Aryl hydrocarbon receptor regulates CYP1B1 but not ABCB1 and ABCG2 in hCMEC/D3 human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells after TCDD exposure

• TCDD treatment increased CYP1B1 mRNA levels and protein expression in hCMEC/D3 cells.
• CYP1B1 up-regulation occurred through AhR pathway activation.
• TCDD treatment had no effect on ABCB1/ABCG2 protein expressions in hCMEC/D3 cells.
• Human cerebral endothelium might be an AhR target tissue.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor activated by a variety of widespread persistent environmental pollutants such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). It can transactivate the expression of several target genes. Recently AhR transcripts were detected in isolated human brain microvessels and in the hCMEC/D3 human cerebral microvascular endothelial cell line, an in vitro model of the human cerebral endothelium. To date AhR implication in the co-regulation of ABCB1, ABCG2 and CYP1B1 at human cerebral endothelium has not been addressed. Here we investigated whether AhR could co-regulate ABCB1, ABCG2 and CYP1B1 expressions in the hCMEC/D3 cell line. Exposure to TCDD induced a concentration-dependent increase in CYP1B1 expression. We demonstrated AhR involvement in the TCDD-mediated increase in CYP1B1 expression by using small interfering RNA against AhR. Western blotting analysis also revealed an increase in CYP1B1 protein expression following TCDD exposure in hCMEC/D3. Regarding ABCB1 and ABCG2, exposure to TCDD had no effect on their protein expressions and functional activities. In conclusion our data indicated a differential modulation of CYP1B1 and ABCB1/ABCG2 expressions in hCMEC/D3 cells following TCDD exposure.