The pregnane X receptor plays an important role in the body by helping the body handle foreign substances. While it decreases inflammation and helps liver function, it also has its cons. It’s important to try and figure out whether you are a high or low PXR producer – and we can figure that out by genes, symptoms and blood tests.<\/p>\n
Read more below to learn about PXR.<\/p>\n
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The pregnane X receptor (PXR) is implicated in fatty liver, vitamin D homeostasis, bile acids homeostasis, steroid hormones homeostasis and inflammatory bowel diseases (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n The pregnane X receptor (PXR) has a significant role in how the body handles any foreign substances, especially manmade chemicals (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n PXR is one of several cell receptors that are activated by components of the liver\u2019s bile (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n In newborn mice, exposure to PXR activators directed the genes responsible for the metabolism of extra compounds and fats (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Enzymes produced by PXR (such as CYP3A4) that help us detox are reduced in inflammatory states (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n This is one reason why people suffering from chronic inflammation often feel like they are reacting to all drugs that they take.<\/p>\n PXR can explain why you don’t feel the same effects from a drug\/herb if you take it daily.<\/p>\n When you take a drug that activates PXR (many do), then it will produce a bunch of enzymes that can eliminate the drug quite effectively (R<\/a>), which is probably why you won’t notice the same effects from the same dosage.<\/p>\n PXR functions as a defense mechanism against toxic insults (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n PXR induces genes that help with all three stages of detoxification.<\/p>\n PXR increases CYP3A4, an important phase I oxidative enzyme that is responsible for the metabolism of many drugs.<\/p>\n In addition, PXR increases phase II enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase and phase III transport uptake and efflux proteins such as OATP2 and MDR1 (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n PXR is responsible for decreasing the amount of inflammation<\/strong> that occurs during infection in mice (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n By modifying the concentration of various enzymes within the intestinal lining, PXR is responsible for maintaining the gut during inflammation (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Activation of PXR in humans inhibits the activity of NF-\u03baB, a key regulator of inflammation and the immune response. In mice without PXR, the expression of NF-\u03baB target genes is substantially increased in multiple tissues, and small bowel inflammation is significantly increased (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Furthermore, PXR-deficient lymphocytes produce more IFN-gamma and less of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (R<\/a>), which suggests that PXR suppresses Th1 inflammation.<\/p>\n Fetus exposure to PXR-activators helps regulate gene activity related to lipid metabolism in the liver<\/strong> (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Using humans, a mouse model, and cultured cells, scientists found a connection between the PXR pathway and decreased the activity of key enzymes involved in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n PXR-mediated lipid accumulation is required for liver regeneration [R<\/a>], suggesting that PXR is essential for normal progression of liver regeneration by modulating lipid homeostasis.<\/p>\n PXR helps detox products such as bile and bilirubin (R<\/a>), so if you have Gilbert’s Syndrome, you may not have enough PXR.<\/p>\n Removing bile can help prevent cholestasis (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n PXR has been shown to induce the expression of multiple key components in the clearance pathway of bile and bilirubin, including UGT1A1, OATP2, GSTA1 and 2 and MRP2 (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Consistent with the pattern of gene regulation, activation of PXR in mice has been shown to prevent experimental hyperbilirubinemia [R<\/a>].<\/p>\nWhy Do You Not Feel Same Effects The First Time You Take a Drug?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Pros of PXR<\/span><\/h2>\n
1) Helps Clear Toxins<\/span><\/h3>\n
2) Decreases Inflammation<\/span><\/h3>\n
3) Helps Liver Function<\/span><\/h3>\n
4) Helps Detox Bile, Bilirubin<\/span><\/h3>\n