Advances in the research of pregnane X receptor and constitutive androstane receptor

Nuclear receptors pregnane X receptor (PXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) are originally characterized as transcription factors regulating many target genes.  Recent works have revealed that these nuclear receptors play critical roles in regulating genes that encode drug metabolism enzymes and modulating hepatic energy metabolism, such as down-regulating gluconeogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, and ketogenesis, as well as up-regulating lipogenesis.  Studies on PXR and CAR have important implication on drug-drug interaction (DDI) and potential disease treatment targets.