RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Natural Protein Variants of Pregnane X Receptor with Altered Transactivation Activity Toward CYP3A4 JF Drug Metabolism and Disposition JO Drug Metab Dispos FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 1454 OP 1459 VO 29 IS 11 A1 Hustert, Elisabeth A1 Zibat, Arne A1 Presecan-Siedel, Elena A1 Eiselt, Regina A1 Mueller, Romy A1 Fuß, Christine A1 Brehm, Ilka A1 Brinkmann, Ulrich A1 Eichelbaum, Michel A1 Wojnowski, Leszek A1 Burk, Oliver YR 2001 UL http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/29/11/1454.abstract AB Between 45 and 60% of all drugs currently used are metabolized by the CYP3A4 protein. CYP3A4 expression in liver varies up to 60-fold in the general population, which can lead to ineffective drug therapy (high CYP3A4) or, on the other hand, to harmful drug reactions (low CYP3A4). Most of this variability has been attributed to genetic factors, but to date their identity remains unknown. Recently, it was shown that CYP3A expression is largely controlled by the pregnane X receptor (PXR). We, therefore, hypothesized that polymorphisms in PXR may contribute to CYP3A4 variability. The presence of PXR variants was investigated in two ethnic groups, Caucasians and Africans. Six missense mutations leading to variant PXR proteins were identified, and their consequences on CYP3A4 expression were analyzed. Expressed in LS174T cells, three protein variants, V140M, D163G, and A370T, exhibited altered basal and/or induced transactivation of CYP3A promoter reporter genes. Thus, these natural PXR protein variants may play a role in the observed interindividual variability of CYP3A4 expression and may be involved in rare, atypical responses to drugs or altered sensitivities to carcinogens. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics