Mode of action and human relevance analysis for nuclear receptor-mediated liver toxicity: A case study with phenobarbital as a model constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) activator

Elcombe, CR; Peffer, RC; Wolf, DC; Bailey, J; Bars, R; Bell, D; Cattley, RC; Ferguson, SS; Geter, D; Goetz, A; Goodman, JI; Hester, S; Jacobs, A; Omiecinski, CJ; Schoeny, R; Xie, W; Lake, BG

HERO ID

2343661

Reference Type

Journal Article

Subtype

Review

Year

2014

Language

English

PMID

24180433

HERO ID 2343661
Material Type Review
In Press No
Year 2014
Title Mode of action and human relevance analysis for nuclear receptor-mediated liver toxicity: A case study with phenobarbital as a model constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) activator
Authors Elcombe, CR; Peffer, RC; Wolf, DC; Bailey, J; Bars, R; Bell, D; Cattley, RC; Ferguson, SS; Geter, D; Goetz, A; Goodman, JI; Hester, S; Jacobs, A; Omiecinski, CJ; Schoeny, R; Xie, W; Lake, BG
Journal Critical Reviews in Toxicology
Volume 44
Issue 1
Page Numbers 64-82
Abstract The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) are important nuclear receptors involved in the regulation of cellular responses from exposure to many xenobiotics and various physiological processes. Phenobarbital (PB) is a non-genotoxic indirect CAR activator, which induces cytochrome P450 (CYP) and other xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and is known to produce liver foci/tumors in mice and rats. From literature data, a mode of action (MOA) for PB-induced rodent liver tumor formation was developed. A MOA for PXR activators was not established owing to a lack of suitable data. The key events in the PB-induced liver tumor MOA comprise activation of CAR followed by altered gene expression specific to CAR activation, increased cell proliferation, formation of altered hepatic foci and ultimately the development of liver tumors. Associative events in the MOA include altered epigenetic changes, induction of hepatic CYP2B enzymes, liver hypertrophy and decreased apoptosis; with inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication being an associative event or modulating factor. The MOA was evaluated using the modified Bradford Hill criteria for causality and other possible MOAs were excluded. While PB produces liver tumors in rodents, important species differences were identified including a lack of cell proliferation in cultured human hepatocytes. The MOA for PB-induced rodent liver tumor formation was considered to be qualitatively not plausible for humans. This conclusion is supported by data from a number of epidemiological studies conducted in human populations chronically exposed to PB in which there is no clear evidence for increased liver tumor risk.
Doi 10.3109/10408444.2013.835786
Pmid 24180433
Wosid WOS:000329133700003
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English