Sal B对肝癌细胞株HepG2的促凋亡作用

目的揭示丹酚酸B(Salvianolic Acid B,Sal B)对肝癌细胞株HepG2的杀伤作用。方法用不同浓度的丹酚酸B处理HepG2细胞,37℃培养24h。用RT-PCR检测促凋亡基因Bax的转录水平,并用流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡的水平。结果①100μmol/L、50μmol/L、25μmol/L等浓度的Sal B处理都能使HepG2细胞促凋亡基因bax的转录水平升高,其中100μmol/L处理组最为明显。②不同浓度的Sal B处理都能使HepG2细胞发生凋亡,其中100μmol/L处理组最为明显。结论 Sal B有促进HepG2细胞凋亡的作用。     

Gene expression signature of human HepG2 cell line

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and is associated with various clinico-pathological characteristics such as genetic mutations and viral infections. Therefore, numerous laboratories look out for identifying always new putative markers for the improvement of HCC diagnosis/prognosis. Many molecular profiling studies investigated gene expression changes related to HCC. HepG2 represents a pure cell line of human liver carcinoma, often used as HCC model due to the absence of viral infection. In this study we compare gene expression profiles associated with HepG2 (as HCC model) and normal hepatocyte cells by microarray technology. Hierarchical cluster analysis of genes evidenced that 2646 genes significantly down-regulated in HepG2 cells compared to hepatocytes whereas a further 3586 genes significantly up-regulated. By using the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) program, we have classified the genes that were differently expressed and studied the functional networks correlating these genes in the complete human interactome. Moreover, to confirm the differentially expressed genes as well as the reliability of our microarray data, we performed a quantitative Real time RT-PCR analysis on 9 up-regulated and 11 down-regulated genes, respectively. In conclusion this work i) provides a gene signature of human hepatoma cells showing genes that change their expression as a consequence of liver cancer in the absence of any genetic mutations or viral infection, ii) evidences new differently expressed genes found in our signature compared to previous published studies and iii) suggests some genes on which to focus future studies to understand if they can be used to improve the HCC prognosis/diagnosis.     

Peroxisomal enzyme activities in the human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2 as compared to human liver.

In order to develop an in vitro model allowing investigation of the long-term effects of hormones and other agents on peroxisomes in liver cells, we measured the activity of a series of peroxisomal enzyme activities in HepG2 cells, a proliferating cell line derived from a human hepatoblastoma. The results obtained show that although in absolute terms peroxisomal enzyme activities are lower in HepG2 cells as compared to human liver, relative activities were comparable in HepG2 and human liver, respectively. Furthermore, it is shown that peroxisomes can easily be isolated from HepG2 cells using density gradient centrifugation. It is concluded that HepG2 cells represent a good model system to study the characteristic (long-term) regulation and control of metabolism of human liver peroxisomes.     

Use of HepG2 cell line for evaluation of toxic and metabolic antipsychotic action

The toxic and metabolic effects of antipsychotics on cells of hepatic origin have been studied in vitro using human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2. The cells were cultured in the presence of two first- and second-generation antipsychotics, haloperidol and olanzapine, respectively, at concentrations that can exist in the blood, liver and other tissues with high lipid content when the drugs are used for therapeutic purposes. During cultivation in several periods, the products of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism were quantified, the activities of several enzymes in the culture medium were measured, and viability (proliferation) of cells was assessed with MTS assay. Both drugs were toxic to HepG2 cells, which was manifested in inhibition of proliferation and an increased alkaline phosphatase activity in the culture medium. The toxic action of olanzapine in the doses used was less significant than that of haloperidol. According to literature data, antipsychotics increase the expression of lipogenesis genes in cells of the central nervous system, adipose tissue and liver, which can lead to hyperlipidemia. However, we have not observed increased levels of total cholesterol, cholesterol of low and high density lipoproteins, and triglycerides in the culture medium of HepG2 cells in the presence of haloperidol and olanzapine. This may be associated with the fact that both drugs, which are cationic amphiphiles, are able to inhibit intracellular lipid trafficking. Moreover, both drugs had no effect on the activity of aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase in the culture medium, but contributed to a decrease in the activity of alanine aminotransferase. Overall, our work has confirmed that HepG2 cells may serve as a useful model to obtain new data on drug effects on the metabolism of cells of hepatic origin and to assess the risk of hepatotoxicity in preclinical studies.     

Binding and degradation of human high-density lipoproteins by human hepatoma cell line HepG2

The catabolism of human HDL was studied in human hepatoma cell line HepG2. The binding of 125I-labeled HDL at 4 degrees C was time-dependent and reached completion within 2 h. The observed rates of binding of 125I-labeled HDL at 4 degrees C and uptake and degradation at 37 degrees C indicated the presence of both high-affinity and low-affinity binding sites for this lipoprotein density class. The specific binding of 125I-labeled HDL accounted for 55% of the total binding capacity. The lysosomal degradation of 125I-labeled HDL was inhibited 25 and 60% by chloroquine at 50 and 100 microM, respectively. Depolymerization of microtubules by colchicine (1 microM) inhibited the degradation of 125I-labeled HDL by 36%. Incubation of cells with HDL caused no significant change in the cellular cholesterol content or in the de novo sterol synthesis and cholesterol esterification. Binding and degradation of 125I-labeled HDL was not affected by prior incubation of cells with HDL. When added at the same protein concentration, unlabeled VLDL, LDL and HDL had similar inhibitory effects on the degradation of 125I-labeled HDL, irrespective of a short or prolonged incubation time. Reductive methylation of unlabeled HDL had no significant effect on its capacity to inhibit the 125I-labeled HDL degradation. The competition study indicated no correlation between the concentrations of apolipoproteins A-I, A-II, B, C-II, C-III, E and F in VLDL, LDL and HDL and the inhibitory effect of these lipoprotein density classes on the degradation of 125I-labeled HDL. There was, however, some association between the inhibitory effect and the levels of apolipoprotein D and C-I.     

Catabolism of human low density lipoproteins by human hepatoma cell line HepG2

The mechanism of hepatic catabolism of human low density lipoproteins (LDL) by human-derived hepatoma cell line HepG2 was studied. The binding of 125I-labeled LDL to HepG2 cells at 4 degrees C was time dependent and inhibited by excess unlabeled LDL. The specific binding was predominant at low concentrations of 125I-labeled LDL (less than 50 micrograms protein/ml), whereas the nonsaturable binding prevailed at higher concentrations of substrate. The cellular uptake and degradation of 125I-labeled LDL were curvilinear functions of substrate concentration. Preincubation of HepG2 cells with unlabeled LDL caused a 56% inhibition in the degradation of 125I-labeled LDL. Reductive methylation of unlabeled LDL abolished its ability to compete with 125I-labeled LDL for uptake and degradation. Chloroquine (50 microM) and colchicine (1 microM) inhibited the degradation of 125I-labeled LDL by 64% and 30%, respectively. The LDL catabolism by HepG2 cells suppressed de novo synthesis of cholesterol and enhanced cholesterol esterification; this stimulation was abolished by chloroquine. When tested at a similar content of apolipoprotein B, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), LDL and high density lipoproteins (HDL) inhibited the catabolism of 125I-labeled LDL to the same degree, indicating that in HepG2 cells normal LDL are most probably recognized by the receptor via apolipoprotein B. The current study thus demonstrates that the catabolism of human LDL by HepG2 cells proceeds in part through a receptor-mediated mechanism.     

Studies on the binding and degradation of human very-low-density lipoproteins by human hepatoma cell line HepG2

The regulation of the hepatic catabolism of normal human very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) was studied in human-derived hepatoma cell line HepG2. Concentration-dependent binding, uptake and degradation of 125I-labeled VLDL demonstrated that the hepatic removal of these particles proceeds through both the saturable and non-saturable processes. In the presence of excess unlabeled VLDL, the specific binding of 125-labeled VLDL accounted for 72% of the total binding. The preincubation of cells with unlabeled VLDL had little effect on the expression of receptors, but reductive methylation of VLDL particles reduced their binding capacity. Chloroquine and colchicine inhibited the degradation of 125I-labeled VLDL and increased their accumulation in the cell, indicating the involvement of lysosomes and microtubuli in this process. Receptor-mediated degradation was associated with a slight (13%) reduction in de novo sterol synthesis and had no significant effect on the cellular cholesterol esterification. Competition studies demonstrated the ability of unlabeled VLDL, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) to effectively compete with 125I-labeled VLDL for binding to cells. No correlation was observed between the concentrations of apolipoproteins A-I, A-II, C-I, C-II and C-III of unlabeled lipoproteins and their inhibitory effect on 125I-labeled VLDL binding. When unlabeled VLDL, LDL and HDL were added at equal contents of either apolipoprotein B or apolipoprotein E, their inhibitory effect on the binding and uptake of 125I-labeled VLDL only correlated with apolipoprotein E. Under similar conditions, the ability of unlabeled VLDL, LDL and HDL to compete with 125I-labeled LDL for binding was a direct function of only their apolipoprotein B. These results demonstrate that in HepG2 cells, apolipoprotein E is the main recognition signal for receptor-mediated binding and degradation of VLDL particles, while apolipoprotein B functions as the sole recognition signal for the catabolism of LDL. Furthermore, the lack of any substantial regulation of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activities subsequent to VLDL degradation, in contrast to that observed for LDL catabolism, suggests that, in HepG2 cells, the receptor-mediated removal of VLDL proceeds through processes independent of those involved in LDL catabolism.     

Chylomicron remnant-vitamin A metabolism by the human hepatoma cell line HepG2

The binding and metabolism of [3H]vitamin A-containing chylomicron (CM) remnants by the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 were studied. Mesenteric lymph chylomicrons were collected from [3H]retinol-fed rats and incubated with lipoprotein lipase to obtain CM remnants. At 4 degrees C, specific CM remnant binding was inhibited by an excess of unlabeled CM remnants. Specific binding predominated at low concentrations and approached saturation while total binding continued to increase over an extensive concentration range (0.45-32 microgram triglyceride/ml). CM remnant uptake at 37 degrees C was greater than that of CM and at least 70 times more efficient than the pinocytosis of sucrose. CM remnant binding increased with the extent of lipolysis. Addition of human apolipoprotein E enhanced both CM remnant and CM binding. After internalization, HepG2 cells hydrolyzed CM remnant-[3H]retinyl esters, and radiolabeled metabolites accumulated. As a function of the concentration of [3H]retinoid initially bound to cells, retinol and retinyl esters accumulated as the major cell-associated metabolites. In contrast, retinol was the major metabolite in the medium only at low retinoid concentrations; other more polar metabolites accumulated at higher concentrations (greater than 110 pmol retinoid/mg cell protein). The accumulation in the medium of labeled metabolites derived from CM remnant-retinoid was reduced when cells were preincubated in unlabeled retinol-supplemented media. The specific activity of retinol in the medium indicated that CM remnant-vitamin A had mixed with the cellular store prior to its secretion as retinol. These results indicate that HepG2 cells internalize CM remnants in part by specific binding sites, and that the metabolism of CM remnant-retinoids by the HepG2 cell involves retinyl ester hydrolysis and the secretion of retinol and other more polar metabolites. These processes were regulated in part by the concentration of retinoid delivered by the CM remnant and by the initial retinoid content of the cell.     

Response of the antioxidant defense system to tert-butyl hydroperoxide and hydrogen peroxide in a human hepatoma cell line (HepG2)

The aim of this work was to investigate the response of the antioxidant defense system to two oxidative stressors, hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide, in HepG2 cells in culture. The parameters evaluated included enzyme activity and gene expression of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and activity of glutathione reductase. Besides, markers of the cell damage and oxidative stress evoked by the stressors such as cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species generation, malondialdehyde levels, and reduced glutathione concentration were evaluated. Both stressors, hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide, enhanced cell damage and reactive oxygen species generation at doses above 50 microM. The concentration of reduced glutathione decreased, and levels of malondialdehyde and activity of the antioxidant enzymes consistently increased only when HepG2 cells were treated with tert-butyl hydroperoxide but not when hydrogen peroxide was used. A slight increase in the gene expression of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase and catalase with 500 microM tert-butyl hydroperoxide and of catalase with 200 microM hydrogen peroxide was observed. The response of the components of the antioxidant defense system evaluated in this study indicates that tert-butyl hydroperoxide evokes a consistent cellular stress in HepG2.     

Synthesis and secretion of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase by the human hepatoma cell line HepG2

The human liver cell line HepG2 was investigated for its synthesis and secretion of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase. The cells were grown to confluency in Eagle's minimal essential medium plus 10% fetal bovine serum. At the onset of the study, fetal bovine serum was removed and cells were grown in minimal essential medium only. At 6, 12, 24, and 48 h the cells were harvested, and the culture medium collected at each time point was assayed for lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase mass and activity, cholesterol esterification rate, and apolipoprotein A-I mass. The rate of the enzyme secretion measured by both mass and activity was linear over 24 h of culture. The enzyme mass by radioimmunoassay was 1.7, 4.1, 7.9 and 13.7 ng/ml culture medium (or 8.3, 19.9, 38.5 and 66.7 ng/mg cell protein), respectively, and enzyme activity using an exogenous source of phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol liposomes containing apolipoprotein A-I as substrate was 85, 170, 315, and 402 pmol cholesterol esterified/h per ml culture medium (or 414, 828, 1534 and 1957 pmol cholesterol esterified/h per mg cell protein) for 6, 12, 24, and 48 h of culture, respectively. The endogenous cholesterol esterification rate of the culture medium was 47, 104, 224 and 330 pmol/h per ml and apolipoprotein A-I mass was 305, 720, 2400 and 3940 ng/ml culture medium over the same time frame. In contrast to culture medium, low levels of enzyme activity (approximately 10% of that in culture medium at 24 and 48 h) were observed in the extracts of HepG2 cells. The enzyme secreted by HepG2 was found to be similarly activated by apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein E, or apolipoprotein A-IV, and was similarly inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, dithiobisnitrobenzoate, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, or iodoacetate as compared to human plasma enzyme. High-performance gel filtration of the culture medium revealed that the HepG2-secreted enzyme was associated with a fraction having a mean apparent molecular weight of approximately 200,000. We concluded that human hepatoma HepG2 cells synthesize and secrete lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase, which is functionally homologous to the human plasma enzyme.     

Iron regulation of transferrin synthesis in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2

In human beings, serum transferrin levels increase during iron deficiency and decrease with iron overload. Yet, whether or not iron levels actually affect the synthesis of transferrin in human liver cells is not known. In previous studies, iron was shown to suppress the expression of chimeric human transferrin genes in livers of transgenic mice. The goal of this study was to determine if iron suppresses intact endogenous human transferrin synthesis by testing the effects of changes in iron levels on synthesis of transferrin in a human hepatoma cell line HepG2. In HepG2 cells, normalized(35)S-metabolically labeled transferrin synthesis was consistently less following iron treatment with hemin or ferric citrate, than following treatment with an iron-chelator deferroxamine. Thus, this study provides new evidence that iron can regulate synthesis of intact endogenous human transferrin.     

Acute cytotoxicities of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons determined in vitro with the human liver tumor cell line,HepG2

The neutral red in vitro cytotoxicity assay was adapted for use with the human hepatocellular tumor cell line HepG2 to detect the cytotoxic potencies of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Using benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) as the representative PAH, it was determined that a 3-day exposure was the most suitable for detecting cytotoxic potency and that preexposure to S g/ ml Arochlor enhanced the sensitivity of the HepG2 cells to the toxicant. Such enhanced sensitivity probably reflected increased metabolic conversion of the B[a]P to active metabolites after culturing the cells in the presence of Arochlor. This was shown by a 3-fold increase in the activity of 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase, an indicator of mixed-function oxygenase activity. Furthermore, a reduction in sensitivity to B[a]P occurred when the cells were cultured in the presence of -napthoflavone, an inhibitor of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity. When Arochlor-induced cells were transferred to medium lacking Arochlor, the level of 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase quickly declined to basal levels. Arochlor-induced cells were also able to detect the cytotoxic potencies of benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[b]-fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene pyrene, phenanthrene, and fluoranthene, whereas fluorene, anthracene, acenaphthene, and acenaphthylene were not cytotoxic.Abbreviations AHH aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase - 7-EDase 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase - 3-MC 3-methylcholanthrene - MFO mixed function oxidase - NR neutral red - PAH polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon     

Effects of estrogen on apolipoprotein secretion by the human hepatocarcinoma cell line, HepG2

We have examined the effect of estrogen on the rate of accumulation of apolipoproteins secreted by the human hepatocarcinoma cell line, HepG2. Prior to exposure to hormone, we detected less than 300 high-affinity, nuclear, estrogen-binding sites/cell. Within 48 h of growth in the presence of 20 nM 17 beta-estradiol this number rose to 3000-3500 sites/cell. Rates of accumulation of two of the major apolipoproteins, apo-C-II and apo-A-I increased 2.5- and 2.0-fold, respectively, in response to estrogen treatment. Other major apolipoproteins were not affected at this concentration of hormone. Induction of both proteins was completely antagonized by 20 nM testosterone. The density distribution of apolipoproteins secreted by the hepatocytes was similar to that reported using perfused liver systems. The consequences of estrogen treatment were to increase the apo-C-II/apo-C-III ratio in very low density lipoproteins as well as to decrease the overall very low density lipoprotein:high density lipoprotein ratio.     

Proteome responses to stable hepatitis B virus transfection and following interferon alpha treatment in human liver cell line HepG2

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a worldwide health problem and may develop to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. To investigate the global proteome responses of liver‐derived cells to HBV infection and IFNα treatment, 2‐DE and MS‐based analysis were performed to compare the proteome changes between HBV stably transfected cell line HepG2.2.15 and its parental cell line HepG2, as well as HepG2.2.15 before and after IFNα treatment (5000 IU/mL for 72 h). Compared to HepG2, 12 of 18 down‐regulated and 27 of 32 up‐regulated proteins were identified in HepG2.2.15. After IFNα treatment, 6 of 7 down‐regulated and 11 of 14 up‐regulated proteins were identified. Differentially expressed proteins caused by HBV infection were involved with cytoskeletal matrix, heat shock stress, kinases/signal transduction, protease/proteasome components, etc. Prohibitin showed a dose‐dependent up‐regulation during IFNα treatment and might play a potent role in anti‐HBV activities of IFNα by enhancing the crossbinding p53 expression to achieve the apoptosis of HBV infected liver cells. Down‐regulation of interferon‐stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) in HepG2.2.15 and recovery by IFNα suggested its relationship with IFNα's anti‐HBV effect.     

Investigation of differentially expressed proteins due to the inhibitory effects of berberine in human liver cancer cell line HepG2

The investigation of differentially expressed proteins was used together with other techniques to study the inhibitory effects of two different doses of berberine in human liver cancer cell line HepG2. For HepG2 cells treated with 24.0 mg l(-1) of berberine, an increase in the sub G(0) phase that was indicative of cell death was observed in cell cycle analysis with flow cytometry. However, no significant increase in sub G(0) was observed in HepG2 cells treated with 4.0 mg l(-1) of berberine. Using flow cytometric analysis, significant activation of caspase 3 was not observed with HepG2 cells treated with 4.0 and 24.0 mg l(-1) of berberine. In this work, labeling of cells with stable isotope was not used in the proposed method developed. The whole cell lysates from the control and treated cells were digested with trypsin and the peptides were separated by two-dimensional (cation exchange and reversed phase) liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Our preliminary data showed that the proposed platform provided a rapid approach to study the molecular mechanism due to the inhibitory effects of different doses of the berberine on HepG2 cell lines. This included a network of proteins involved in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorelay systems, metabolism, regulation of cell cycle and DNA damage response. The differentially expressed proteins identified using the current approach were consistent with the data obtained from cell cycle analysis with flow cytometry.     

Environmental magnetic fields inhibit the antiproliferative action of tamoxifen and melatonin in a human breast cancer cell line

We have previously reported that environmental-level magnetic fields (1.2 μT [12 milligauss], 60 Hz) block the growth inhibition of the hormone melatonin (10⁻⁹ M) on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in vitro. We now report that the same 1.2 μT, 60 Hz magnetic fields significantly block the growth inhibitory action of pharmacological levels of tamoxifen (10⁻⁷ M). In biophysical studies we have taken advantage of Faraday's Law of Current Induction and tested whether the 1.2 μT magnetic field or the associated induced electric field is responsible for this field effect on melatonin and tamoxifen. We observe that the magnetic field component is associated with the field blocking effect on melatonin and tamoxifen function. To our knowledge the tamoxifen studies represent the first experimental evidence for an environmental-level magnetic field modification of drug interaction with human breast cancer cells. Together, these findings provide support to the theory that environmental-level magnetic fields can act to modify the action of a drug or hormone on regulation of cell proliferation. Melatonin and tamoxifen may act through different biological pathways to down-regulate cell growth, and further studies are required to identify a specific biological site of interaction for the 1.2 μT magnetic field. Bioelectromagnetics 18:555–562, 1997. Published 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

1 This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

     

Panaxydol inhibits the proliferation and induces the differentiation of human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2

Panaxydol, a polyacetylene compound isolated from Panax ginseng, exerts anti-proliferative effects against malignant cells. No previous study, however, has been reported on its effects on hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Here, we investigated the effects of panaxydol on the proliferation and differentiation of human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2. We studied by electronic microscopy of morphological and ultrastructural changes induced by panaxydol. We also examined the cytotoxicities of panaxydol against HepG2 cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay and the effect of panaxydol on cell cycle distributions by flow cytometry. We investigated the production of liver proteins in panaxydol-treated cells including alpha-fetoprotein and albumin and measured the specific activity of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase. We further investigated the effects of panaxydol on the expression of Id-1, Id-2, p21 and pRb by RT-PCR or immunoblotting analysis. We found that panaxydol inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells and caused morphological and ultrastructural changes in HepG2 cells resembling more mature forms of hepatocytes. Moreover, panaxydol induced a cell cycle arrest at the G₁ to S transition in HepG2 cells. It also significantly decreased the secretion of alpha-fetoprotein and the activity of gamma-glutamyl transferase. By contrast, panaxydol remarkably increased the secretion of albumin and the alkaline phosphatase activity. Furthermore, panaxydol increased the mRNA content of p21 while reducing that of Id-1 and Id-2. Panaxydol also increased the protein levels of p21, pRb and the hypophosphorylated pRb in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that panaxydol is of value for further exploration as a potential anti-cancer agent.     

Production and secretion of retinol-binding protein by a human hepatoma cell line, HepG2

Retinol-binding protein (RBP) that is synthesized and secreted by the human hepatoma cell HepG2 has been measured using a sensitive radioimmunoassay in which RBP in media and hepatoma cell sonicates reacts identically to human serum RBP. RBP was synthesized and secreted when cells were grown in retinol-depleted as well as retinol-containing media. However, immunoreactive transthyretin (prealbumin) could not be detected in concentrated HepG2 medium. RBP secretion and accumulation per mg of cell protein could be modulated by the concentration of fetal calf serum in the growth medium: secreted RBP equaled 782 +/- 123 ng/mg of cell protein per 8 hr after preincubation with 10% fetal calf serum versus 555 +/- 86 ng/mg per 8 hr in the absence of serum, whereas RBP in cell sonicates decreased only slightly. When HepG2 cells were cultured for two or more passages in medium containing fetal calf serum depleted of retinol by ultraviolet irradiation, the amounts of RBP in the cells and released to the medium were both significantly increased. When vitamin A (90% as retinyl esters) in the form of chylomicron remnants was presented to cells, there was a significant, dose-dependent redistribution of RBP from cells to medium, both in cells grown in normal fetal calf serum and in retinol-depleted serum. These data indicate that the secretion of RBP by HepG2 can occur constitutively in the absence of retinol, but that secretion can be enhanced and regulated by retinol delivered by the chylomicron remnant.