Sophie Langouët

EXPRESSION OF CYTOCHROMES P450, CONJUGATING ENZYMES AND NUCLEAR RECEPTORS IN HUMAN HEPATOMA HepaRG CELLS

Most human hepatocyte cell lines lack a substantial set of liver-specific functions, especially major cytochrome P450 (P450)-related enzyme activities, making them unrepresentative of in vivo hepatocytes. We have used the HepaRG cells, derived from a human hepatocellular carcinoma, which exhibit a high differentiation pattern after 2 weeks at confluency to determine whether they could mimic human hepatocytes for drug metabolism and toxicity studies. We show that when passaged at low density, these cells reversed to an undifferentiated morphology, actively divided, and, after having reached confluency, formed typical hepatocyte-like colonies surrounded by biliary epithelial-like cells. By contrast, when seeded at high density, hepatocyte-like clusters retained their typical differentiated morphology. Transcripts of various nuclear receptors (aryl hydrocarbon receptor, pregnane X receptor, constitutive androstane receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α), P450s (CYP1A2, 2C9, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4), phase 2 enzymes (UGT1A1, GSTA1, GSTA4, GSTM1), and other liver-specific functions were estimated by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and were found to be expressed, for most of them, at comparable levels in both confluent differentiated and high-density differentiated HepaRG cells and in cultured primary human hepatocytes. For several transcripts, the levels were strongly increased in the presence of 2% dimethyl sulfoxide. Measurement of basal activities of several P450s and their response to prototypical inducers as well as analysis of metabolic profiles and cytotoxicity of several compounds confirmed the functional resemblance of HepaRG cells to primary cultured human hepatocytes. In conclusion, HepaRG cells constitute the first human hepatoma cell line expressing high levels of the major P450s involved in xenobiotic metabolism and represent a reliable surrogate to human hepatocytes for drug metabolism and toxicity studies.

Activation and detoxication of aflatoxin B1

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent hepatocarcinogen in experimental animals and a hazard to human health in several parts of the world. Implementation of rational intervention plans requires understanding of aspects of the roles of individual chemical steps involved in its disposition. AFB1 is activated to AFB1 exo-8,9-epoxide primarily by cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes, particularly P450 3A4. However, P450 3A4 and other P450s also oxidize AFB1 to less dangerous products. The exo-epoxide is unstable in H2O (t1/2 1 s at 25 degreesC, k=0.6 s-1) and the diol product undergoes base-catalyzed rearrangement to a dialdehyde that reacts with protein lysine residues. AFB1 exo-8, 9-epoxide reacts with DNA to give adducts in high yield (>98%). This interaction is characterized by a Kd of approximately 1.4 mM, intercalation between base pairs, and rapid reaction with the guanyl N7 atom (k approximately 40 s-1). A proton field on the periphery of DNA is postulated to catalyze hydrolysis and also conjugation. Rat and especially human epoxide hydrolase show very little rate acceleration of hydrolysis of AFB1 exo- or endo-8,9-epoxide. However, glutathione transferases (GSTs) can catalyze AFB1 exo-8,9-epoxide conjugation. Kinetic analysis indicates a range of ratios of kcat/Kd varying from 10 to 1700 s-1 M-1, with the polymorphic GST M1-1 having the highest activity of the human GSTs. Studies with human hepatocytes indicate a major role for GST M1-1 in AFB1 conjugation and that the model chemoprotective agent oltipraz can act by both inducing GSTs and inhibiting P450s.

Use of hepatocyte cultures for the study of hepatotoxic compounds

Human and animal hepatocytes in primary culture are widely used in pharmacotoxicological research. They represent a unique in vitro model since they retain both phase I and phase II enzyme activities as well as their inducibility by xenobiotics. Hepatocyte cultures are used for drug screening, identification of the lesions induced by toxic compounds and determination of mechanisms by which xenobiotics exert liver injury.

Screening for DNA adducts by data-dependent constant neutral loss-triple stage mass spectrometry with a linear quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer.

A two-dimensional linear quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer (LIT/MS) was employed to simultaneously screen for DNA adducts of environmental, dietary, and endogenous genotoxicants, by data-dependent constant neutral loss scanning followed by triple-stage mass spectrometry (CNL-MS3). The loss of the deoxyribose (dR) from the protonated DNA adducts ([M + H - 116]+) in the MS/MS scan mode triggered the acquisition of MS3 product ion spectra of the aglycone adducts [BH2]+. Five DNA adducts of the tobacco carcinogen 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP) were detected in human hepatocytes treated with 4-ABP, and three DNA adducts of the cooked-meat carcinogen 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) were identified in the livers of rats exposed to MeIQx, by the CNL-MS3 scan mode. Buccal cell DNA from tobacco smokers was screened for DNA adducts of various classes of carcinogens in tobacco smoke including 4-ABP, 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (AalphaC), and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP); the cooked-meat carcinogens MeIQx, AalphaC, and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylmidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP); and the lipid peroxidation products acrolein (AC) and trans-4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). The CNL-MS3 scanning technique can be used to simultaneously screen for multiple DNA adducts derived from different classes of carcinogens, at levels of adduct modification approaching 1 adduct per 108 unmodified DNA bases, when 10 microg of DNA is employed for the assay.

Differential toxic effects of azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine and 6-thioguanine on human hepatocytes

Thiopurines (azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine and 6-thioguanine) are therapeutic compounds widely administered in the clinic for their multiple uses (autoimmune diseases, post-transplant immunosuppression and cancer). Despite these advantages, their therapeutic potential is limited by occasional adverse effects (myelotoxicity and hepatotoxicity) and by a relatively frequent lack of efficacy. Previous studies have demonstrated that azathioprine decreased the viability of rat hepatocytes. In order to investigate cytotoxic effects of thiopurines in human liver, we used primary human hepatocytes and a highly differentiated human hepatoma cell line, HepaRG, treated or not with azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine and 6-thioguanine. In parallel, expression of the genes involved in the metabolism of thiopurines, glutathione synthesis and antioxidant defences was measured by quantitative PCR. We clearly demonstrate that human liver parenchymal cells were much less sensitive than rat hepatocytes to thiopurine treatments. The toxic effects appeared after 96 h of treatment while ATP depletion was observed after a 24 h incubation with azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine. Toxic effects were more pronounced for azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine, when compared to 6-thioguanine, and might explain glutathione synthesis and antioxidant enzyme induction only by these two drugs. Finally, we also demonstrate for the first time an up-regulation by azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase which might have consequences on the de novo biosynthesis of guanine nucleotides and thiopurines metabolism.

DNA Adduct Formation of 4-Aminobiphenyl and Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines in Human Hepatocytes

DNA adduct formation of the aromatic amine, 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP), a known human carcinogen present in tobacco smoke, and the heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs), 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (AαC), 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylmidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), potential human carcinogens, which are also present in tobacco smoke or formed during the high-temperature cooking of meats, was investigated in freshly cultured human hepatocytes. The carcinogens (10 μM) were incubated with hepatocytes derived from eight different donors for time periods up to 24 h. The DNA adducts were quantified by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with a linear quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. The principal DNA adducts formed for all of the carcinogens were N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl) (dG-C8) adducts. The levels of adducts ranged from 3.4 to 140 adducts per 10(7) DNA bases. The highest level of adduct formation occurred with AαC, followed by 4-ABP, then by PhIP, MeIQx, and IQ. Human hepatocytes formed dG-C8-HAA-adducts at levels that were up to 100-fold greater than the amounts of adducts produced in rat hepatocytes. In contrast to HAA adducts, the levels of dG-C8-4-ABP adduct formation were similar in human and rat hepatocytes. These DNA binding data demonstrate that the rat, an animal model that is used for carcinogenesis bioassays, significantly underestimates the potential hepatic genotoxicity of HAAs in humans. The high level of DNA adducts formed by AαC, a carcinogen produced in tobacco smoke at levels that are up to 100-fold higher than the amounts of 4-ABP, is noteworthy. The possible causal role of AαC in tobacco-associated cancers warrants investigation.

Multiple division cycles and long-term survival of hepatocytes are distinctly regulated by extracellular signal-regulated kinases ERK1 and ERK2.

We investigated the specific role of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1 (ERK1)/ERK2 pathway in the regulation of multiple cell cycles and long‐term survival of normal hepatocytes. An early and sustained epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐dependent MAPK activation greatly improved the potential of cell proliferation. In this condition, almost 100% of the hepatocytes proliferated, and targeting ERK1 or ERK2 via RNA interference revealed the specific involvement of ERK2 in this regulation. However, once their first cell cycle was performed, hepatocytes failed to undergo a second round of replication and stayed blocked in G1 phase. We demonstrated that sustained EGF‐dependent activation of the MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)/ERK pathway was involved in this blockage as specific transient inhibition of the cascade repotentiated hepatocytes to perform a new wave of replication and multiple cell cycles. We identified this mechanism by showing that this blockage was in part supported by ERK2‐dependent p21 expression. Moreover, continuous MEK inhibition was associated with a lower apoptotic engagement, leading to an improvement of survival up to 3 weeks. Using RNA interference and ERK1 knockout mice, we extended these results by showing that this improved survival was due to the specific inhibition of ERK1 expression/phosphorylation and did not involve ERK2. Conclusion: Our results emphasize that transient MAPK inhibition allows multiple cell cycles in primary cultures of hepatocytes and that ERK2 has a key role in the regulation of S phase entry. Moreover, we revealed a major and distinct role of ERK1 in the regulation of hepatocyte survival. Taken together, our results represent an important advance in understanding long‐term survival and cell cycle regulation of hepatocytes. (HEPATOLOGY 2009.)

Modulation of Glutathione S-Transferase Subunits A2, M1, and P1 Expression by Interleukin-1β in Rat Hepatocytes in Primary Culture

The influence of various cytokines on the expression of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) was investigated in rat hepatocytes in primary culture. Only treatment of hepatocytes with interleukin-1β (IL-1) was effective, resulting in a marked decrease in GSTs. Steady-state mRNA levels of rGSTA2 and M1 were strongly down-regulated by IL-1 in a dose-dependent manner after a 24-h exposure while rGSTP1 mRNA level was increased by a 48-h treatment. Similar effects of IL-1 were observed at the protein level. The response to IL-1 appeared to be specific for each subunit within GST gene families. In addition, IL-1 strongly suppressed the induction of rGSTA2 by 3-methylcholanthrene, oltipraz (a synthetic derivative of 1,2-dithiole-3-thione), and phenobarbital and that of rGSTM1 by oltipraz and phenobarbital, whereas it was ineffective on rGSTP1 induction by these compounds. Using in vitro nuclear run-on transcription assay and Northern blot analysis of α-amanitin-treated cells, IL-1-mediated rGSTM1 mRNA decrease was found to result from mRNA destabilization. These results provide the first demonstration that IL-1 regulates some major GST subunits in hepatocytes by a post-transcriptional mechanism.

RNAi-mediated MEK1 knock-down prevents ERK1/2 activation and abolishes human hepatocarcinoma growth in vitro and in vivo

The mitogen‐activated protein kinases MEK/ERK pathway regulates fundamental processes in malignant cells and represents an attractive target in the development of new cancer treatments especially for human hepatocarcinoma highly resistant to chemotherapy. Although gene extinction experiments have suggested distinct roles for these proteins, the MEK/ERK cascade remains widely considered as exhibiting an overlap of functions. To investigate the functionality of each kinase in tumorigenesis, we have generated stably knock‐down clones for MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 isoforms in the human hepatocellular carcinoma line HuH7. Our results have shown that RNAi strategy allows a specific disruption of the targeted kinases and argued for the critical function of MEK1 in liver tumor growth. Transient and stable extinction experiments demonstrated that MEK1 isoform acts as a major element in the signal transduction by phosphorylating ERK1 and ERK2 after growth factors stimulation, whereas oncogenic level of ERK1/2 phosphorylation appears to be MEK1 and MEK2 dependent in basal condition. In addition, silencing of MEK1 or ERK2 abolished cell proliferation and DNA replication in vitro as well as tumor growth in vivo after injection in rodent. In contrast, targeting MEK2 or ERK1 had no effect on hepatocarcinoma progression. These results strongly corroborate the relevance of targeting the MEK cascade as attested by pharmacologic drugs and support the potential application of RNAi in future development of more effective cancer therapies. Our study emphasizes the importance of the MEK/ERK pathway in human hepatocarcinoma cell growth and argues for a crucial role of MEK1 and ERK2 in this regulation.

MAPK signaling in cisplatin-induced death: predominant role of ERK1 over ERK2 in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma treatment by arterial infusion of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum-II (cisplatin) exhibits certain therapeutic efficacy. However, optimizations are required and the mechanisms underlying cisplatin proapoptotic effect remain unclear. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway plays a key role in cell response to cisplatin and the functional specificity of the isoform MAPK/ERK kinase 1 and 2 (MEK1/2) and ERK1/2 could influence this response. The individual contribution of each kinase on cisplatin-induced death was thus analyzed after a transient or stable specific inhibition by RNA interference in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cells Huh-7 or in knockout mice. We demonstrated here that ERK1 played a predominant role over ERK2 in cisplatin-induced death, whereas MEK1 and MEK2 acted in a redundant manner. Indeed, at clinically relevant concentrations of cisplatin, ERK1 silencing alone was sufficient to protect cells from cisplatin-induced death both in vitro, in Huh-7 cells and ERK1(-/-) hepatocytes, and in vivo, in ERK1-deficient mice. Moreover, we showed that ERK1 activity correlated with the induction level of the proapoptotic BH3-only protein Noxa, a critical mediator of cisplatin toxicity. On the contrary, ERK2 inhibition upregulated ERK1 activity, favored Noxa induction and sensitized hepatocarcinoma cells to cisplatin. Our results point to a crucial role of ERK1 in cisplatin-induced proapoptotic signal and lead us to propose that ERK2-specific targeting could improve the efficacy of cisplatin therapy by increasing ERK1 prodeath functions.