TY - JOUR T1 - The WNT/<em>β</em>-Catenin Pathway Is a Transcriptional Regulator of <em>CYP2E1,</em> <em>CYP1A2,</em> and Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Gene Expression in Primary Human Hepatocytes JF - Molecular Pharmacology JO - Mol Pharmacol SP - 624 LP - 634 DO - 10.1124/mol.114.094797 VL - 86 IS - 6 AU - Sabine Gerbal-Chaloin AU - Anne-Sophie Dumé AU - Philippe Briolotti AU - Sylvie Klieber AU - Edith Raulet AU - Cédric Duret AU - Jean-Michel Fabre AU - Jeanne Ramos AU - Patrick Maurel AU - Martine Daujat-Chavanieu Y1 - 2014/12/01 UR - http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/86/6/624.abstract N2 - The wingless-type MMTV integration site family (WNT)/β-catenin/adenomatous polyposis coli (CTNNB1/APC) pathway has been identified as a regulator of drug-metabolizing enzymes in the rodent liver. Conversely, little is known about the role of this pathway in drug metabolism regulation in human liver. Primary human hepatocytes (PHHs), which are the most physiologically relevant culture system to study drug metabolism in vitro, were used to investigate this issue. This study assessed the link between cytochrome P450 expression and WNT/β-catenin pathway activity in PHHs by modulating its activity with recombinant mouse Wnt3a (the canonical activator), inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase 3β, and small-interfering RNA to invalidate CTNNB1 or its repressor APC, used separately or in combination. We found that the WNT/β-catenin pathway can be activated in PHHs, as assessed by universal β-catenin target gene expression, leucine-rich repeat containing G protein–coupled receptor 5. Moreover, WNT/β-catenin pathway activation induces the expression of CYP2E1, CYP1A2, and aryl hydrocarbon receptor, but not of CYP3A4, hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α, or pregnane X receptor (PXR) in PHHs. Specifically, we show for the first time that CYP2E1 is transcriptionally regulated by the WNT/β-catenin pathway. Moreover, CYP2E1 induction was accompanied by an increase in its metabolic activity, as indicated by the increased production of 6-OH-chlorzoxazone and by glutathione depletion after incubation with high doses of acetaminophen. In conclusion, the WNT/β-catenin pathway is functional in PHHs, and its induction in PHHs represents a powerful tool to evaluate the hepatotoxicity of drugs that are metabolized by CYP2E1. ER -