山梨酸钾和D-异抗坏血酸钠联合作用HepG2细胞的生物学效应分析北大核心CSCD

该文研究食品添加剂联合作用人肝癌HepG2细胞后的多参数生物学指标,并探索可能存在的损伤机制。CCK-8法检测受试物山梨酸钾及D-异抗坏血酸钠0.13~2.00 g/L分别作用HepG2细胞24、48及72 h后的细胞增殖活力,显示山梨酸钾及D-异抗坏血酸钠均呈显著的时间、剂量依赖性的抑制HepG2细胞增殖,其24 h的IC50分别为1.35±0.11 g/L和1.58±0.17 g/L。高内涵分析结果表明,与单独组相比,联合组显著降低细胞数量和线粒体膜电位,增大细胞膜通透性及活性氧水平（P〈0.05）;高剂量联合组（0.30＋0.41 g/L）显著增加DNA损伤（P〈0.01）,表现为协同作用。qRT-PCR和Western印迹法显示,山梨酸钾及D-异抗坏血酸钠可显著提高P53、Caspase-3、Bax、γ-H2AX表达,同时显著降低Bcl-2表达,从而抑制HepG2细胞增殖。     

姜黄素联合索拉菲尼对肝癌细胞系HepG-2细胞增殖及自噬的影响

目的:研究姜黄素联合索拉菲尼对肝癌细胞系HepG-2细胞增殖及自噬的影响。方法:体外培养肝癌细胞系HepG-2细胞,用不同浓度姜黄素(0、10、20、30、40、50 mmol/L)、不同浓度索拉菲尼(0、5、10、15、20μmol/L)及两药联合处理肝癌细胞系HepG-2细胞24 h后,用CCK8实验检测细胞存活率。用姜黄素30 mmol/L、索拉菲尼10μmol/L及两药联合处理肝癌细胞系HepG-2细胞24 h后,用荧光定量PCR检测自噬相关信号通路关键蛋白AKT、mTOR及自噬相关蛋白LC3-Ⅱ的mRNA表达情况。结果:姜黄素、索拉菲尼及两药联合对HepG-2细胞均有增殖抑制作用,且呈浓度依赖性。与姜黄素或索拉菲尼单药组相比,姜黄素联合索拉菲尼组能显著抑制肝癌细胞系HepG-2细胞的增殖(P0.001);能显著抑制AKT、mTOR的mRNA表达而增加自噬相关蛋白LC3-Ⅱ的mRNA的表达(P0.001)。结论:姜黄素联合索拉菲尼组抑制肝癌细胞系HepG-2细胞增殖作用较单药组明显增强,两药联合协同诱导肝癌细胞系HepG2细胞产生自噬,其作用机制可能与抑制PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路有关。     

布洛芬对肝癌细胞HepG2增殖及wnt／β-catenin信号通路的影响

研究非甾类抗炎药布洛芬对肝癌细胞增殖和β-catenin信号通路的影响,探讨布洛芬影响肝癌细胞增殖的可能机制.体外培养HepG2细胞,MTT法检测不同浓度布洛芬分别作用24、48和96 h后细胞增殖情况;应用RT-PCR检测布洛芬处理HepG2 48 h后β-catenin、cyclin D1和c-myc转录水平的变化;western blotting检测布洛芬对HepG2中β-catenin1蛋白表达量的影响;免疫细胞化学法观察布洛芬处理组HepG2细胞β-catenin的亚细胞定位.结果表明0.7mmol/L的布洛芬处理细胞48 h后能明显见到细胞增殖受到抑制,抑制率达到53.8%,且抑制作用有时间、剂量依赖性:经布洛芬处理后细胞的β-catenin、cychn D1和c-myc转录也受到显著抑制;布洛芬处理组细胞β-catenin蛋白表达低于对照组;布洛芬处理后β-catenin在胞核中定位减少,胞浆定位增多.因此,布洛芬能抑制肝癌细胞的增殖,且随着处理时间和药物浓度的增加,其抑制作用逐渐增强,其抑制作用可能与调控β-catenin信号通路,影响β-catenin的表达和定位,调节下游相关靶基因的转录有关.     

半边旗二萜类成分PAG通过ROS诱导肝癌细胞凋亡的作用研究

探讨半边旗二萜类成分Pteisolic acid G(PAG)对人肝癌细胞HepG2增殖和凋亡的影响及作用机制。用不同浓度的PAG处理HepG2细胞后,采用MTT法检测细胞存活率;采用PI单染法检测细胞周期分布;采用Annexin V-FITC/PI双染法检测细胞凋亡率;采用RT-PCR和Western Blotting检测细胞内mRNA和蛋白表达情况;采用DCFH-DA法检测细胞内ROS水平,采用ROS抑制剂乙酰半胱氨酸(NAC)评价PAG细胞增殖抑制作用对ROS的依赖性。结果表明,在24 h、48 h和72 h时,PAG可剂量依赖性地抑制HepG2细胞的增殖(p0.05),IC_(50)分别为64.8μmol/L,38.5μmol/L和24.8μmol/L;用药24 h时PAG可剂量依赖性地使HepG2细胞阻滞在G_2/M期,同时增加HepG2细胞凋亡率(p0.05);PAG可剂量依赖性地降低HepG2细胞内Bcl-2 mRNA和caspase 3、PARP、Bcl-2蛋白的表达(p0.05),增加Bax mRNA和actived-caspase 3、cleaved-PARP、Bax蛋白的表达(p0.05)。当使用1 mmol/L的ROS抑制剂NAC预处理HepG2细胞时,PAG对HepG2细胞增殖抑制作用被显著阻断。上述结果表明,半边旗二萜类成分PAG可提高Bax/Bcl-2的基因和蛋白表达比值,从而诱导肝癌细胞HepG2凋亡,该作用可能是通过升高细胞内ROS水平来实现的。     

调节TGF-β1/Smad信号通路对内质网应激状态下肝癌HepG2细胞凋亡的影响

目的: 探讨TGF-β1/Smad信号通路对内质网应激(ERS)状态下肝癌HepG2细胞凋亡的影响机制。方法: 首先建立内质网应激模型:以3 μmol/L的衣霉素(TM)处理人肝癌HepG2细胞株24 h,诱导细胞发生ERS。实验分为6组,每组3个复孔,实验重复3次,6组分别为:Untreated组(未处理组)、TM组(3 μmol/L TM处理组)、TM+NC组(3 μmol/L TM+si-TGF-β1阴性对照组)、TM+si-TGF-β1组(3 μmol/L TM+si-TGF-β1组)、TM+pEX-3组(3 μmol/L TM+质粒对照组)及TM+TGF-β1 pEX-3组(3 μmol/L TM+TGF-β1过表达质粒组),利用脂质体的方法将TGF-β1小干扰RNA(si-TGF-β1)及TGF-β1过表达质粒(TGF-β1 pEX-3)转染入HepG2细胞,转染24 h后,利用RT-qPCR和Western blot检测各组HepG2细胞TGF-β1/Smad信号通路相关因子TGF-β1、p-Smad2表达的情况;CCK-8和流式细胞术分别检测各组HepG2细胞增殖抑制率和凋亡率变化情况。结果: 与Untreated组相比,TM组细胞的TGF-β1及p-Smad2的表达明显降低(P＜0.05);与TM组相比,TM+si-TGF-β1组细胞的TGF-β1及p-Smad2的表达和细胞的增殖抑制率、凋亡率显著降低(P＜0.01),而TM+TGF-β1 pEX-3组细胞的TGF-β1及p-Smad2的表达和细胞增殖抑制率、凋亡率显著升高(P＜0.01)。结论: TGF-β1/Smad信号通路在肝癌HepG2细胞发生ERS后受到抑制,当该通路被激活后,ERS状态下肝癌HepG2细胞的凋亡率显著升高。     

滇重楼茎叶总皂苷抗肝癌HepG2细胞活性

探究滇重楼茎叶总皂苷对肝癌HepG2细胞增殖的抑制、细胞周期阻滞及诱导细胞凋亡作用。从滇重楼地上茎叶提取总皂苷,配制成浓度为10μg/m L、20μg/m L、40μg/m L、80μg/m L和160μg/m L的总皂苷提取物处理HepG2细胞。总皂苷提取物对细胞增殖的抑制作用采用MTT法检测;对细胞周期阻滞作用采用流式细胞术检测;诱导细胞凋亡的作用采用细胞核荧光染色、流式细胞术和caspase-3活性试剂盒检测。结果表明,滇重楼茎叶总皂苷提取物能显著抑制细胞增殖,且具有时间、剂量依赖效应,能阻滞细胞周期于S期,并能诱导细胞凋亡。但其诱导凋亡作用仅高剂量组(≥80μg/m L)效果显著,低剂量组(80μg/m L)不显著。     

单宁酸联合顺铂增强肝癌HepG2细胞IRE1-XBP1通路的激活水平

本文主要研究单宁酸(TA)联合顺铂(CDDP)对肝癌HepG2细胞内质网应激IRE1-XBP1通路的影响。用180μM单宁酸、0.9μg/m L顺铂单独用药或者联合用药处理肝癌HepG2细胞24 h或48 h后,应用流式细胞技术测定HepG2细胞的凋亡率,实时荧光定量PCR技术(q-RT-PCR)、蛋白免疫印迹(western blot)技术检测IRE1α和XBP-1分子的表达水平。MTT结果显示,单宁酸和顺铂均能显著抑制HepG2细胞的生长,且均呈剂量性依赖;二者联合用药能够显著增加HepG2细胞的生长抑制率;流式细胞术结果显示,单宁酸与顺铂联合用药能够显著抑制HepG2细胞的增殖,并诱导细胞凋亡的发生;q-RT-PCR及Western blot结果显示,单宁酸与顺铂联合用药能显著上调细胞IRE1α和XBP-1的表达水平。结果表明单宁酸能够联合顺铂增强肝癌HepG2细胞内质网应激IRE1-XBP1通路的激活水平,提示IRE1-XBP1通路可能是单宁酸和顺铂协同抗肝癌HepG2细胞的分子机制之一。     

JKA97诱导HepG2凋亡及其分子机制研究

目的:研究药物JKA97对人肝癌细胞HepG2增殖的抑制作用及其分子机制.方法:采用MTT法观察药物JKA97对细胞增殖的影响;倒置显微镜观察细胞形态变化;流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡;Western blot方法检测线粒体融合蛋白mfn2表达水平变化.结果:药物JKA97抑制人肝癌细胞HepG2细胞增殖,5、10、20 μmol/L作用组24 h抑制率分别为34.26%、43.08%、54.02%;药物JKA97诱导人肝癌细胞HepG2凋亡,10、20 μmol/L JKA97作用HepG2细胞24h,细胞凋亡率分别为22.9%、72.9%;线粒体融合蛋白mfn2表达水平显著降低.结论:药物JKA97对人肝癌细胞HepG2生长具有明显的增殖抑制作用,诱导细胞凋亡;线粒体融合蛋白mfn2表达水平降低可能是其重要的分子机制之一.     

结合肽P201与5-氟尿嘧啶联合用药对肝癌HepG2细胞的协同杀伤作用及抗耐药分子机制

目的:采用多种方法探究FoxM1/mdr1信号调控的结合肽P201与5-氟尿嘧啶(5FU)联合用药对肝癌细胞HepG2的协同杀伤作用及抗耐药分子机制。方法:CCK-8法测定联合用药对HepG2细胞的抑制杀伤作用;吖啶橙/溴化乙锭(AO-EB)荧光双染、AnnexinⅤ-FITC/PI流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡;细胞划痕和Transwell细胞迁移实验检测HepG2细胞迁移能力;最后通过qRT-PCR和Western印迹检测HepG2细胞中FoxM1、mdr1和ABCG2等耐药相关基因在mRNA水平和蛋白水平的表达量。结果:联合用药[P201(45.0μg/mL)+5FU(100.0μg/mL)]作用48h抑制率达83.8%,作用24h的抑制率为77.8%,显著高于单独用药(P<0.001);流式细胞术检测联合用药细胞凋亡率达43.4%,而单独用药分别为19.4%、25.1%;联合用药在mRNA水平可显著下调HepG2细胞中的FoxM1、mdr1耐药基因,与蛋白水平结果一致;联合用药可显著抑制HepG2细胞的迁移。结论:联合用药对HepG2细胞有强的抑制杀伤作用,在促进细胞凋亡的同时可显著抑制HepG2细胞迁移,且通过下调FoxM1、mdr1和ABCG2等耐药基因和蛋白的表达,增加HepG2细胞对5FU的敏感性。提示P201可提升肿瘤细胞对化疗药物的敏感性,减少抗癌药物的副作用。     

索拉菲尼联合阿霉素对人肝癌细胞株HepG2的抑制作用

目的：探讨索拉非尼（Sorafenib）和阿霉素（adriamycin）联合用药对肝癌细胞株nepG2的作用及可能的机制。方法：以不同浓度索拉非尼和不同浓度阿霉素分别组成单药组和索拉非尼＋阿霉素联合用药组作用于HepG2细胞,MTT法检测增殖抑制率、流式细胞仪分析细胞周期和凋亡率。结果：索拉非尼、阿霉素单药与联用均能抑制HepG2细胞增殖,呈剂量依赖效应,两药联用有协同效应（P〈0.01）。索拉非尼、阿霉素单药与联用均能诱导HepG2细胞凋亡,并以联合组更为明显,与对照组比较有显著的统计学意义（P〈0.01）。索拉非尼及阿霉素单药作用均可使细胞周期阻滞于G0-G1期,联合用药组G0/Gl期细胞比率低于索拉非尼及阿霉素单药组,S期细胞比率高于单药组;阿霉素能抑制HepG2细胞Survivin mRNA表达诱导细胞的凋亡。结论：索拉非尼与阿霉素联合作用于人肝癌HepG2细胞具有协同作用,其机制可能是通过多途径共同抑制HepG2细胞增殖及诱导细胞凋亡。     

Serum deprivation-induced HepG2 cell death is potentiated by CYP2E1

Induction of oxidative stress plays a key role in serum deprivation-induced apoptosis. CYP2E1 plays an important role in toxicity of many chemicals and ethanol and produces oxidant stress. We investigated whether CYP2E1 expression can sensitize HepG2 cells to toxicity as a consequence of serum deprivation. The models used were HepG2 E47 cells that express human CYP2E1, and C34 HepG2 cells which do not express CYP2E1. E47 cells showed greater growth inhibition and enhanced cell death after serum deprivation, as compared to the C34 cells. DNA ladder and flow cytometry assays indicated that apoptosis occurred at earlier times after serum deprivation in E47 than C34 cells. Serum withdrawal-induced E47 cell death could be rescued by antioxidants, the mitochondrial permeability transition inhibitor cyclosporine A, z-DEVD-fmk, and a CYP2E1 inhibitor 4-methylpyrazole. Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation occurred in E47 cells after serum deprivation, and there was a corresponding decline in the E47 cell mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. We propose that the mechanism of this serum withdrawal plus CYP2E1 toxicity involves increased production of intracellular ROS, lipid peroxidation, and decline of GSH levels, which results in mitochondrial membrane damage and loss of membrane potential, followed by apoptosis. Potentiation of serum deprivation-induced cell death by CYP2E1 may contribute to the sensitivity of the liver to alcohol-induced ischemia and growth factor deprivation.     

Overexpression of CYP2E1 in mitochondria sensitizes HepG2 cells to the toxicity caused by depletion of glutathione

Induction of CYP2E1 by ethanol is one mechanism by which ethanol causes oxidative stress and alcohol liver disease. Although CYP2E1 is predominantly found in the endoplasmic reticulum, it is also located in rat hepatic mitochondria. In the current study, chronic alcohol consumption induced rat hepatic mitochondrial CYP2E1. To study the role of mitochondrial targeted CYP2E1 in generating oxidative stress and causing damage to mitochondria, HepG2 lines overexpressing CYP2E1 in mitochondria (mE10 and mE27 cells) were established by transfecting a plasmid containing human CYP2E1 cDNA lacking the hydrophobic endoplasmic reticulum targeting signal sequence into HepG2 cells followed by G418 selection. A 40-kDa catalytically active NH2-terminally truncated form of CYP2E1 (mtCYP2E1) was detected in the mitochondrial compartment in these cells by Western blot analysis. Cell death caused by depletion of GSH by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) was increased in mE10 and mE27 cells as compared with cells transfected with empty vector (pCI-neo). Antioxidants were able to abolish the loss of cell viability. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial 3-nitrotyrosine and 4-hydroxynonenal protein adducts and decreased mitochondrial aconitase activity and mitochondrial membrane potential were observed in mE10 and mE27 cells treated with BSO. The mitochondrial membrane stabilizer, cyclosporine A, was also able to protect these cells from BSO toxicity. These results revealed that CYP2E1 in the mitochondrial compartment could induce oxidative stress in the mitochondria, damage mitochondria membrane potential, and cause a loss of cell viability. The accumulation of CYP2E1 in hepatic mitochondria induced by ethanol consumption might play an important role in alcohol liver disease.     

Possible involvement of oxidative stress in potassium bromate-induced genotoxicity in human HepG2 cells

Potassium bromate (KBrO₃, PB) is a by-product of ozone used as disinfectant in drinking water. And PB is also a widely used food additive. However, there is little known about its adverse effects, in particular those related to its genotoxicity in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the genotoxic effects of PB and the underlying mechanisms, using human hepatoma cell line, HepG2. Exposure of the cells to PB caused a significant increase of DNA migration in single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay and micronuclei (MN) frequencies in micronucleus test (MNT) at all tested concentrations (1.56–12.5 mM and 0.12–1 mM), which suggested that PB-mediated DNA strand breaks and chromosome damage. To indicate the role of antioxidant in those effects, DNA migration was monitored by pre-treatment with hydroxytyrosol (HT) as an antioxidant in SCGE assay. It was found that DNA migration with pre-treatment of HT was dramatically decreased. To elucidate the genotoxicity mechanisms, the study monitored the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). PB was shown to induce ROS production (12.5 mM), GSH depletion (1.56–12.5 mM) and 8-OHdG formation (6.25–12.5 mM) in HepG2 cells. Moreover, lysosomal membrane stability and mitochondrial membrane potential were further studied for the mechanisms of PB-induced genotoxicity. A significant increase was found in the range of 6.25–12.5 mM in lysosomal membrane stability assay. However, under these PB concentrations, we were not able to detect the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential. These results suggest that PB exerts oxidative stress and genotoxic effects in HepG2 cells, possibly through the mechanisms of lysosomal damage, an earlier event preceding the oxidative DNA damage.     

Oxygen consumption and expression of the adenine nucleotide translocator in cells lacking mitochondrial DNA

It has been shown previously that human rho degrees cells, deprived of mitochondrial DNA and consequently of functional oxidative phosphorylation, maintain a mitochondrial membrane potential, which is necessary for their growth. The goal of our study was to determine the precise origin of this membrane potential in three rho degrees cell lines originating from the human HepG2, 143B, and HeLa S3 cell lines. Residual cyanide-sensitive oxygen consumption suggests the persistence of residual mitochondrial respiratory chain activity, about 8% of that of the corresponding parental cells. The fluorescence emitted by the three rho degrees cell lines in the presence of a mitochondrial specific fluorochrome was partially reduced by a protonophore, suggesting the existence of a proton gradient. The mitochondrial membrane potential is maintained both by a residual proton gradient (up to 45 to 50% of the potential) and by other ion movements such as the glycolytic ATP(4-) to mitochondrial ADP(3-) exchange. The ANT2 gene, encoding isoform 2 of the adenine nucleotide translocator, is overexpressed in rho degrees HepG2 and 143B cells strongly dependent on glycolytic ATP synthesis, as compared to the corresponding parental cells, which present a more oxidative metabolism. In rho degrees HeLa S3 cells, originating from the HeLa S3 cell line, which already displays a glycolytic energy status, ANT2 gene expression was not higher as in parental cells. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption and ANT2 gene overexpression vary in opposite ways and this suggests that these two parameters have complementary roles in the maintenance of the mitochondrial membrane potential in rho degrees cells.     

银杏叶提取物对过氧化氢诱导的星形胶质细胞氧化损伤的保护作用

目的 研究银杏叶提取物（EGb761）对H2O2所致星形胶质细胞氧化损伤的保护作用。方法 用不同浓度的EGb761预处理细胞,再加入H2O2,通过噻唑蓝（MTT）实验、线粒体跨膜电位（△ψm）及细胞色素C释放实验、DNA损伤实验及半胱氨酰天冬氨酸特异性蛋白酶-3（Caspase-3）活性测定,观察EGb761对细胞存活率、线粒体膜通透性、DNA氧化损伤及Caspase-3活性的影响。结果 EGb761能明显降低Hz02对星形胶质细胞的氧化损伤,提高细胞的存活率;维持线粒体膜的完整性,抑制跨膜电位的耗散和细胞色素C的释放;抑制Caspase-3的活化和DNA的降解。结论 EGb761具有清除活性氧,减轻H2O2所致星形胶质细胞的氧化损伤,对星形胶质细胞有保护作用。     

Anticancer effect of tert-butyl-2(4,5-dihydrogen-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-3-O-1H-imidazole-3-cationic-1-oxyl-2)-pyrrolidine-1-carboxylic ester on human hepatoma HepG2 cell line

Tert-butyl-2(4,5-dihydrogen-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-3-O-1H-imidazole-3-cationic-1-oxyl-2)-pyrrolidine-1-carboxylic ester (L-NNP) is a stable nitroxyl nitroxide radical, which have displayed cytotoxicity on human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. In the present study, we investigated the selective cytotoxicity of L-NNP on isogenetic human hepatoma HepG2 and normal L-02 cell lines. Cell growth inhibition, intracellular reactive oxygen species production, the mitochondrial membrane potential loss, malondialdehyde generation and glutathione levels were analyzed. The expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and NF-κBp65 proteins was also examined. The anticancer activity was evaluated in a HepG2 cell xenograft nude mice model. The results showed that 10, 20, 40 μg/ml L-NNP exposure for 48 h caused 52%, 82% and 91% cell growth inhibition of HepG2 cells, compared with 5%, 10% and 15% that of L-02 cells (p < 0.01). Concentrations of 10, 20, 40 μg/ml L-NNP induced cell death by increasing the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and MDA, by depolarizing the mitochondrial membrane potential, and by decreasing intracellular GSH levels in HepG2 cells. Western blot assay showed that Bax, Bcl-2 and NF-κBp65 might be implicated in L-NNP-induced selective HepG2 cell death. L-NNP was also found to inhibit HepG2 hepatoma growth and extend the life span of nude mice model (p < 0.01). The pretreatment and co-treatment of 10 mM N-acetyl-cysteine alleviated L-NNP exposure induced intracellular reactive oxygen species increase and cell growth inhibition demonstrated that L-NNP exhibited neoplasm-selective cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic activities via reactive oxygen species mediated oxidative damage in HepG2 cells. It might be promising for developing a new class of anticancer agent for liver cancer.     

Differential Involvement of Mitochondrial Permeability Transition in Cytotoxicity of 1-Methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium and 6-Hydroxydopamine

Defects in mitochondrial function have been shown to participate in the induction of neuronal cell injury. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition inhibition against the toxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺) and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in relation to the mitochondria-mediated cell death process and role of oxidative stress. Both MPP⁺ and 6-OHDA induced the nuclear damage, the changes in the mitochondrial membrane permeability, leading to the cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation, the formation of reactive oxygen species and the depletion of GSH in differentiated PC12 cells. Cyclosporin A (CsA), trifluoperazine and aristolochic acid, inhibitors of mitochondrial permeability transition, significantly attenuated the MPP⁺-induced mitochondrial damage leading to caspase-3 activation, increased oxidative stress and cell death. In contrast to MPP⁺, the cytotoxicity of 6-OHDA was not reduced by the addition of the mitochondrial permeability transition inhibitors. The results show that the cytotoxicity of MPP⁺ may be mediated by the mitochondrial permeability transition formation, which is associated with formation of reactive oxygen species and the depletion of GSH. In contrast, the 6-OHDA-induced cell injury appears to be mediated by increased oxidative stress without intervention of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition.     

Molecular and cellular remodeling of HepG2 cells upon treatment with antitubercular drugs

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an adverse outcome of the currently used tuberculosis treatment regimen, which results in patient noncompliance, poor treatment outcomes, and the emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis. DILI is primarily caused by the toxicity of the drugs and their metabolites, which affect liver cells, biliary epithelial cells, and liver vasculature. However, the precise mechanism behind the cellular damage attributable to first-line antitubercular drugs (ATDs), as well as the effect of toxicity on the cell survival strategies, is yet to be elucidated. In the current study, HepG2 cells upon treatment with a high concentration of ATDs showed increased perforation within the cell, cuboidal shape, and membrane blebbing as compared with control/untreated cells. It was observed that ATD-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells leads to altered mitochondrial membrane permeability, which was depicted by the decreased fluorescence intensity of the MitoRed tracker dye at higher drug concentrations. In addition, high doses of ATDs caused cell damage through an increase in reactive oxygen species production in HepG2 cells and a simultaneous reduction in glutathione levels. Further, high dose of isoniazid (50–200 mM), pyrazinamide (50–200 mM), and rifampicin (20–100 µM) causes cell apoptosis and affects cell survival during toxic conditions by decreasing the expression of potent autophagy markers Atg5, Atg7, and LC3B. Thus, ATD-mediated toxicity contributes to the reduced ability of hepatocytes to tolerate cellular damage caused by altered mitochondrial membrane permeability, increased apoptosis, and decreased autophagy. These findings further emphasize the need to develop adjuvant therapies that can mitigate ATD-induced toxicity for the effective treatment of tuberculosis.     

Role of Calcium Independent Phospholipase A<Subscript>2</Subscript> in Maintaining Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Preventing Excessive Exocytosis in PC12 Cells

This study was carried out to elucidate the effects of calcium independent phospholipase A₂ (iPLA₂) on mitochondrial function and exocytosis in neuroendocrine cells. iPLA₂ mRNA and protein were detected in cell lysates and mitochondria from PC12 cells. Treatment of cells with the iPLA₂ inhibitor, bromoenol lactone (BEL), resulted in reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential. Increase in membrane capacitance and number of spikes at amperometry, indicating exocytosis, were detected from PC12 cells after treatment with BEL. The induced exocytosis was abolished by pre-incubation of cells with the antioxidant, glutathione monoethyl ester, spin-trap/free radical scavenger, PBN, or inhibitors of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, cyclosporine A and bongkrekic acid. These findings indicate that inhibition of iPLA₂ results in excessive exocytosis through increased oxidative damage (or failure to repair such damage) and defects in mitochondrial function. A similar process may occur in neurons with mutations in iPLA₂, leading to neuronal injury.