Modulation of glutathione level during butyrate-induced differentiation in human colon derived HT-29 cells

Glutathione plays an important role in various cellular functions including cell growth and differentiation. In the present study, cell differentiation was induced by butyrate in human colon cell line HT-29 and cellular thiol status was assessed. It was observed that butyrate-induced differentiation was associated with decrease in cellular GSH level and this was prominent at early stages of differentiation. Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a specific cellular GSH depleting agent, did not induce differentiation in cells but potentiated the differentiation induced by butyrate. Both BSO and butyrate individually and together inhibited cell growth. These studies suggest that cellular GSH level is modulated in butyrate-induced differentiation and decrease of GSH at the initial stage might facilitate cellular differentiation.     

Morphologic differentiation of colon carcinoma cell lines HT-29 and HT-29KM in rotating-wall vessels

Summary A new low shear stress microcarrier culture system has been developed at NASA’s Johnson Space Center that permits three-dimensional tissue culture. Two established human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines, HT-29, an undifferentiated, and HT-29KM, a stable, moderately differentiated subline of HT-29, were grown in new tissue culture bioreactors called Rotating-Wall Vessels (RWVs). RWVs are used in conjunction with multicellular cocultivation to develop a unique in vitro tissue modeling system. Cells were cultivated on Cytodex-3 microcarrier beads, with and without mixed normal human colonic fibroblasts, which served as the mesenchymal layer. Culture of the tumor lines in the absence of fibroblasts produced spheroidlike growth and minimal differentiation. In contrast, when tumor lines were co-cultivated with normal colonic fibroblasts, initial growth was confined to the fibroblast population until the microcarriers were covered. The tumor cells then commenced proliferation at an accelerated rate, organizing themselves into three-dimensional tissue masses that achieved 1.0- to 1.5-cm diameters. The masses displayed glandular structures, apical and internal glandular microvilli, tight intercellular junctions, desmosomes, cellular polarity, sinusoid development, internalized mucin, and structural organization akin to normal colon crypt development. Differentiated samples were subjected to transmission and scanning electron microscopy and histologic analysis, revealing embryoniclike mesenchymal cells lining the areas around the growth matrices. Necrosis was minimal throughout the tissue masses. These data suggest that the RWV affords a new model for investigation and isolation of growth, regulatory, and structural processes within neoplastic and normal tissue.     

Arachidonic acid metabolism in growth control of A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells

The role of individual eicosanoids of the arachidonic acid (AA) cascade in the growth control of A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells has been studied. Cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolites of [¹⁴C]AA incorporated were actively synthesized in the cultures of tumor cells with full confluence unaccomplished. In such cultures inhibitors of AA metabolism (indomethacin and esculetin) and also a lipoxygenase metabolite of AA, 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE), significantly suppressed the incorporation of [³H]thymidine and biosynthesis of prostaglandin E₂(PGE₂). Other lipoxygenase metabolites of AA (5-HETE and 12-HETE) had no effect on these parameters. The basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) had practically no affect on the growth of A549 cells and the PGE₂ production in cultures with 5% fetal calf serum (FCS); however, in the presence of 0.5% FCS this factor significantly increased the number of tumor cells. The growth-stimulating effect of bFGF was completely abolished by a cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. The data suggest a key role of PGE₂ in the growth control of A549 cells with an active synthesis of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolites of AA, its importance in realization of the mitogenic effect of bFGF, and specific features of 15-HETE as a down-regulator of the PGE₂-dependent proliferation.     

Glutathione modulates lipid composition of human colon derived HT-29 cells

Glutathione (GSH) is important in maintaining intracellular thiol status. The present study looked at the effect of GSH depletion on lipid composition of colon-derived HT-29 cells. GSH was depleted in HT-29 cells by incubation either with buthionine-S, R-sulfoximine (BSO) or diethylmaleate (DEM). GSH was restored during early periods of cell growth by supplementation of growth medium with either GSH ester or N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). Lipids were analysed following GSH depletion and supplementation. Among the neutral lipids, an increase in free cholesterol and diacylglycerol and decrease in cholesteryl ester and triacylglycerol were seen in GSH-depleted cells as compared to control cells. There were no detectable free fatty acids either in control or GSH-depleted cells. Among the phospholipids, a decrease in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol and an increase in phosphatidylethanolamine were observed. These changes were almost completely reversed by supplementation of BSO-treated cells with GSH ester and partially reversed by N-acetyl cysteine. These results suggest that the GSH status of the cell plays an important role in the lipid composition of the cells.     

Effects of differentiation on purinergic and neurotensin-mediated calcium signaling in human HT-29 colon cancer cells

Calcium signaling is a key regulator of processes important in differentiation. In colon cancer cells differentiation is associated with altered expression of specific isoforms of calcium pumps of the endoplasmic reticulum and the plasma membrane, suggesting that differentiation of colon cancer cells is associated with a major remodeling of calcium homeostasis. Purinergic and neurotensin receptor activation are known regulators of cytosolic free Ca²⁺ levels in colon cancer cells. This study aimed to assess changes in cytosolic free Ca²⁺ levels in response to ATP and neurotensin with differentiation induced by sodium butyrate or culturing post-confluence. Parameters assessed included peak cytosolic free Ca²⁺ level after activation; time to reach peak cytosolic free Ca²⁺ and the EC₅₀ of dose response curves. Our results demonstrate that differentiation of HT-29 colon cancer cells is associated with a remodeling of both ATP and neurotensin mediated Ca²⁺ signaling. Neurotensin-mediated calcium signaling appeared more sensitive to differentiation than ATP-mediated Ca²⁺ signaling.     

Effects of131I-labeled TNT-1 radioimmunotherapy on HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma spheroids

Summary Radiolabeled murine monoclonal antibody TNT-1, directed against the nuclear histones of degenerating cells, was used to treat human colon adenocarcinoma HT-29 spheroids in vitro. The therapeutic effects of¹³¹I-TNT-1 were investigated as a function of the radioactive dose, treatment time, and number of treatments. Efficacy of treatment was assessed by TNT-1 antibody uptake, spheroid growth delay, and morphological examination using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). From these studies, it was determined that the therapeutic effect increased with the number of doses and the duration of treatment. Spheroids treated for 24 h showed approximately two to four times more cell death than those with a 2-h treatment. As previously shown in animal models, additonal treatment with radiolabeled TNT-1 produced an expanding number of TNT-1 targets, and subsequent treatments were more effective as shown by antibody uptake studies. Microscopic examinations demonstrated that morphological changes consistent with spheroid destruction correlated well with antibody uptake data and increased gradually with dose, treatment time, and frequency of treatments. At the ultrastructural level, destruction of cells in the treated spheroids included the formation of porous cell membranes, crater-like holes (SEM), blebbing, and dissolution of cytoplasmic organelles (TEM). With continued culture, the injured spheroids were found to disaggregate after intensive¹³¹I-TNT-1 therapy (e.g. 50 µCi/ml or 100 µCi/ml with two or three 24-h treatments). These findings suggest that tumor spheroids can be used as an in vitro model to evaluate monoclonal antibody therapy using TNT-1 and other candidate mAbs directed against intracellular antigens exposed in degenerating cells of tumors.     

The modulation of choline phosphoglyceride metabolism in human colon cancer

Colorectal cancer has a high incidence of morbidity and mortality in the North American population. Elevated levels of plasmalogens have been reported in some neoplastic tissues including colon tumors, but the mechanism for this increase has not been defined. Since changes in plasmalogen level are usually associated with changes in the other phospholipid subclasses, a general increase in all phospholipid subclasses may also be found in colonic neoplasms. In this study, the levels of the major phospholipids, including their plasmalogen and diacylphospholipid subclasses, were found to be elevated in human malignant colonic tissues. Since phosphatidylcholine is the most prominent type of phospholipid found in both malignant and control tissues, the mechanism for its accumulation during malignancy was investigated. Decreases in phospholipase C and D activities were observed in tumor samples, but an enhancement of the CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity was also detected. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that the elevated cytidylyltransferase activity was caused by a three-fold increase in the level of enzyme protein during tumor development. Based on these enzyme studies, we conclude that the high level of phosphatidylcholine in colon tumors resulted from a decrease in its turnover and an increase in its expression.     

Differential distribution and metabolism of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid by human placental choriocarcinoma (BeWo) cells

The time course of incorporation of [¹⁴C]arachidonic acid and [³H]docosahexaenoic acid into various lipid fractions in placental choriocarcinoma (BeWo) cells was investigated. BeWo cells were found to rapidly incorporate exogenous [¹⁴C]arachidonic acid and [³H] docosahexaenoic acid into the total cellular lipid pool. The extent of docosahexaenoic acid esterification was more rapid than for arachidonic acid, although this difference abated with time to leave only a small percentage of the fatty acids in their unesterified form. Furthermore, uptake was found to be saturable. In the cellular lipids these fatty acids were mainly esterified into the phospholipid (PL) and the triacyglycerol (TAG) fractions. Smaller amounts were also detected in the diacylglycerol and cholesterol ester fractions. Almost 60% of the total amount of [3H]Docosahexaenoic acid taken up by the cells was esterified into TAG whereas 37% was in PL fractions. For arachidonic acid the reverse was true, 60% of the total uptake was incorporated into PL fractions whereas less than 35% was in TAG. Marked differences were also found in the distribution of the fatty acids into individual phospholipid classes. The higher incorporation of docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid was found in PC and PE, respectively. The greater cellular uptake of docosahexaenoic acid and its preferential incorporation in TAG suggests that both uptake and transport modes of this fatty acid by the placenta to fetus is different from that of arachidonic acid.     

UCP2 regulates energy metabolism and differentiation potential of human pluripotent stem cells

It has been assumed, based largely on morphologic evidence, that human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) contain underdeveloped, bioenergetically inactive mitochondria. In contrast, differentiated cells harbour a branched mitochondrial network with oxidative phosphorylation as the main energy source. A role for mitochondria in hPSC bioenergetics and in cell differentiation therefore remains uncertain. Here, we show that hPSCs have functional respiratory complexes that are able to consume O(2) at maximal capacity. Despite this, ATP generation in hPSCs is mainly by glycolysis and ATP is consumed by the F(1)F(0) ATP synthase to partially maintain hPSC mitochondrial membrane potential and cell viability. Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) plays a regulating role in hPSC energy metabolism by preventing mitochondrial glucose oxidation and facilitating glycolysis via a substrate shunting mechanism. With early differentiation, hPSC proliferation slows, energy metabolism decreases, and UCP2 is repressed, resulting in decreased glycolysis and maintained or increased mitochondrial glucose oxidation. Ectopic UCP2 expression perturbs this metabolic transition and impairs hPSC differentiation. Overall, hPSCs contain active mitochondria and require UCP2 repression for full differentiation potential.     

Protein kinase C and casein kinase II activities in two human colon carcinoma cell lines,HT-29 and CaCo-2: Possible correlation with differentiation

Protein kinase C (PK-C) and casein kinase II (CK-II) activities were studied in two human colon carcinoma cell lines (HT-29 and CaCO-2) undergoing differentiationin vitro resulting, in small-intestine-like cells. CaCo-2 cells, when grown under standard conditions, appear to undergo spontaneous differentiation. In these cells PK-C and CK-II activities were determined on day 5, 10 and 15. No significant differences in activities were seen either in PK-C or CK-II activity. HT-29 cells, when grown in glucose-free medium can be stimulated to undergo differentiation which is completed within 20 days. PK-C and CK-II activities were determined after 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days, respectively. PK-C activity rose from 7.9±3.5 pmole³²P/mg protein/min at day 5 to 37.5±14.8 pmole³²P/mg protein/min at day 20. After 25 days the activity was reduced to 20.0±7.8 pmole³²P/mg protein/min. CK-II activity did not change significantly during day 5 to 20, but on day 25 there was a significant decrease in CK-II activity from 94.9±6.4 pmole³²P/mg protein/min (day 20) to 62.6±3.9 pmole³²P/mg protein/min (day 25) p=0.003. The results in this study indicate a role for PK-C and CK-II in cell growth and differentiation.     

Cyclooxygenase-independent effects of aspirin on HT-29 human colon cancer cells, revealed by oligonucleotide microarrays

Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit proliferation of human colon cancer cells in vitro. Transmission electron microscope detected morphological features of apoptosis in the aspirin-treated (5 mM, 72 h) HT-29 cells in which cyclooxygenoase-2 is catalytically inactive. We investigated aspirin-induced genome-wide expression changes in HT-29 cells and further studied the time- and concentration-dependent expression changes in 374 apoptosis-related genes, which is the first to show stimulation of genome-wide expression of HT-29 cells by aspirin. The most marked effects of aspirin are on ribosome assembly and rRNA metabolism, which could explain why the quasi-apoptotic morphological changes are not accompanied by a classical DNA ladder. These findings demonstrate that aspirin induces apoptosis in HT-29 cells, bolstering the hypothesis that apoptosis may be a mechanism by which NSAIDs inhibit colon carcinogenesis.     

DCC regulates cell adhesion in human colon cancer derived HT-29 cells and associates with ezrin

The deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) gene encodes a 170- to 190-kDa protein of the Immunoglobulin superfamily. Firstly identified as a tumor suppressor gene in human colorectal carcinomas, the main function for DCC has been described in the nervous system as part of a receptor complex for netrin-1. Moreover, roles in mucosecretory cell differentiation and as inducer of apoptosis have also been reported. DCC knockout mice supported a crucial role for this gene in axonal migration, yet questioned its implication in tumor suppression and mucosecretory differentiation. The work presented here demonstrates that a DCC-transfected HT-29 colonic human cell line (HT-29/DCC) displays an increase in cell-cell adhesion to the detriment of cell-matrix interactions: HT-29/DCC cells exhibit more and better-structured desmosomes while focal adhesions and hemidesmosomes are disrupted. HT-29/DCC cells show no changes in adherent junctions but upon treatment with TPA, HT-29/DCC cells show resistance to scattering, and maintain E-cadherin in the membrane. In addition, the actin cytoskeleton is affected in HT-29/DCC cells: stress fibers are disrupted while cortical actin remains intact. We identified a putative ERM-M (ezrin/radixin/moesin and merlin) binding domain in the juxtamembrane region of the DCC protein. In vitro pull-down assays demonstrate the interaction of the DCC cytoplasmic domain with the N-terminal region of ezrin and merlin, and co-immunoprecipitation assays in transiently DCC-transfected COS-1 cells showed that the interaction between DCC and ezrin also takes place in vivo. Altogether, our results suggest that DCC could regulate cell adhesion and migration through its association with ERM-M proteins.     

Modulation of phosphoinositide metabolism in rat brain slices by excitatory amino acids,arachidonic acid,and GABA

In rat brain slices the synthesis of [³H]phosphoinositides and the production of [³H]inositol monophosphate (IP₁) induced by norepinephrine (NE) were inhibited by glutamate. Calcium concentrations were varied to test if these inhibitory effects of glutamate were mediated by a calcium-dependent process. Although reducing calcium or addition of the calcium antagonist verpamil reduced the inhibitory effects of glutamate, these results were equivocal because reduced calcium directly decreased agonist-induced [³H]phosphoinositide synthesis. The inhibitory effects of glutamate were mimicked by quisqualate in a dose-dependent manner, but none of a variety of excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists modified the inhibition caused by quisqualate. It is suggested that glutamate activates a quisqualate-sensitive receptor (for which an antagonist is not available) and causes inhibition of phosphoinositide hydrolysis mediated in part by a direct or indirect inhibitory effect of calcium on phosphoinositide synthesis. Modulatory effects of arachidonic acid were examined because glutamate and calcium can activate phospholipase A₂. Arachidonic acid caused a rapid and dose-dependent inhibition of [³H]phosphoinositide synthesis and of NE-stimulated [³H]IP₁ production. A similar inhibition of the response to carbachol also occurred. The inhibition caused by arachidonic acid was unchanged by addition of inhibitors of cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase. Activation of phospholipase A₂ with melittin caused inhibitory effects similar to those of arachidonic acid. Inhibitors of phospholipase A₂ were found to impair phosphoinositide metabolism, likely due to their lack of specificity for phospholipase A₂. Further studies were carried out in slices that were prelabelled with [³H]inositol in an attempt to separate modulatory effects on [³H]phosphoinositide synthesis and agonist-stimulated [³H]IP₁ production. Several excitatory amino acid agonists inhibited NE-stimulated [³H]IP₁ production. This inhibitory inter-action could be due to impaired synthesis of [³H]phosphoinositides because, even though the slices were prelabeled, addition of unlabelled inositol reduced NE-stimulated [³H]IP₁ production, indicating that continuous regeneration of [³H]phosphoinositides is required. In contrast to the inhibitory effects of the excitatory amino acids, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) enhanced the response to NE in cortical and hippocampal slices. GABA also enhanced the response to carbachol in hippocampal and striatal slices and to ibotenic acid in hippocampal slices. Baclofen potentiated the response to NE similarly to the effect of GABA and baclofen partially blocked the inhibitory effect of arachidonic acid but did not alter that of quisqualate.Abbreviations AMPA -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic - acid AP₄ dl-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid - BPB bromphenacyl bromide - BSA bovine serum albumin - CNQX 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione - DFMO -difluoromethylornithine - DIDS diisothiocyanotostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid - EGTA ethyleneglycol-bis-N - N, N N-tetraacetic acid - GABA -aminobutyric acid - GDEE glutamate diethyl ether - -GG -glutamylglycine - IP₁ inositol monophosphate - IP₂ inositol bisphosphate - IP₃ inositol trisphosphate - NDGA nordihydroguaiaretic acid - NE norepinephrine - NMDA N-methyl-d-aspartate     

The metabolism of arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids in human neutrophils stimulated by A23187 and FMLP

A23187 stimulates the metabolism of endogenous as well as exogenous arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenolc acid (EPA) to their corresponding leukotrienes in human neutrophils. In contrast, conflicting results have been obtained concerning the effect of FMLP on the metabolism of these fatty acids. In the present study we compared the effect of A23187 and FMLP on the release and metabolism of these fatty acids in neutrophils. Stimulation of neutrophils with A23187, but not with FMLP, resulted in detectable levels of AA in the presence or absence of BW755C (a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase). The absolute amount of nonesterified AA in the extracts of neutrophils exposed to the agonist A23187 in the presence of BW755C was 20% higher than that obtained in the absence of BW755C, indicating that only a small fraction of the released AA was converted to lipoxygenase products. Furthermore, significant quantities of AA and EPA metabolites were detected only after treatment of neutrophils with A23187, but not with FMLP. Both A23187 and FMLP stimulated the conversion of exogenous EPA to 5-lipoxygenase products, with A23187 being somewhat more effective. In addition, significant differences were noted on the effect of EPA and DHA on the conversion of AA to its metabolites in A23187-stimulated neutrophils. Our results provide strong evidence that the amounts of eicosanoid precursors mobilized in response to FMLP are extremely small, if any, and this appears to be the likely explanation for the lack of eicosanoid detection by HPLC in FMLP-stimulated neutrophils.     

Comparison of the effects of inhibitors of cytochrome P-450-mediated reations on human platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid metabolism

Metyrapone and SKF-525A, together with amphenone B, a structural analogue of metyrapone, which are all inhibitors of cytochrome P-450-mediated reactiors, were shown to inhibit the arachidonic acid-induced aggregation of human platelets. Amphenone B, like metyrapone, exhibited a type II (ligand) binding spectrum with rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450, in contrast to SKF 525A which is a type I (substrate) binding agent. Independently of their type of binding spectra and of their maximum spectral change, however, the affinity of the three compounds for rat liver cytochrome P-450 showed a close proportional correlation with their platelet aggregation inhibitory potency. All three compounds inhibited the formation of [1?¹⁴C]thromboxane B₂ from [1?¹⁴C]arachidonic acid by human platelets aggregated with collagen. The effect of metyrapone on the remaining labelled products suggested that it is a selective thromboxane synthesis inhibitor, while amphenone B exhibited activity reminiscent of cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors. SKF 525A produced complex effects possibly attributable to cyclo-oxygenase inhibition and enhanced lipid peroxidation, since it also enhanced platelet malonaldehyde formation, which the other two compounds inhibited. These data provide further support for a role of cytochrome P-450 in thromboxane synthesis and platelet aggregation.     

Effect of Carica papaya on beta catenin and Wnt mRNA expression in human colon cancer (HT-29) cells in vitro

Colon cancer is the third most frequent cancer in humans. Carica papaya leaves are vegetable foods consumed by most people around the world; it has potential as an anticancer. Therefore it is of interest to investigate the effect of Carica papaya on beta catenin and Wnt mRNA expression in human colon cancer (HT-29) cells in vitro. Human Colon cancer cell line (HT-29) was purchased from the National Centre for Cell Sciences, Pune, India. Cell viability test was done by MTT assay. Gene expression analysis was done by Real Time-PCR. The obtained data were analyzed statistically by one-way analysis of variance and Duncan''s multiple range test with Graph Pad Prism version 5 to analyze the significance of individual variations among the control and experimental groups. The significance was considered at p<0.05 level in Duncan''s test. Carica papaya caused a marked increase in cell death in a dose dependent manner. At the end of 48 hours, maximum inhibition was at 300 and 400 µg/ml. Carica papaya has significantly reduced the mRNA expression of Wnt and beta catenin (p<0.05). Data showed that Carica papaya leaf extract has anticancer activity on Colon cancer cell lines (HT-29).     

The role of TNF-alpha in chronic inflammatory conditions, intermediary metabolism, and cardiovascular risk

The recent insight that inflammation contributes to the development of atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus constitutes a major breakthrough in understanding the mechanisms underlying these conditions. In addition, it opens the way for new therapeutic approaches that might eventually decrease the prevalence of these public health problems. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) has been shown to play a key role in these processes and thus might be a potential therapeutic target. Increased concentrations of TNF-alpha are found in acute and chronic inflammatory conditions (e.g., trauma, sepsis, infection, rheumatoid arthritis), in which a shift toward a proatherogenic lipid profile and impaired glucose tolerance occurs. Although therapeutic blockade of TNF-alpha worsens the prognosis in patients with abscesses and granulomatous infections, this strategy is highly beneficial in the case of chronic inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. Current investigations assessing the impact of anti-TNF agents on intermediary metabolism suggest that TNF-alpha blockade may improve insulin resistance and lipid profiles in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases.     

Senescence and odontoblastic differentiation of dental pulp cells

Cellular senescence has been suggested to be involved in physiological changes of cytokine production. Previous studies showed that the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is higher in the blood of aged people compared with that of young people. So far, the precise effects of TNF-α on the odontoblastic differentiation of pulp cells have been controversial. Therefore, we aimed to clarify how this cytokine affected pulp cells during aging. Human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) were cultured until reaching the plateau of their growth, and the cells were isolated at actively (young HDPCs; yHDPCs) or inactively (senescent HDPCs; sHDPCs) proliferating stages. sHDPCs expressed senescence-related molecules while yHDPCs did not. When these HDPCs were cultured in an odontoblast-inductive medium, both young and senescent cells showed mineralization, but mineralization in sHDPCs was lower compared with yHDPCs. However, the administration of TNF-α to this culture medium altered these responses: yHDPCs showed downregulated mineralization, while sHDPCs exhibited significantly increased mineralization. Furthermore, the expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), a receptor of TNF-α, was significantly upregulated in sHDPCs compared with yHDPCs. Downregulation of TNFR1 expression led to decreased mineralization of TNF-α-treated sHDPCs, whereas restored the reduction in TNF-α-treated yHDPCs. These results suggested that sHDPCs preserved the odontoblastic differentiation capacity and TNF-α promoted odontoblastic differentiation of HDPCs with the progress of their population doublings through increased expression of TNFR1. Thus, TNF-α might exert a different effect on the odontoblastic differentiation of HDPCs depending on their proliferating activity. In addition, the calcification of pulp chamber with age may be related with increased reactivity of pulp cells to TNF-α.     

Effects of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3‐E1 osteoblast‐like cells

Osteoblasts in culture can differentiate into mature mineralizing osteoblasts when stimulated with osteogenic agents. Clinical trials and in vivo animal studies suggest that specific polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may benefit bone health. The aim of this study was to investigate whether arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) affect osteogenesis in osteoblasts and the transdifferentiation into adipocytes. Results from this study show that long‐term exposure to AA inhibited alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in these cells, which might be prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂)‐mediated. DHA exposure also inhibited ALP activity which was evident after both short‐ and long‐term exposures. The mechanism whereby DHA inhibits ALP activity is not clear and needs to be investigated. Although long‐term exposure to PUFAs inhibited ALP activity, the mineralizing properties of these cells were not compromised. Furthermore, PUFA exposure did not induce adipocyte‐like features in these cells as evidenced by the lack of cytoplasmic triacylglycerol accummulation. More research is required to elucidate the cellular mechanisms of action of PUFAs on bone. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.