX2, and HNF-1α in BE biopsies. In conclusion, the human ASBT promoter is activated transcriptionally by CDX1 and CDX2. Our finding provides a possible explanation for the reported observation that ASBT is aberrantly expressed in esophageal metaplasia that also expresses CDX transcription factors.

The concentrative nucleoside transporter-1 (CNT1) is a member of the solute carrier 28 (SLC28) gene family and is expressed in the liver, intestine, and kidneys. CNT1 mediates the uptake of naturally occurring pyrimidine nucleosides, but also nucleoside analogs used in anticancer and antiviral therapy. Thus expression levels of CNT1 may affect the pharmacokinetics of these drugs and the outcome of drug therapy. Because little is known about the transcriptional regulation of human CNT1 gene expression, we have characterized the CNT1 promoter with respect to DNA response elements and their binding factors. The transcriptional start site of the CNT1 gene was determined by 5'-RACE. In silico analysis revealed the existence of three putative binding sites for the nuclear receptor hepatocyte nuclear factor-4alpha (HNF-4alpha) within the CNT1 promoter. A luciferase reporter gene construct containing the CNT1 promoter region was transactivated by HNF-4alpha in human cell lines derived from the liver, intestine, and kidneys. Consistent with this, we showed in electromobility shift assays that HNF-4alpha specifically binds to two conserved direct repeat-1 motifs within the proximal CNT1 promoter. In cotransfection experiments, the transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha further increased, whereas the bile acid-inducible corepressor small heterodimer partner reduced, HNF-4alpha-dependent CNT1 promoter activity. Consistent with the latter phenomenon, CNT1 mRNA expression levels were suppressed in primary human hepatocytes upon bile acid treatment. Supporting the physiological relevance and species conservation of this effect, ileal Cnt1 mRNA expression was decreased upon bile acid feeding and increased upon bile duct ligation in mice.

Sustained expression of cytoprotective intestinal epithelial heat shock proteins (Hsps), particularly Hsp27, depends on stimuli derived from bacterial flora. In this study, we examined the role of the bacterial chemotactic peptide fMLP in stimulating colonic epithelial Hsp expression at concentrations encountered in a physiological milieu. Treatment of the polarized human intestinal epithelial cell line Caco2bbe with physiological concentrations of fMLP (10-100 nM) induced expression of Hsp27, but not Hsp72, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Induction of Hsp27 by fMLP was specific since the fMLP analogs MRP and MLP were not effective. Hsp27 induction by fMLP was blocked by the fMLP-receptor antagonist BOC-FLFLF and was blocked when the dipeptide transporter PepT1, an entry pathway for fMLP, was silenced. fMLP activated both the p38 and ERK1/2 MAP kinase pathways in Caco2bbe cells, but not the SAPK/JNK pathway. The p38 inhibitor SB203580, but not the MEK-1 inhibitor PD98059, blocked Hsp27 induction by fMLP. fMLP treatment inhibited actin depolymerization and decreased transepithelial resistance caused by the oxidant monochloramine, and this inhibition was reversed by silencing Hsp27 expression. fMLP pretreatment also inhibited activation of proinflammatory transcription factor NF-kappaB by TNF-alpha in Caco2bbe cells, reducing induction of NF-kappaB target genes by TNF-alpha both in human intestinal biopsies and Caco2bbe cells. In conclusion, fMLP may contribute to the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis by mediating physiological expression of Hsp27, enhancing cellular protection, and negatively regulating the inflammatory response.

Bile acids are synthesized from cholesterol in the liver and are excreted into bile via the hepatocyte canalicular bile salt export pump. After their passage into the intestine, bile acids are reabsorbed in the ileum by sodium-dependent uptake across the apical membrane of enterocytes. At the basolateral domain of ileal enterocytes, bile acids are extruded into portal blood by the heterodimeric organic solute transporter OSTalpha/OSTbeta. Although the transport function of OSTalpha/OSTbeta has been characterized, little is known about the regulation of its expression. We show here that human OSTalpha/OSTbeta expression is induced by bile acids through ligand-dependent transactivation of both OST genes by the nuclear bile acid receptor/farnesoid X receptor (FXR). FXR agonists induced endogenous mRNA levels of OSTalpha and OSTbeta in cultured cells, an effect that was not discernible upon inhibition of FXR expression by small interfering RNAs. Furthermore, OST mRNAs were induced in human ileal biopsies exposed to the bile acid chenodeoxycholic acid. Reporter constructs containing OSTalpha or OSTbeta promoters were transactivated by FXR in the presence of its ligand. Two functional FXR binding motifs were identified in the OSTalpha gene and one in the OSTbeta gene. Targeted mutation of these elements led to reduced inducibility of both OST promoters by FXR. In conclusion, the genes encoding the human OSTalpha/OSTbeta complex are induced by bile acids and FXR. By coordinated control of OSTalpha/OSTbeta expression, bile acids may adjust the rate of their own efflux from enterocytes in response to changes in intracellular bile acid levels.

Hepatic uptake of bile acids is mediated by the Na(+)-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP; SLC10A1) of the basolateral hepatocyte membrane. Several cis-acting elements in the rat Ntcp gene promoter have been characterized. However, little is known about the mechanisms that control the expression of the human or mouse NTCP/Ntcp. We, therefore, compared the transcriptional regulation of the human and mouse NTCP/Ntcp gene with that of the rat. By computer alignment, a sequence in the 5'-regulatory region that is conserved between species was identified near the transcription start site. Huh7 cells were transfected with luciferase constructs containing the conserved region from each species. The hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNF)1alpha and -4alpha and the retinoid X receptor/retinoic acid receptor dimer (RXRalpha/RARalpha) bound and transactivated the rat but not the human or mouse NTCP/Ntcp promoters. In contrast, activation by the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-beta was specific for human and mouse NTCP/Ntcp. The only consensus motif present in all three species was HNF3beta. HNF3beta formed a specific DNA-protein complex in electrophoretic mobility shift assays and inhibited NTCP/Ntcp promoter activity in cotransfection assays. Finally, a minor repressive effect of bile acids was only found for rat Ntcp. The transcriptional repressor small heterodimer partner (SHP) did not affect NTCP/Ntcp promoter activity. We conclude that 1) the transcriptional regulation of the conserved NTCP/Ntcp 5'-regulatory region differs considerably among human, mouse, and rat; and 2) the conserved NTCP/Ntcp regulatory region is not directly regulated by SHP. Bile acids may regulate NTCP/Ntcp indirectly by modulating the capacity of nuclear factors to activate gene expression.