Received for publication May 27, 2008.
Revised July 8, 2008.
Accepted for publication July 8, 2008.

Suppression of CYP2B Induction by Alendronate-Mediated Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase Inhibition in Primary Cultured Rat Hepatocytes

Abstract

We previously reported that squalestatin 1-mediated induction of CYP2B expression is attributable to squalene synthase inhibition and accumulation of an endogenous isoprenoid(s) that is capable of activating the constitutive androstane receptor. To determine whether squalestatin 1-mediated CYP2B induction is strictly dependent upon the biosynthesis of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), the substrate for squalene synthase, the effects of alendronate, a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate inhibitor of farnesyl diphosphate synthase, were determined on basal, squalestatin 1-inducible, and phenobarbital-inducible CYP2B expression in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. Alendronate treatment alone had no effect on CYP2B or CYP3A mRNA expression in the hepatocyte cultures, but alendronate co-treatment completely suppressed squalestatin 1-mediated CYP2B mRNA induction at concentrations (60 and 100 µM) that effectively inhibited cellular farnesyl diphosphate synthase activity, as assessed by reductions of squalestatin 1-mediated FPP accumulation, and that were not toxic to the cells, as indicated by a lack of effect on MTT activity. Alendronate co-treatment also partially suppressed phenobarbital-inducible CYP2B expression, and this suppressive effect was attenuated by additional co-treatment with the upstream pathway inhibitor, pravastatin. These findings demonstrate that squalestatin 1-mediated CYP2B induction cannot occur in the absence of FPP biosynthesis, but also indicate that one or more upstream isoprenoids, possibly isopentenyl pyrophosphate and/or dimethylallyl pyrophosphate, function to antagonize the CYP2B induction process.

Key words: CAR, CYP expression, CYP induction, CYP2B, cytochrome P450 regulation, hepatocytes