Abstract

Patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection underwent liver biopsies and laboratory studies for evaluation and to determine subsequent treatment. Changes in status of drug metabolism and disposition may vary with chronic hepatitis C stage and should be assessed. Total RNA was extracted from liver biopsy specimens (n = 63) and reverse transcribed to yield cDNA. Relative mRNA levels of drug-metabolizing enzymes, transporters, nuclear receptors, and proinflammatory cytokines were analyzed with normalization to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression. mRNAs encoding cytochromes P450 1A2, 2E1, and 3A4, and drug transporters, Na⁺-taurocholate-cotransporting polypeptide, organic anion-transporting peptide-C, and organic cation transporter 1 showed remarkable decreases, and tumor necrosis factor-α showed an increase according to fibrosis stage progression. HepG2 cells and primary hepatocytes of two human individuals were treated with interleukin 1β, interleukin 6, or tumor necrosis factor-α. CYP1A2 and Na⁺-taurocholate-cotransporting polypeptide mRNA levels significantly decreased in HepG2 cells with interleukin 1β and interleukin 6 treatments. CYP2E1 and organic cation transporter 1 mRNA levels significantly decreased with tumor necrosis factor-α treatment only in HepG2. These results suggested that down-regulation of CYP1A2, 2E1, and 3A4, and drug transporters, Na⁺-taurocholate-cotransporting polypeptide, organic anion-transporting peptide-C, and organic cation transporter 1, manifested in livers of patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection, was associated, at least in part, with the elevated production of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α.