pLNCX-pemt2重组载体的构建及pemt2基因在大鼠肝癌CBRH-7919细胞中的表达

为进一步研究 pemt2对肝癌细胞生长抑制的作用机制提供方便的实验模型 ,构建了p LNCX- pemt2重组体 .将目的基因 pemt2连接入含有 neo抗性基因的真核细胞表达载体 p LNCX中 ,构建 p LNCX- pemt2重组子 ,并用磷酸钙沉淀法将其转入大鼠肝癌 CBRH- 791 9细胞中 ,应用PCR、Western印迹及 [3 H]SAM参入等技术对其转染、表达及活性进行鉴定 .转染 p LNCX- pemt2的大鼠肝癌细胞 ,PEMT2成功表达 (分子量为 2 2 .5k D) ;高表达克隆 PEMT2的表达量比对照组高约 5倍 ,其活性比对照组高 2 .1倍 ;细胞生长的倍增时间从 2 1 .54± 7.0 8h延长到 43.2 2± 7.1 1h.结果表明 ,p LNCX- pemt2重组体转入肝癌细胞后 ,PEMT2蛋白得到高效表达 ,明显抑制肝癌细胞生长 .     

Reversibly permeable hepatoma cells in culture

A brief treatment of H35 hepatoma cells with lysolecithin resulted in a cell population which is permeable to low-molecular weight charged molecules that cannot normally cross the plasma membrane. These include deoxynucleotide and nucleotide triphosphates, folyl and methotrexate polyglutamates, and trypan blue. As a result dTTP can be incorporated into the DNA of the permeable cells, providing the required nucleotides and deoxynucleotides are added to the medium. This result, combined with only a slight observed loss (20–25%) in total cell protein, lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) activity and tyrosine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.5) activity, demonstrated that permeation of the cells does not extensively disrupt membrane integrity. Further support for this view comes from the fact that the permeable cells could seal when placed in enriched medium. The process of sealing was inhibited by cycloheximide and tunicamycin. The sealed cells, whose surfaces appeared identical to those of untreated cells by scanning electron microscopy, were fully capable of cell division when exposed to serum. Values for several other parameters, including dexamethasone-dependent tyrosine aminotransferase induction, thymidine incorporation into DNA, leucine incorporation into protein and folate coenzyme transport, supported the conclusion that sealed cells and untreated H35 cells have identical properties. Based on the characteristics of the permeable and sealed H35 cells, a discussion of the experimental potential of these preparations for studying macromolecular synthesis, investigating enzymes in situ and depleting cells of folate coenzymes is presented.     

RMP在肝癌细胞基因组稳定性和凋亡中的作用

目的:研究RPB5调节蛋白(RMP)在正常肝细胞及肝癌细胞基因组稳定性中的作用,并探讨其与细胞凋亡的相关性。方法:采用逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)从mRNA 水平检测正常细胞系及多种肿瘤细胞系中RMP的表达。不同剂量⁶⁰Coγ射线照射肝癌细胞SMMC-7721细胞和正常肝细胞HL-7702细胞,RT-PCR法检测RMP的表达,流式细胞技术检测照射肝癌细胞周期变化及细胞凋亡。应用RNA干扰技术研究RMP在肝癌细胞基因组稳定性中的作用。结果:正常细胞系及多种肿瘤细胞系中RMP基因均有不同程度的表达。经⁶⁰Coγ射线诱导的肝癌细胞及正常肝细胞RMP表达水平明显升高,且有一定剂量依赖性。随着照射剂量增加细胞凋亡明显增多,细胞周期G₁期增高,而S期明显降低。RMP被干扰后, 电子显微镜观察细胞形态发生明显改变,p21基因表达减弱。结论:RMP具有维持细胞基因组稳定性的潜在作用。RMP的表达与p53、p21等具有一定相关性,可能与后者协同调节细胞凋亡过程。     

海藻色素糖蛋白对肝癌细胞Caspase-3 和Bax 蛋白表达的影响

目的:研究麒麟菜海藻色素糖蛋白(SPG)对肝癌细胞Caspase-3和Bax蛋白表达的影响。方法:将50只皮下接种H22肝癌细胞株的小鼠随机分为5组,每组10只。高、中、低剂量组分别每天经口灌胃给予100、50、10mg/kg的SPG,肿瘤对照组灌胃生理盐水,连续10d。环磷酰胺组隔天腹腔注射环磷酰胺20mg/kg.bw。取肝癌组织用MTT法测定各组肝癌细胞增殖活性,免疫组化法检测各组肝癌组织Caspase-3和Bax蛋白表达水平。结果:高剂量组Caspase-3和Bax蛋白表达率分别为40.20%和38.10%,而肿瘤对照组分别为5.00%和4.68%,差异均有显著性(P<0.05)。高剂量SPG组和肿瘤对照组的肝癌细胞增殖活性分别为0.711±0.028和1.135±0.032,差别有显著性(P<0.05)。结论:SPG可促进肝癌细胞Caspase-3和Bax蛋白表达,诱发肝癌细胞凋亡。     

Traces of copper ions deplete glutathione in human hepatoma cell cultures with low cysteine content

BACKGROUND: Cell death induced by intracellular glutathione depletion has been reported to be dependent on the presence of trace amounts of extracellular copper ions. Since little is known about the relationship between glutathione depletion and copper homeostasis, we have in the present study further investigated the role of low amounts of copper ions in glutathione depletion. METHODS: Glutathione turnover was investigated in HeLa and hepatoma cell cultures with normal and low cysteine content in the presence of copper ions (1 and 10micromol/L) and two other glutathione-stimulating agents (lipoic acid and mercury ions). RESULTS: Copper ions (10micromol/L) caused relatively small increases in total amount of glutathione (the sum of the intracellular and the extracellular amount of glutathione) in HeLa and hepatoma cell cultures with normal cysteine levels (420nmol/mL) compared to control cell cultures, whereas lipoic acid and mercury ions strongly increased total glutathione in both types of cell cultures. Lower amount of total glutathione was observed in cell cultures with a lower cysteine levels (84nmol/mL), which is similar to that in human plasma. A strongly decreased total amount of glutathione in the presence of copper ions was observed in hepatoma cell cultures with lower cysteine levels, whereas the other agents showed effects similar to those described for cell cultures with normal cysteine levels. CONCLUSION: Glutathione synthesis in hepatoma cell cultures is probably more sensitive to a low cysteine level than HeLa cell cultures, and the presence of copper ions further decreases the availability of cysteine probably by increasing the disulfide binding to cysteine residues in extracellular proteins, which causes a further decrease of total glutathione.     

Oxidative stress decreases extracellular homocysteine concentration in human hepatoma (HepG2) cell cultures

BACKGROUND: Mild hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with premature vascular disease. The mechanism behind the vascular injuries is, however, still unknown. Homocysteine may be catabolized in the trans-sulfuration pathway to cysteine. Cystathionine beta-synthase, which catalyses the first step in the trans-sulfuration pathway is redox-sensitive. We have therefore investigated total extracellular homocysteine turnover in the presence of oxidative stress in human cell lines. METHODS: The turnover of total extracellular homocysteine in HeLa and hepatoma cell cultures has been investigated in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, the effect of hydrogen peroxide on the removal of high amounts of exogenously added homocysteine was also studied. RESULTS: Total extracellular homocysteine concentration in hepatoma cell cultures decreased in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, whereas the extracellular homocysteine concentration in HeLa cell cultures was not influenced. There was no significant change of intracellular homocysteine in any type of cell cultures. Furthermore, the presence of hydrogen peroxide did not increase the removal of exogenously added homocysteine. CONCLUSION: The presence of hydrogen peroxide probably increases the activity of the trans-sulfuration pathway in hepatoma cell cultures, which increases the intracellular use of homocysteine and lowers its extracellular release. Consequently this mechanism might tend to lower total plasma homocysteine concentration in oxidative stress.     

菹草类胡萝卜素提取物对人肝癌细胞QGY-7703凋亡的影响

分别用含10、20、40、60μmol/L的菹草类胡萝卜素提取物(CEPC)培养液处理人肝癌细胞(QGY-7703)48h、96h和144h,在这三个处理时间各剂量组对肝癌细胞的抑制率平均值范围分别为0.14%-23.07%、39.59%-70.61%和71.65%-87.01%。经10、20和40μmol/L的CEPC培养液处理肝癌细胞24h、48h和72h,用激光扫描共聚焦显微术(LSCM)观察细胞形态,出现了肝癌细胞数量明显减少,细胞体积缩小、皱缩变形,细胞核呈现“新月状”、条状甚至碎片状,细胞核中呈黄色的DNA面积较明显地减小等典型的凋亡细胞形态特征。以流式细胞术分析用CEPC处理肝癌细胞后各时相细胞的百分比,与对照组比较,用10μmol/L和20μmol/L浓度的CEPC处理肝癌细胞48h后,使细胞周期中的G_0/G_1期的细胞比例极显著增加(P<0.01),分别增加了23.8%和35.6%,而在G_2/M期没有明显的变化,在S期则相应减少。用LSCM测定了肝癌细胞内的Ca~(2 )浓度,与对照组比较,经20μmol/LCEPC处理48h后能引起细胞内Ca~(2 )浓度极显著上升(P<0.01),剂量组细胞内Ca~(2 )荧光强度为对照组的1.5倍。以上结果表明CEPC对人肝癌细胞QGY-7703的增殖具有明显的抑制作用,且在一定程度上呈时间-效应和剂量-效应依赖关系。在较短的时间内及使用较小的CEPC剂量能有效地诱导肝癌细胞凋亡,CEPC使肝癌细胞阻滞于G_0/G_1期发生凋亡。CEPC能极显著提高肝癌细胞内的Ca~(2 )浓度,提示Ca~(2 )浓度升高可能是CEPC诱导肝癌细胞发生调亡的重要原因。本项研究结果为进一步研究和开发菹草类胡萝卜素的功能和价值打下了重要基础。     

Effects of estradiol and progesterone on tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis in human hepatoma HuH-7 cells

Oxidative stress, including the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is known to be involved in apoptosis. Preventing apoptosis may thereby induce a malignant transformation of liver tumor cells. Estradiol (E2) is a potent endogenous antioxidant. We examined the proapoptotic role of progesterone as well as the antiapoptotic role of E2 in human hepatoma HuH-7 cells in a state of early apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha. The TNF alpha-induced ROS generation, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme consumption, a proapoptotic predominant expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, and a disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential were all inhibited by E2, and then they were further stimulated by progesterone in HuH-7 cells. The inhibitory effects of E2 were blocked by coincubation with progesterone. Treatment with the progesterone receptor antagonist RU486 led to the blockage of the progesterone-mediated responses to E2 pretreatment in TNF alpha-induced apoptosis. These findings demonstrate that E2 inhibits the TNF alpha-induced early apoptosis in hepatoma cells, by suppressing the oxidative stress processes, whereas progesterone acts in a manner opposite from the effects of E2, and the inhibitory effects of E2 were blocked by progesterone, thus leading to the apoptosis of hepatoma cells.     

Inhibitory effect of gingerol on the proliferation and invasion of hepatoma cells in culture

Effect of [6]-gingerol, a major pungent component in ginger, on the proliferation of a rat ascites hepatoma AH109A cells was investigated by measuring [³H]thymidine incorporation into acid-insoluble fraction of the cultured cells and that on the invasion by co-culturing the hepatoma cells with rat mesentery-derived mesothelial cells. [6]-Gingerol inhibited both the proliferation and invasion of hepatoma cells in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 6.25–200 μM (proliferation) and 50–200 μM (invasion). [6]-Gingerol accumulated cells in S phase and elongated doubling time of hepatoma cells, and increased the rate of apoptosis. Hepatoma cells previously cultured with hypoxanthine (HX) and xanthine oxidase (XO) or with hydrogen peroxide showed increased invasive activities. [6]-Gingerol suppressed the reactive oxygen species-potentiated invasive capacity by simultaneously treating AH109A cells with [6]-gingerol, HX and XO or with [6]-gingerol and hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, [6]-gingerol reduced the intracellular peroxide levels in AH109A cells. These results suggest that the suppression of hepatoma cell proliferation by [6]-gingerol may be due to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction. They also suggest that the anti-oxidative property of [6]-gingerol may be involved in its anti-invasive activity of hepatoma cells.