The Circadian Clock Gene Bmal1 Controls Intestinal Exporter MRP2 and Drug Disposition

The intestinal exporter MRP2 plays an important role in disposition and elimination of a wide range of drugs. Here, we aimed to clarify the impact of circadian clock on intestinal MRP2, and to determine the molecular mechanisms for generation of diurnal MRP2 expression. Methods: The regulatory effects of Bmal1 on intestinal MRP2 expression were assessed using intestine-specific Bmal1 knockout (Bmal1(iKO)) mice and colon cancer cells. The relative mRNA and protein levels were determined by qPCR and Western blotting, respectively. Everted gut sac, cell viability and in situ intestinal perfusion experiments were performed to evaluate intestinal efflux of the MRP2 substrate methotrexate (MTX). Toxicity and pharmacokinetic experiments were performed with Bmal1(iKO) mice and control littermates (Bmal1(fl/fl) mice) after oral gavage of MTX. Transcriptional gene regulation was investigated using luciferase reporter, mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Results: Bmal1(iKO) mice were generated by inter-crossing the mice carrying a Bmal1 exon 8 floxed allele (Bmal1(fl/fl)) with Villin-Cre mice. Intestinal MRP2 expression exhibited a diurnal oscillation in Bmal1(fl/fl) mice with a zenith value at ZT6. Bmal1 ablation caused reductions in Mrp2 mRNA and protein levels [as well as in transport activity (measured by MTX)], and blunted their diurnal rhythms. Intestinal ablation of Bmal1 abrogated circadian time-dependency of MTX pharmacokinetics and toxicity. Bmal1/BMAL1 regulation of rhythmic Mrp2/MRP2 expression was also confirmed in the colon cancer CT26 and Caco-2 cells. Based on a combination of luciferase reporter, mobility shift and ChIP assays, we found that Dbp activated and E4bp4 repressed Mrp2 transcription via specific binding to a same D-box (-100/-89 bp) element in promoter region. Further, Bmal1 directly activated the transcription of Dbp and Rev-erb alpha through the E-boxes, whereas it negatively regulated E4bp4 via the transcriptional repressor Rev-erb alpha. Positive regulation of Mrp2 by Rev-erb alpha was also observed, and attained through modulation of E4bp4. Conclusion: Bmal1 coordinates temporal expressions of DBP (a MRP2 activator), REV-ERB alpha (an E4BP4 repressor) and E4BP4 (a MRP2 repressor), generating diurnal MRP2 expression.