Superoxide deficiency attenuates promotion of hepatocarcinogenesis by cytotoxicity in NADPH oxidase knockout mice.

Long-term exposure to carcinogens combined with chronic hepatitis contributes greatly to the worldwide high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is still unclear to which extent the release of pro-inflammatory reactive oxygen or nitrogen species contributes to the development of this malignancy. Here, we aim to elucidate the role of superoxide in a model of chemical hepatocarcinogenesis. p47(phox) knockout mice (KO), lacking superoxide formation by phagocytic NADPH oxidase (phox), and wild-type animals (WT) were subjected to two different initiation-promotion protocols: (1) single dose of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) at 6 weeks of age followed by phenobarbital (PB) via diet, or ethanol (EtOH) in drinking water; (2) DEN at neonatal age followed by three cytotoxic doses of DEN at intervals of 6-7 weeks. The appearance of tumors and prestages was quantified. There was no obvious difference in the capacity of DEN to initiate hepatocarcinogenesis in KO and WT mice. PB promoted tumor development in both genotypes without significant difference. EtOH induced steatosis significantly less in KO than in WT liver, but had no effect on tumor formation in either genotype. However, hepatocarcinogenesis by three cytotoxic DEN doses after neonatal initiation was attenuated significantly in KO. Macrophages/monocytes identified by the specific antigen F4/80 were more abundant in KO than in WT liver, possibly reflecting a compensatory response. We conclude that phox-derived superoxide is not essential but is supportive for the promotion of hepatocarcinogenesis by cytotoxic doses of DEN. The production of superoxide may therefore contribute to the promotion of hepatocarcinogenesis by cytotoxic/pro-inflammatory stimuli.

Dermal and pulmonary absorption of propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol from hand rubs.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that nontoxic concentrations of ethanol are absorbed after hand hygiene using ethanol-based hand rubs. This study investigated whether absorption of propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol from commercially available hand rubs results in measurable concentrations after use. METHODS: The pulmonary and dermal absorption of propanol during hand rubs was investigated. Rubs contained 70% (w/w) propan-1-ol, 63.14% (w/w) propan-2-ol, or 45% (w/w) propan-2-ol in combination with 30% (w/w) propan-1-ol. RESULTS: Peak median blood levels were 9.15 mg/L for propan-1-ol and 5.3 mg/L for propan-2-ol after hygienic hand rubs and 18.0 mg/L and 10.0 mg/L, respectively, after surgical hand rubs. Under actual surgical conditions, the highest median blood levels were 4.08 mg/L for propan-1-ol and 2.56 mg/L for propan-2-ol. The same procedure performed with prevention of pulmonary exposure through the use of a gas-tight mask resulted in peak median blood levels of 1.16 mg/L of propan-1-ol and 1.74 mg/L of propan-2-ol. CONCLUSION: Only minimal amounts of propanols are absorbed through the use of hand rubs. Based on our experimental data, the risk of chronic systemic toxic effects caused by hand rubs is likely negligible. However, our study did not evaluate the consequences of long-term daily and frequent use of hygienic hand rubs.

Genotoxic effects of wastewater from an oncological ward.

Aim of this study was the evaluation of the genotoxic activities of hospital wastewaters. Samples from an oncological ward of the general hospital of Vienna, Austria, were tested in the Salmonella/microsome assay in strains TA98, TA100 and TA1535 with or without metabolic activation, and in the single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay with primary rat hepatocytes. In the bacterial tests, consistently negative results were obtained while in the experiments with liver cells a significant and dose-dependent induction of DNA damage (up to two-fold over the background) was found. Membrane filtration resulted in a substantial (62-77%) reduction of these effects, while additional treatments (activated carbon filtration and UV-irradiation) did not lead to a further decrease of the genotoxic activity of the samples. SCGE experiments with cisplatin, carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil, which were detected in the water samples, showed that these cytostatics cause a significant induction of DNA damage only at concentrations that are substantially higher than those in the native waters. These findings indicate that other chemicals, possibly quaternary ammonium compounds, account for the effects of the hospital wastewaters.

Proteomics reveals acute pro-inflammatory and protective responses in rat Kupffer cells and hepatocytes after chemical initiation of liver cancer and after LPS and IL-6.

Inflammation is a key event in the development of liver cancer. We studied early inflammatory responses of Kupffer cells (KCs) and hepatocyte (HC) after cancer initiation. The chemical carcinogen N-nitrosomorpholine (NNM) was used in a rat model. We applied a comprehensive analytical strategy including metabolic labeling, 2-D PAGE, LC-MS/MS-based spot identification and shotgun proteomics and thus determined the rates of synthesis of individual proteins, compared whole tissue with isolated constituent cells and performed in vivo to in vitro comparisons of NNM effects. NNM increased synthesis of overall and 138 individual proteins identified in HC and/or KC, indicating reprogramming of metabolism favoring protection, repair and replacement of cell constituents in HC and KC. Secretome analysis by 2-D PAGE and shotgun proteomics of HC revealed the induction of acute phase proteins, in case of KC of proteases, cytokines and chemokines, indicating inflammatory effects. All responses were induced rapidly, independently of signals from other cells, and closely mimicked the pro-inflammatory and protective effects of inflammation modulators LPS in KC and IL-6 in HC. In conclusion, the carcinogen NNM exerts pro-inflammatory effects in the liver, partially by direct activation of KC. The acute inflammation and its protective component will enhance formation, survival and proliferation of initiated cells and may therefore act synergistically with the genotoxic action of the carcinogen.

HB-EGF is a paracrine growth stimulator for early tumor prestages in inflammation-associated hepatocarcinogenesis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We studied the impact of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) on inflammation-driven hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS: HB-EGF expression was determined by qRT-PCR and immunodetection in hepatocellular adenoma and carcinoma and in mesenchymal (MC) and parenchymal liver cells obtained from different models of inflammation. The functions of HB-EGF in early hepatocarcinogenesis were assessed in co-cultures of unaltered and initiated/premalignant hepatocytes. RESULTS: In human and rat (pre)malignant liver lesions, HB-EGF levels were comparable to that of the surrounding tissue. In inflamed livers HB-EGF was expressed predominantly in MC and was further increased by pro-inflammatory lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LOOH). In culture, DNA-replication occurred rather in initiated/premalignant than unaltered hepatocytes and was further elevated by LOOH- or LPS-stimulated MC-supernatants. The supernatant effects were abrogated by pre-incubation with HB-EGF-neutralizing antisera. HB-EGF itself induced DNA-replication and mitosis preferentially in the initiated/premalignant cells. When transducing hepatocytes with a dominant-negative ErbB1-construct, HB-EGF-induced DNA-replications were blocked completely in unaltered hepatocytes but incompletely in initiated/premalignant cells, which suggests elevated ErbB-mediated signal transduction in first stages of hepatocarcinogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Pro-inflammatory stimuli induce the release of HB-EGF from MC, which stimulates DNA-replication in initiated/premalignant hepatocytes. Similar mechanisms may contribute to carcinogenesis in human inflammatory liver diseases.

Minireview on the toxicity of dietary acrylamide.

Acrylamide is a commodity chemical with many industrial and laboratory uses. It is also formed from carbohydrate and amino acid containing food by heating (primarily in fried potato products, bread, coffee). Neurotoxicity was detected as the primary toxic effect after occupational exposure. In rats and mice AA is toxic for reproduction and development and to male germ cells, is genotoxic through a reactive metabolite, glycidamide, and carcinogenic to several organs. Epidemiological studies did not point to an association between either occupational or dietary exposure and an excess of cancer incidence. Health risks of the general population are based on an average exposure to 1 microg/kg bw/day increasing for high consumers to 4 microg/kg bw/day. For average consumers a margin of exposure of 200 for neurotoxicity can be regarded as sufficiently protective. However, a margin of 300 for carcinogenic risks appears not sufficient when applying a precautionary principle. This is also illustrated when the benchmark dose lower confidence limit for cancer is divided by an uncertainty factor of 300, which arrives at a tolerable daily intake of 1 microg/kg bw/day, and thus is in the range of average consumption. Further measures to minimize acrylamide formation in food should therefore be explored to reduce human exposure.

Effects of coffee and its chemopreventive components kahweol and cafestol on cytochrome P450 and sulfotransferase in rat liver.

Coffee drinking appears to reduce cancer risk in liver and colon. Such chemoprevention may be caused by the diterpenes kahweol and cafestol (K/C) contained in unfiltered beverage. In animals, K/C treatment inhibited the mutagenicity/tumorigenicity of several carcinogens, likely explicable by beneficial modifications of xenobiotic metabolism, particularly by stimulation of carcinogen-detoxifying phase II mechanisms. In the present study, we investigated the influence of K/C on potentially carcinogen-activating hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and sulfotransferase (SULT). Male F344 rats received 0.2% K/C (1:1) in the diet for 10 days or unfiltered and/or filtered coffee as drinking fluid. Consequently, K/C decreased the metabolism of four resorufin derivatives representing CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2B1, and CYP2B2 activities by approximately 50%. For CYP1A2, inhibition was confirmed at the mRNA level, accompanied by decreased CYP3A9. In contrast to K/C, coffee increased the metabolism of the resorufin derivatives up to 7-fold which was only marginally influenced by filtering. CYP2E1 activity and mRNA remained unchanged by K/C and coffee. K/C but not coffee decreased SULT by approximately 25%. In summary, K/C inhibited CYP450s by tendency but not universally. Inhibition of CYP450 and SULT may contribute to chemoprevention with K/C but involvement in the protection of coffee drinkers is unlikely. The data confirm that the effects of complex mixtures may deviate from those of their putatively active components.

Cytotoxicity of the novel spin trapping compound 5-ethoxycarbonyl-3,5-dimethyl-pyrroline N-oxide (3,5-EDPO) and its derivatives.

ESR spin trapping allows detection of superoxide radicals. Novel spin traps forming more stable superoxide adducts (t(1/2) ca. 12-55 min) were tested for their toxicity to cultured cells. The following toxicity ranking was obtained: 4,5-DPPO>4-BEMPO approximately 3-BEMPO>trans-3,5-EDPO>3,5-DPPO approximately 4,5-DiPPO approximately 4,5-EDPO>cis-3,5-EDPO approximately 3,5-DiPPO>DEPMPO. In conclusion, 4,5-EDPO, cis-3,5-EDPO and 3,5-DiPPO can be recommended for further investigation of superoxide in biological systems.

Thiols and the chemoprevention of cancer.

Thiols such as glutathione interfere with the complex carcinogenic process. Under stress conditions, they scavenge harmful molecules: Glutathione conjugation of electrophilic carcinogens may prevent tumor initiation, and reduced thiols may defend against oxidative stress. Thus, associated chemopreventive strategies involve enhancement of antioxidant or conjugating capacity by increasing the levels of, particularly, glutathione through precursor application or synthesis stimulation and by inducing the corresponding enzymes. The antioxidant potential of thiols is, however, a part of a more general capacity to regulate redox status even in the absence of unequivocal stress conditions. Redox status controls the activities of various cellular signalling proteins through oxidation or reduction of particular sensor structures that are also mostly thiols. The development of feasible chemotherapeutic strategies on the basis of this complex system of redox-sensitive messenger proteins is a goal in ongoing and future research.

Divide and conquer: rat liver tissue proteomics based on the analysis of purified constituents.

Comparative proteome data of normal and diseased tissue samples are difficult to interpret. Proteins detected in tissues are derived from different cell types and blood constituents. Pathologic or toxicant-induced aberrations may affect the proteome profile of tissues in several ways since different cell types may respond in very different and highly specific manners. The aim of this study was to analyze the proteome profiles of purified rat liver primary cells and of blood plasma in comparison to liver whole tissue. Moreover, we investigated alterations of these profiles induced by the liver toxicant N-nitrosomorpholine (NNM) used as a model compound. Whole liver samples, pure hepatocytes and Kupffer cells as well as blood plasma were obtained from saline- or NNM-treated rats. Proteins were separated by 2-D PAGE and their amounts were estimated by fluorography. Selected proteins were identified by MS analysis of tryptic digests. Among them we identified proteins exclusively expressed in the analysed constituents. Several of these proteins were assigned in the proteome profile of whole-tissue homogenates. Furthermore, we identified several proteins that were modified, up-regulated or down-regulated due to NNM treatment in total liver homogenates. Some of these protein alterations were specifically detected in primary cells isolated from NNM-treated rats. Thus, we demonstrated the successful assignment of NNM-induced proteome alterations in rat liver to the cell type of origin. The currently applied approach may help to better understand pathologic processes at a whole-tissue level.

Deregulation of the activin/follistatin system in hepatocarcinogenesis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Activins A and E negatively regulate hepatic cell number by inhibiting cell replication and inducing apoptosis. Follistatin and follistatin-like 3 bind activins and antagonise their biological activities. Aim of our study was to investigate, whether activins and follistatins may play a role in hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS: Expression levels of follistatin, follistatin-like 3, and activin subunits beta(A) as well as beta(E) were investigated in chemically induced rat and human liver tumours by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. In addition, the effects of follistatin and activin A on DNA synthesis of normal as well as preneoplastic hepatocytes and hepatoma cells were analysed. RESULTS: Follistatin was overexpressed while both activin subunits were downregulated in the majority of rat and human liver tumours. Follistatin-like 3 expression was low in normal but enhanced in malignant rat liver. In human normal liver, in contrast, it was abundantly expressed but downregulated in liver cancer. Administration of follistatin to normal and preneoplastic hepatocytes stimulated DNA synthesis preferentially in preneoplastic rat hepatocytes, whereas activin A repressed it. CONCLUSIONS: The balanced expression of follistatins and activins becomes deregulated during hepatocarcinogenesis. The sensitivity of preneoplastic hepatocytes to activin signals suggests the activin/follistatin system as promising target for therapeutic intervention.

Genotoxicity of nitrosulfonic acids, nitrobenzoic acids, and nitrobenzylalcohols, pollutants commonly found in ground water near ammunition facilities.

2-Amino-4,6-dinitrobenzoic acid (2-A-4,6-DNBA), 4-amino-2,6-dinitrobenzoic acid (4-A-2,6-DNBA), 2,4,6-trinitrobenzoic acid (2,4,6-TNBA), 2-amino-4, 6-dinitrobenzylalcohol (2-A-4,6-DNBAlc), 4-amino-2,6-dinitrobenzylalcohol (4-A-2,6-DNBAlc), 2,4-dinitrotoluol-5-sulfonic acid (2,4-DNT-5-SA), 2,4-dinitrotoluol-3-sulfonic acid (2,4-DNT-3-SA), and 2, 4-dinitrobenzoic acid (2,4-DNBA) are derivatives of nitro-explosives that have been detected in groundwater close to munitions facilities. In the present study, the genotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated in Salmonella/microsome assays (in strains TA100 and TA98, with and without S9 and in TA98NR without S9), in chromosomal aberration (CA) tests with Chinese hamster fibroblasts (V79), and in micronucleus (MN) assays with human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. All compounds except the sulfonic acids were positive in the bacterial mutagenicity tests, with 2,4,6-TNBA producing the strongest response (8023 revertants/micromol in TA98 without S9 activation). 2-A-4,6-DNBA was a direct acting mutagen in TA98, but negative in TA100. The other positive compounds were approximately 1-3 orders of magnitude less mutagenic than 2,4,6-TNBA in TA98 and in TA100; relatively strong effects ( approximately 50-400 revertants/micromol) were produced by the benzylacohols in the two indicator strains. With the exception of 2,4-DNBA, the mutagenic responses were lower in the nitroreductase-deficient strain TA98NR than in the parental strain. 2,4-DNBA produced a marginally positive response in the V79-cell CA assay; the other substances were devoid of activity. Only the benzoic acids were tested for MN induction in HepG2 cells, and all produced positive responses. As in the bacterial assays, the strongest effect was seen with 2,4,6-TNBA (significant induction at >or=1.9 microM). 4-A-2,6-DNBA was positive at 432 microM; the weakest effect was observed with 2,4,-DNBA (positive at >or=920 microM). The differences in the sensitivity of the indicator cells to these agents can be explained by differences in the activities of enzymes involved in the activation of the compounds. The strong responses produced by some of the compounds in the human-derived cells suggest that environmental exposure to these breakdown products of nitro-explosives may pose a cancer risk in man.

Non-parenchymal liver cells support the growth advantage in the first stages of hepatocarcinogenesis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma almost always arises in chronically inflamed livers. We developed a culture model to study the role of non-parenchymal cells (NPCs) for inflammation-driven hepatocarcinogenesis. Rats were treated with the carcinogen N-nitrosomorpholine, which induced initiated hepatocytes expressing the marker placental glutathione-S-transferase (GSTp). After 21 days two preparations of hepatocytes were made: (i) conventional ones (Hep-conv) containing NPCs and (ii) hepatocytes purified of NPCs (Hep-pur). Initiated hepatocytes, being positive for GSTp (GSTp-pos) were present in both preparations and were cultured along with normal hepatocytes, being negative for GSTp (GSTp-neg). Under any culture condition DNA synthesis was approximately 4-fold higher in GSTp-pos than in GSTp-neg hepatocytes demonstrating the inherent growth advantage of the first stages of hepatocarcinogenesis. Hepatocytes showed approximately 3-fold lower rates of DNA synthesis in Hep-pur than in Hep-conv, which was elevated above Hep-conv levels by addition of NPC or NPC-supernatant. Pretreatment of NPCs with proinflammatory lipopolysaccharide (LPS) further increased DNA synthesis. Thus, NPCs release soluble growth stimulators. Next we investigated the effect of specific cytokines produced by NPCs. Tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 barely altered DNA synthesis, whereas hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and the heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) were potent inducers of DNA replication in both, GSTp-neg and GSTp-pos cells. In conclusion, DNA synthesis of hepatocytes is increased by factors released from NPCs, an effect augmented by LPS-stimulation. NPC-derived cytokines, such as KGF, HGF and HB-EGF, stimulate DNA synthesis preferentially in initiated hepatocytes, presumably resulting in tumour promotion. Similar mechanisms may contribute to carcinogenesis in human inflammatory liver diseases.

A novel technique to specifically analyze the secretome of cells and tissues.

The secretome of cells and tissues may reflect a broad variety of pathological conditions and thus represents a rich source of biomarkers. The identity of secreted proteins, usually isolated from cell supernatants or body fluids, is hardly accessible by direct proteome analysis, because these proteins are often masked by high amounts of proteins actually not secreted by the investigated cells. Here, we present a novel method for the specific detection of proteins secreted by human tissue specimen as well as cultured cells and chose liver as a model. The method is based on the metabolic labelling of proteins synthesized during a limited incubation period. Then, the cell supernatant is filtered, precipitated, and subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Whereas fluorography detected a large number of proteins derived from residual plasma and dead cells, the autoradiographs selectively displayed genuinely secreted proteins. We demonstrate the feasibility of this approach by means of the secretomes of the hepatocellular carcinoma-derived cell line HepG2 and human liver slices. The selective identification of cell- and tissue-specific protein secretion profiles may help to identify novel sets of biomarkers for wide clinical applications.

Modification of N-acetyltransferases and glutathione S-transferases by coffee components: possible relevance for cancer risk.

Enzymes of xenobiotic metabolism are involved in the activation and detoxification of carcinogens and can play a pivotal role in the susceptibility of individuals toward chemically induced cancer. Differences in such susceptibility are often related to genetically predetermined enzyme polymorphisms but may also be caused by enzyme induction or inhibition through environmental factors or in the frame of chemopreventive intervention. In this context, coffee consumption, as an important lifestyle factor, has been under thorough investigation. Whereas the data on a potential procarcinogenic effect in some organs remained inconclusive, epidemiology has clearly revealed coffee drinkers to be at a lower risk of developing cancers of the colon and the liver and possibly of several other organs. The underlying mechanisms of such chemoprotection, modifications of xenobiotic metabolism in particular, were further investigated in rodent and in vitro models, as a result of which several individual chemoprotectants out of the >1000 constituents of coffee were identified as well as some strongly metabolized individual carcinogens against which they specifically protected. This chapter discusses the chemoprotective effects of several coffee components and whole coffee in association with modifications of the usually protective glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and the more ambivalent N-acetyltransferase (NAT). A key role is played by kahweol and cafestol (K/C), two diterpenic constituents of the unfiltered beverage that were found to reduce mutagenesis/tumorigenesis by strongly metabolized compounds, such as 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo-[4,5-b]pyridine, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, and aflatoxin B(1), and to cause various modifications of xenobiotic metabolism that were overwhelmingly beneficial, including induction of GST and inhibition of NAT. Other coffee components such as polyphenols and K/C-free coffee are also capable of increasing GST and partially of inhibiting NAT, although to a somewhat lesser extent.

Superoxide generation from Kupffer cells contributes to hepatocarcinogenesis: studies on NADPH oxidase knockout mice.

We hypothesized that superoxide from Kupffer cells (KC) contributes to hepatocarcinogenesis. p47phox(-/-) mice, deficient in phagocyte NADPH oxidase and superoxide generation, received a single dose of the hepatocarcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN). The following hepatic effects were observed at time points between 30 min and 35 days. Liver damage after DEN was manifested by loss of body and liver mass and of liver DNA and by an increase in apoptosis, necrosis and signs of inflammation. These effects were massive in wild-type (wt) male mice, but only very mild in p47phox(-/-) mice. Regenerative DNA synthesis subsequent to liver damage was high in wt male mice, but weak in p47phox(-/-) mice. In females the apparent protection by p47phox(-/-) was less pronounced than in males. Therefore, further experiments were performed with males. In KC isolated from wt mice superoxide production was enhanced by DEN pretreatment in vivo. Also, in vitro addition of DEN to KC cultures induced superoxide release, similarly to lipopolysaccharide, a standard KC activator. Thus, DEN directly activates wt KC to produce superoxide. KC from p47phox(-/-) mice did not release superoxide. TNFalpha production by isolated KC was transiently depressed 0.5 h after DEN treatment in vivo, but recovered rapidly. In blood serum TNFalpha levels of wt mice were elevated for the initial 6 h. TNFalpha in KC cultures and in serum of p47phox(-/-) mice was reduced. DEN in vivo induced DNA damage ('comets') in hepatocytes. This damage was extensive in wt mice but much less in p47phox(-/-) mice. These studies suggest two conclusions: (i) superoxide generation by phagocytes during liver damage and inflammation aggravates genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in hepatocytes and may thus contribute to tumor initiation and promotion; (ii) DEN has a direct stimulatory effect on KC to release superoxide and TNFalpha.

Promyelocytic HL60 cells express NADPH oxidase and are excellent targets in a rapid spectrophotometric microplate assay for extracellular superoxide.

A great number of drugs, toxicants, and growth factors induce the generation of intermediary reactive oxygen species (ROS). The human promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cell line differentiated along the macrophage or neutrophil lineage is a model system that is frequently used for the generation of ROS by various agents. As a primary source of ROS the superoxide anion produced by an enzymatic complex, NADPH oxidase, is well established. The present study shows that nondifferentiated HL60 cells contain NADPH oxidase and can be used as a model for the assessment of oxidant as well as antioxidant compounds. The expression of the multicomponent NADPH oxidase was demonstrated in nondifferentiated HL60 cells at the molecular level by detection of the mRNAs of the components gp91phox, p47phox, and p67phox as well as functionally by phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated generation of superoxide, which was susceptible to inhibition by diphenyleneiodonium. The functional assay was performed using the cells in a log growth phase by adapting a standard microplate assay based on the classic superoxide dismutase-inhibitable reduction of cytochrome c. Validation of the microplate assay was carried out both with nonadherent differentiated HL60 cells and the adherent mouse monocyte-macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cell line, as well as with various compounds of oxidant (bleomycin sulfate, cis-diammineplatinum(II), camptothecin, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta), nonoxidant (4 alpha-PMA, piracetam), and antioxidant (alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid) activity. In summary, we established a highly specific, reproducible and--with the aid of the nondifferentiated HL60 cell line--time-saving superoxide microplate assay as a valuable tool for the rapid screening of compounds for oxidative and antioxidative activity.

Induction of DNA synthesis in primary mouse hepatocytes is associated with nuclear pro-transforming growth factor alpha and erbb-1 and is independent of c-jun.

For growth stimulation of liver cells by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) or transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha) via receptor tyrosine kinases, c-fos/c-jun has been considered a point of intersection for cross-talk between the different signal transduction pathways. Recent evidence strongly implicates translocation of pro-TGFalpha into the nucleus as an important step preceding the initiation of hepatic DNA synthesis. We asked whether an active c-jun is required for the nuclear translocation of pro-TGFalpha and its stimulatory effect on DNA synthesis. For this purpose we used mice with c-jun inactivated post partum in hepatocytes by the Cre-loxP recombination system (c-jun(Deltaliver)). Nuclear fractions from control and c-jun(Deltaliver) mouse livers contained TGFalpha as pro-form of 17 kDa and the epidermal growth factor receptor (erbb-1) with molecular weights of 170 and 150 kDa (truncated form). Hepatocytes were isolated by collagenase perfusion and cultivated. A lack of c-jun did not alter the apoptotic activity but significantly suppressed DNA synthesis in the cultured hepatocytes. In control and c-jun(Deltaliver) cells DNA synthesis was almost always associated with nuclear presence of pro-TGFalpha. 76.5 +/- 6.8% of hepatocytes with pro-TGFalpha positive nuclei and only 4.52 +/- 1.31% of hepatocytes with negative nuclei exhibited DNA replication. About 85% of the pro-TGFalpha positive nuclei also contained erbb-1. Treatment of cultures with mature TGFalpha or HGF elevated the frequency of pro-TGFalpha positive nuclei replicating DNA; HGF and TGFalpha-induced nuclear pro-TGFalpha and DNA synthesis significantly more in c-jun(Deltaliver) than in control hepatocytes. These results suggest that (i) a lack of c-jun suppresses basal rates of DNA replication in hepatocytes; (ii) c-jun deficient hepatocytes show a pronounced growth response towards HGF or TGFalpha; (iii) nuclear translocation of pro-TGFalpha together with erbb-1 and its association with DNA synthesis are independent of c-jun.

Response of isolated hepatocytes from carcinogen sensitive (C3H) and insensitive (C57BL) mice to signals inducing replication or apoptosis.

The mouse strain C3H shows high incidence of liver tumors in carcinogenicity testing, while the strain C57BL exhibits low incidence. The F1 generation hybrids, B6C3F1, which are widely used in long-term carcinogenesis bioassays, are of intermediate sensitivity. We asked whether this strain difference could be due to different susceptibility of the parenchymal cells to signals inducing replication or apoptosis. Hepatocytes were isolated and cultured according to standard protocols. We tested (1) for the induction of DNA synthesis by epidermal growth factor (EGF), (2) for its inhibition by TGF-beta1, and (3) for the induction of apoptosis by TGF-beta1. Basal rates of DNA synthesis in untreated hepatocytes cultured from C3H and B6C3F1 mice were 6.5 and 3.5 times higher, respectively, than in hepatocytes from C57BL on day 3. Moreover, addition of EGF (10 ng/ml) increased DNA synthesis on day 3 in hepatocytes from C3H (4.2-fold) and B6C3F1 (2.7-fold) more strongly than in hepatocytes from C57BL. Treatment with TGF-beta1 inhibited basal and EGF-stimulated DNA synthesis dose-dependently. Inhibition was maximal at 1 ng TGF-beta1/ml in cultures from C57BL mice, and at 0.3 ng/ml in hepatocytes from C3H mice. In untreated hepatocytes from both strains virtually no apoptotic figures (condensed or fragmented nuclei, Hoechst 33285 staining) were found. After treatment with TGF-beta1 the incidence of apoptotic nuclei in hepatocytes from C57BL was higher than in cells from C3H mice (1.7% vs 3% on day 3). Thus it appears that hepatocytes from C57BL mice possess a lower growth potential, as indicated by a low basal rate of DNA synthesis and low inducibility by EGF, but a higher sensitivity to induction of apoptosis by TGF-beta1 than hepatocytes of the C3H strain. These findings may be helpful to explain the different susceptibility to induction of hepatocarcinogenesis in C3H and C57BL mice.

A novel mechanism for mitogenic signaling via pro-transforming growth factor alpha within hepatocyte nuclei.

Transforming growth factor (TGF) alpha, an important mediator of growth stimulation, is known to act via epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) binding in the cell membrane. Here we show by immunohistology, 2-dimensional immunoblotting, and mass spectrometry of nuclear fractions that the pro-protein of wild-type TGF-alpha occurs in hepatocyte nuclei of human, rat, and mouse liver. Several findings show a close association between nuclear pro-TGF-alpha and DNA synthesis. (1) The number of pro-TGF-alpha+ nuclei was low in resting liver and increased dramatically after partial hepatectomy and after application of hepatotoxic chemicals or the primary mitogen cyproterone acetate (CPA); in any case, S phase occurred almost exclusively in pro-TGF-alpha+ nuclei. The same was found in human cirrhotic liver. (2) In primary culture, 7% of hepatocytes synthesized pro-TGF-alpha, which then translocated to the nucleus; 70% of these nuclei subsequently entered DNA replication, whereas only 2% of pro-TGF-alpha- hepatocytes were in S phase. (3) The frequency of hepatocytes coexpressing pro-TGF-alpha and DNA synthesis was increased by the hepatomitogens CPA or prostaglandin E(2) and was decreased by the growth inhibitor TGF-beta1. (4) Treatment with mature TGF-alpha increased DNA synthesis exclusively in pro-TGF-alpha- hepatocytes, which was abrogated by the EGF-R tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin A25. In conclusion, TGF-alpha gene products may exert mitogenic effects in hepatocytes via 2 different signaling mechanisms: (1) the "classic" pathway of mature TGF-alpha via EGF-R in the membrane and (2) a novel pathway involving the presence of pro-TGF-alpha in the nucleus.