Induction of drug metabolism by nuclear receptor CAR: molecular mechanismsand implications for drug research

Recent findings indicate that induction of drug metabolism is regulated by activation of specific members of the nuclear receptor gene family. This mi nireview deals with the mechanisms by which phenobarbital and phenobarbital -type chemicals induce cytochrome P450 and other genes, and summarises the knowledge on the role of the constitutively active receptor CAR in the indu ction process. The potential implications of CAR-mediated induction for dru g research and possible uses of CAR are also discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.