Jaspreet S. Sidhu

Baculovirus vectors repress phenobarbital-mediated gene induction and stimulate cytokine expression in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

Baculovirus transfection strategies have proven successful at transferring foreign DNA into hepatoma cells and primary hepatocytes. When testing the utility of these methodologies in cultured hepatocytes, we discovered that the presence of baculovirus disrupts the phenobarbital (PB) gene induction process, a potent transcriptional activation event characteristic of highly differentiated hepatocytes, and repressed expression of the albumin gene. In concert with previous reports from our laboratory demonstrating that increased cAMP levels can completely repress the induction of specific cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes, cAMP concentrations and PKA activities were measured in the primary hepatocytes subsequent to baculovirus exposure. However, neither parameter was affected by the presence of the virus. To evaluate whether immune response modulation was triggered by baculovirus exposure, RNase protection assays were performed and demonstrated that baculovirus infection activates TNF-α, IL-1α and IL-1β expression in the primary hepatocyte cultures. Immunocytochemical experiments indicated that the production of cytokines was likely due to the presence of small numbers of Kupffer cells present in the culture populations. Exogenously added TNF-α was also effective in repressing PB induction, consistent with other reports indicating that inflammatory cytokines are capable of suppressing expression of biotransformation enzyme systems. Comparative studies demonstrated the specificity of these effects since exposures of hepatocytes to adenoviral vectors did not result in down-regulation of hepatic gene responsiveness. These results indicate that baculovirus vectors enhance the expression of inflammatory cytokines in primary hepatocyte cultures, raising concerns as to whether these properties will compromise the use of baculovirus vectors for study of cytochrome P450 gene regulation, as well as for liver-directed gene therapy in humans.

A system-based comparison of gene expression reveals alterations in oxidative stress, disruption of ubiquitin-proteasome system and altered cell cycle regulation after exposure to cadmium and methylmercury in mouse embryonic fibroblast.

Environmental and occupational exposures to heavy metals such as methylmercury (MeHg) and cadmium (Cd) pose significant health risks to humans, including neurotoxicity. The underlying mechanisms of their toxicity, however, remain to be fully characterized. Our previous studies with Cd and MeHg have demonstrated that the perturbation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) was associated with metal-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. We conducted a microarray-based gene expression analysis to compare metal-altered gene expression patterns with a classical proteasome inhibitor, MG132 (0.5 microM), to determine whether the disruption of the UPS is a critical mechanism of metal-induced toxicity. We treated mouse embryonic fibroblast cells at doses of MeHg (2.5 microM) and Cd (5.0 microM) for 24 h. The doses selected were based on the neutral red-based cell viability assay where initial statistically significant decreases in variability were detected. Following normalization of the array data, we employed multilevel analysis tools to explore the data, including group comparisons, cluster analysis, gene annotations analysis (gene ontology analysis), and pathway analysis using GenMAPP and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). Using these integrated approaches, we identified significant gene expression changes across treatments within the UPS (Uchl1 and Ube2c), antioxidant and phase II enzymes (Gsta2, Gsta4, and Noq1), and genes involved in cell cycle regulation pathways (ccnb1, cdc2a, and cdc25c). Furthermore, pathway analysis revealed significant alterations in genes implicated in Parkinsons disease pathogenesis following metal exposure. This study suggests that these pathways play a critical role in the development of adverse effects associated with metal exposures.

Insulin-mediated modulation of cytochrome P450 gene induction profiles in primary rat hepatocyte cultures

In this investigation, we examined the effects of insulin on gene induction responsiveness in primary rat hepatocytes. Cells were cultured for 72 hours either in the absence or presence of 1 μM insulin and then exposed to increasing concentrations of phenobarbital (PB; 0.01–3.5 mM). Culturing in the absence of insulin produced 1.5–2‐fold increases in the induction magnitude of CYP2B1 and CYP2B2 mRNA expression resulting from PB exposures, without altering the bell‐shaped dose‐response curve characteristic of this agent. However, for the CYP3A1 gene, insulin removal led to a pronounced shift in both the PB‐induction magnitude and dose‐response relationships of the induction response, with higher levels of CYP3A1 expression resulting from exposures to lower concentrations of inducer. Insulin removal also reduced the time required to attain maximal induction of CYP2B1/2 and CYP3A1 gene expression. The insulin effects were not specific for PB induction, as insulin deprivation similarly enhanced both dexamethasone‐ and β‐naphthoflavone‐inducible CYP3A1 and CYP1A1 expression profiles, respectively. In contrast, the level of albumin mRNA expression was reduced considerably in cells deprived of insulin. We conclude that insulin is an important regulator of inducible and liver‐specific gene expression in primary rat hepatocytes.

Effects of Chemical Inducers on Human Microsomal Epoxide Hydrolase in Primary Hepatocyte Cultures

Human microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH; EC 3.3.2.3) is an important biotransformation enzyme and potential risk determinant for pathologies such as cancer and teratogenesis. Currently, the effects of chemical exposures on human mEH gene expression are largely unknown, but they may constitute a unique modifier of disease susceptibility. To examine this issue, we exposed cultures of primary human hepatocytes isolated from seven donors to prototypic chemical inducers [such as phenobarbital (PB), polyaromatic hydrocarbons, dexamethasone, butylated hydroxyanisole, and ciprofibrate]. Basal levels of mEH RNA and protein were detected readily in untreated cells. Chemical treatment of cultured hepatocytes resulted in variable mEH RNA and protein expression, but, in general, only modest modulatory effects were detected following these exposures. The maximum increase in mEH RNA expression observed was approximately 3.5-fold following Arochlor 1254 exposure. Immunochemical levels of mEH protein were quantified for all treatment groups in three cultures and demonstrated less overall variation and, in general, a lack of concordance with corresponding mEH RNA levels. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2 and 3A mRNA levels were measured before and following exposure to beta-naphthaflavone and PB, respectively, to permit independent evaluation of hepatocyte inducer responsiveness. Substantial increases in RNA expression levels for both the CYP1A2 and CYP3A genes demonstrated that the hepatocyte cultures were robust and highly responsive to inducer treatment. These results indicate that the mEH gene in human hepatocytes is only modestly responsive to chemical exposures.

Sensitivity of mouse lung fibroblasts heterozygous for GPx4 to oxidative stress.

Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (GPx4) is a member of the family of selenium-dependent enzymes that catalyze the reduction of cell membrane-bound phospholipid hydroperoxides in situ and thus protects against membrane damage. Overexpression of GPx4 protects cultured cells from phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH)-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and blocks cell death induced by treatment with various apoptotic agents. We have generated mice that are heterozygous for a GPx4 null allele (GPx4 +/-); the homozygous null genotype is embryonic lethal. We report that cultured lung fibroblasts (LFs) isolated from adult GPx4 +/- mice had approximately 50% of the GPx4 activity of LFs from GPx4 +/+ mice and were significantly more susceptible to H2O2, cadmium, and cumene hydroperoxide-induced cytotoxicity, as measured by neutral red assay. Both GPx4 +/+ and GPx4 +/- LFs were susceptible to PCOOH-induced cytotoxicity at a high PCOOH concentration. We also found that GPx4 +/- LFs have lower mitochondrial membrane potential, greater cardiolipin oxidation, and lower amounts of reduced thiols relative to GPx4 +/+ LFs, but are more resistant than GPx4 +/+ LFs to further decrements in these endpoints following PCOOH treatment. These results suggest that adult lung fibroblasts deficient in GPx4 may have upregulated compensatory mechanisms to deal with the highly oxidized environment in which they developed.

Gene expression profiling analysis reveals arsenic-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in p53-proficient and p53-deficient cells through differential gene pathways

Arsenic (As) is a well-known environmental toxicant and carcinogen as well as an effective chemotherapeutic agent. The underlying mechanism of this dual capability, however, is not fully understood. Tumor suppressor gene p53, a pivotal cell cycle checkpoint signaling protein, has been hypothesized to play a possible role in mediating As-induced toxicity and therapeutic efficiency. In this study, we found that arsenite (As(3+)) induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner in both p53(+/+) and p53(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). There was, however, a distinction between genotypes in the apoptotic response, with a more prominent induction of caspase-3 in the p53(-/-) cells than in the p53(+/+) cells. To examine this difference further, a systems-based genomic analysis was conducted comparing the critical molecular mechanisms between the p53 genotypes in response to As(3+). A significant alteration in the Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress response pathway was found in both genotypes. In p53(+/+) MEFs, As(3+) induced p53-dependent gene expression alterations in DNA damage and cell cycle regulation genes. However, in the p53(-/-) MEFs, As(3+) induced a significant up-regulation of pro-apoptotic genes (Noxa) and down-regulation of genes in immune modulation. Our findings demonstrate that As-induced cell death occurs through a p53-independent pathway in p53 deficient cells while apoptosis induction occurs through p53-dependent pathway in normal tissue. This difference in the mechanism of apoptotic responses between the genotypes provides important information regarding the apparent dichotomy of arsenics dual mechanisms, and potentially leads to further advancement of its utility as a chemotherapeutic agent.

Cadmium Induced p53-Dependent Activation of Stress Signaling, Accumulation of Ubiquitinated Proteins, and Apoptosis in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast Cells

The tumor suppressor oncoprotein, p53, is a critical regulator of stress-induced growth arrest and apoptosis. p53 activity is regulated through the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) with stress-induced disruption leading to increased accumulation of p53, resulting in growth arrest. In the present study, we investigate the role of p53 to determine sensitivity to cadmium (Cd) and whether induction of stress signaling responses and perturbation of the UPS are involved in Cd-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. We treated synchronously cultured p53 transgenic mouse embryonic fibroblasts, both wild-type p53+/+ and knockout p53-/- cells, with cadmium chloride (Cd, 0.5-20μM) for 24 h. Cd-induced cytotoxicity was assessed by cellular morphology disruption and neutral red dye uptake assay. Proteins in the stress signaling pathway, including p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK); ubiquitination, such as high-molecular weight of polyubiquitinated proteins (HMW-polyUb); and apoptotic pathways, were all measured. We found that Cd induced p53-dependent cytotoxicity in the p53+/+ cells, which exhibited a twofold greater sensitivity. We observed a dose-dependent stimulation of p38 MAPK and SAPK/JNK phosphorylation that corresponded to accumulation of HMW-polyUb conjugates and lead to the induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by the elevation of cleaved caspase-3. Our study suggests that Cd-mediated cytotoxicity and induction of stress signaling responses, elevated accumulation of HMW-polyUb conjugates, and resulting apoptosis are all dependent on p53 status.

Direct determination of functional activity of cytochrome P-4501A1 and NADPH DT-diaphorase in hepatoma cell lines using noninvasive scanning laser cytometry.

Mammalian organisms possess a variety of enzymes that catalyze the biotransformation of numerous chemicals with diverse structure. The gene superfamily comprising the cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases (P-450) are key participants in these reactions, and certain P-450 genes are highly inducible upon xenobiotic exposure. Many of the standard techniques used in the study of these systems rely on the disruption of tissues and cells, together with the preparation of subcellular particles. We have adopted a sensitive new technique, scanning laser cytometry, to monitor P-450-mediated O-dealkylation activities directly in cultured cells. Metabolism in single cells was quantified by fluorescence detection of resorufin, the P-450-mediated O-dealkylation product of alkoxyresorufin ether substrate probes. Functional activities associated with P-4501A1 and NADPH DT-diaphorase were compared among a human hepatoma (Hep G2) cell line and cells derived from mouse (Hepa 1clc7 wt) and rat (H4-II-E) hepatomas. Pretreating cells with the polyaromatic hydrocarbon inducer beta-naphthoflavone resulted in 50- to 100-fold increases in single cell rates of O-dealkylation of ethoxyresorufin (EROD activity). The use of scanning laser cytometry enabled in situ analysis of both constitutive and inducible biotransformation activities without disruption of cells or intracellular processes that determine the toxicologic fate of exogenous chemicals in vivo.

Differential induction of cytochrome P450 gene expression by 4n‐alkyl‐methylenedioxybenzenes in primary rat hepatocyte cultures

A well‐characterized primary rat hepatocyte culture system was used to examine induction patterns of cytochrome 450 gene expression by a series of 4‐n ‐alkyl‐methylenedioxybenzene (MDBs) derivatives. Hepatocytes were treated for 24, 48, or 72 hours with 0–500 μ M of the MDB compounds, and total cellular RNA and protein from each treatment was evaluated by hybridization and immunochemical techniques. Exposure to MDB congeners possessing increasing 4‐n ‐alkyl side‐chain length (C0–C8) resulted in dose‐ and structure‐dependent activation of CYP2B1, 2B2, 3A1, 1A1, and 1A2 gene expression. At equivalent 100 μ M concentrations, the C6 and C8 MDB congeners were more effective than the prototypical inducer phenobarbital (PB) with respect to induction potency of CYP2B1, CYP2B2, and CYP3A1 gene expression. In contrast to PB, longer side‐chain–substituted MDBs effectively induced CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 gene expression, in addition to the CYP2B and CYP3A genes. At equivalent molar concentrations, the catechol derivative of C6‐MDB was ineffective in its ability to induce CYP gene expression, indicating the importance of the intact methylenedioxy bridge in the induction mechanism. Levels of MDB‐inducible CYP2B1 and CYP2B2 mRNA were highly correlated with CYP2B1/2 apoprotein levels, ascertained by immunoblot analysis of cultured hepatocyte S9 fractions. Compared with results from previous in vivo analysis (12), the current data indicate that pharmacodynamic factors may influence MDB induction profiles and that differences in MDB effects on CYP gene expression result depending on distinct structure‐activity relationships.

Requirement of Ecm and Insulin For Maintenance of Liver-Specific Functions and Cell Survival in Primary Rat Hepatocytes

INTRODUCTION. Primary rat hepatocytes are a potentially valuable model system for assessing liver-specific responses to pharmaceutical and toxicological agents. However, many culture renditions exist that are of questionable relevance to hepatocyte biology in vivo. Maintenance of liver-specific gene expression indices and patterning of appropriate hepatocyte responsiveness to drug or chemical exposure requires a highly defined and phenotypically stable culture system (1,2,3). In our laboratory’s ongoing efforts to better define in vitro conditions that accurately reproduce in vivo patterns of hepatocyte expression, we have investigated the interplay between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and various trophic factors (4,5). In the present study, we assessed the critical interactions of ECM and insulin in primary rat hepatocytes cultures (6) and evaluated their combined cytoprotective effects. We examined a full range of insulin concentrations, representing fasted, fed, and super-physiological levels of the hormone. METHOD. Primary hepatocytes were isolated from adult rat liver and cultured as previously described (3,6). Briefly, cells were plated on tissue culture treated or on collagen 1, 4 or laminin-coated dishes. A range of dilute concentrations (25–250 µg/ml) of ECM was added as an overlay, 4 h after plating. Cells were also cultured in the presence of varying concentrations of insulin (0,0.01,0.1,1,10,1000 nM) for a 96h period. Cells were treated daily with phenobarbital (0.5 mM; PB) for 24h and total RNA isolated and examined by slot-blot hybridization for cytochrome P450 (CYP) and other markers of liver-specific gene expression. In addition, cell lysates were prepared daily and examined for phosphorylation status of PKB and SAPK/JNK. Accompanying nuclear extracts were prepared for each treatment and examined by EMSA for nuclear mobilization of various transcription factors involved in hepatocyte differentiation, survival and stress response. RESULTS. Dilute ECM additions, even 25-75 µg/ml, enabled preservation of normal hepatocyte morphology and markedly facilitated the response profiles of liver specific genes. Cultivation of primary hepatocytes under low concentrations of insulin (<1 nM) resulted in the maintenance of maximal PB-inducible CYP2B1/2 and 3A1 gene expression for 48-72h postplating; although 10 nM insulin was required to maintained appropriate induction responses at longer culture intervals. Maintenance of cultures in <1 nM insulin for long culture periods also resulted in compromised morphological integrity of the hepatocytes. The 1 nM insulin concentrations were optimally effective in maintaining CYP2E1 expression up to 96h in culture at levels equivalent to that obtained in freshly isolated hepatocytes. In contrast, levels of the liver-specific genes, albumin and transferrin, were significantly reduced under the restricted insulin concentrations. A pronounced elevation in SAPK/JNK phosphorylation status