Rapid and drastic induction of CYP3A4 mRNA expression via vitamin D receptor in human intestinal LS180 cells

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of human intestinal LS180 cells for studying the induction of CYP3A4 mRNA expression via vitamin D receptor (VDR). CYP3A4 mRNA expression in LS180 cells treated with 100 nM 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 (1 alpha,25(OH)(2)D-3) for 6 and 24 h was approximately 80- and 500-fold higher than the control, respectively. A protein kinase (PK) inhibitor (staurosporine), c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway inhibitor (curcumin), and JNK inhibitor (SP600125) attenuated 1a, 25( OH) 2D3-induced CYP3A4 mRNA expression, suggesting that the PK-JNK pathway contributed to the rapid and drastic induction of CYP3A4 expression via VDR in LS180 cells. The ability of CYP3A4 mRNA induction in LS180 cells was highly dependent on the site and number of vitamin D3 and D-2 hydroxylation. In addition, short-time (6 h) treatment of LS180 cells with cytotoxic secondary bile acids, lithocholic acid (LCA) and 3-keto-LCA also significantly induced the mRNA expression of CYP3A4. LS180 cells may be useful to quickly investigate the CYP3A4- inducing effect of drugs, xenobiotics, and/or endogenous substrates in the intestinal epithelia.