Metabolomics reveals a novel vitamin E metabolite and attenuated vitamin E metabolism upon PXR activation

J Lipid Res. 2009 May;50(5):924-37. doi: 10.1194/jlr.M800647-JLR200. Epub 2009 Jan 13.

Abstract

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is an important nuclear receptor xenosensor that regulates the expression of metabolic enzymes and transporters involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics and endobiotics. In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS), revealed altered urinary metabolomes in both Pxr-null and wild-type mice treated with the mouse PXR activator pregnenolone 16alpha-carbonitrile (PCN). Multivariate data analysis revealed that PCN significantly attenuated the urinary vitamin E metabolite alpha-carboxyethyl hydroxychroman (CEHC) glucuronide together with a novel metabolite in wild-type but not Pxr-null mice. Deconjugation experiments with beta-glucuronidase and beta-glucosidase suggested that the novel urinary metabolite was gamma-CEHC beta-D-glucoside (Glc). The identity of gamma-CEHC Glc was confirmed by chemical synthesis and by comparing tandem mass fragmentation of the urinary metabolite with the authentic standard. The lower urinary CEHC was likely due to PXR-mediated repression of hepatic sterol carrier protein 2 involved in peroxisomal beta-oxidation of branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA). Using a combination of metabolomic analysis and a genetically modified mouse model, this study revealed that activation of PXR results in attenuated levels of the two vitamin E conjugates, and identification of a novel vitamin E metabolite, gamma-CEHC Glc. Activation of PXR results in attenuated levels of the two vitamin E conjugates that may be useful as biomarkers of PXR activation.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromans / chemistry
  • Chromans / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Metabolomics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Pregnane X Receptor
  • Pregnenolone Carbonitrile / chemistry
  • Pregnenolone Carbonitrile / metabolism
  • Propionates / chemistry
  • Propionates / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Steroid / genetics
  • Receptors, Steroid / metabolism*
  • Urine / chemistry
  • Vitamin E / metabolism*
  • Vitamins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Chromans
  • Pregnane X Receptor
  • Propionates
  • Receptors, Steroid
  • Vitamins
  • carboxyethyl-hydroxychroman
  • Vitamin E
  • Pregnenolone Carbonitrile
  • 2,7,8-trimethyl-2-(beta-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman