The differentiation of hepatocyte-like cells from monkey embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem cells (ESC) hold great potential for the treatment of liver diseases. Here, we report the differentiation of rhesus macaque ESC along a hepatocyte lineage. The undifferentiated monkey ESC line, ORMES-6, was cultured in an optimal culture condition in an effort to differentiate them into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro. The functional efficacy of the differentiated hepatic cells was evaluated using RT-PCR for the expression of hepatocyte specific genes, and Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry for hepatic proteins such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), albumin and alpha1-antitrypsin (alpha1-AT). Functional assays were performed using the periodic acid schiff (PAS) reaction and ELISA. The final yield of ESC-derived hepatocyte-like cells was measured by flow cytometry for cells that were transduced with a liver-specific lentivirus vector containing the alpha1-AT promoter driving the expression of green fluorescence protein (GFP). The treatment of monkey ESC with an optimal culture condition yielded hepatocyte-like cells that expressed albumin, alpha1-AT, AFP, hepatocyte nuclear factor 3beta, glucose-6-phophatase, and cytochrome P450 genes and proteins as determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Immunofluorescent staining showed the cells positive for albumin, AFP, and alpha1-AT. PAS staining demonstrated that the differentiated cells showed hepatocyte functional activity. Albumin could be detected in the medium after 20 days of differentiation. Flow cytometry data showed that 6.5 +/- 1.0% of the total differentiated cells were positive for GFP. These results suggest that by using a specific, empirically determined, culture condition, we were able to direct monkey ESC toward a hepatocyte lineage.     

Long term production of acute-phase proteins by adult rat hepatocytes co-cultured with another liver cell type in serum-free medium

Three acute-phase proteins, haptoglobin, alpha 2-macroglobulin and hemopexin, as well as albumin, have been measured daily in the hydrocortisone-supplemented serum-free medium of pure and mixed cultures of adult rat hepatocytes for 5 and 20 days respectively. Whereas plasma protein production rapidly declined in pure culture, it remained relatively stable when hepatocytes were co-cultured with rat liver epithelial cells. In the latter cultures, an early stimulation of albumin and alpha 2-macroglobulin secretion was observed. In addition, four other plasma proteins, fibrinogen, alpha 1-acute-phase protein, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and alpha 1-antitrypsin were shown by immunodiffusion to still be produced by day 20 of co-culture. These results suggest that hepatocyte co-cultures represent a suitable model for studying the mechanism which controls synthesis of plasma proteins, including acute-phase proteins by liver cells.     

Effect of interleukin 1 (IL-1) on the levels of cytochrome P-450 involving IL-1 receptor on the isolated hepatocytes of rat

In the present study, the expression of IL-1 receptor (IL-1 R) on the primary cultured hepatocytes was determined and the effect of IL-1 on the intracellular amount of cytochrome P-450 was investigated. The kinetics of IL-1R on the hepatocytes was studied by [125I]-IL-1 alpha and revealed that 5,000 molecules of IL-1 bound to a hepatocyte with a Kd of 4.0 x 10(-9) M. Incubation of the hepatocytes with IL-1 for 18 hrs decreased the contents of cytochrome P-450 in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that IL-1 potentially depresses the drug metabolism involving IL-1R which is expressed on hepatocytes.     

Regulation of gene expression in adult rat hepatocytes cultured on a basement membrane matrix

Freshly isolated adult rat hepatocytes, when cultured on type I collagen (commercially available as Vitrogen), assume a polygonal shape, form a stable monolayer within 24 hours, but lose the capacity to express some liver-specific functions over time in culture. We incubated hepatocytes in a serum-free medium on a reconstituted basement membrane gel, "matrigel" (prepared from an extract of extracellular matrix of the murine Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm sarcoma), and observed that the cells adhered firmly, remained rounded as single cells or clusters, and maintained liver-specific gene expression for more than 1 week in vitro. Hepatocytes on matrigel secreted substantially higher amounts of albumin, transferrin, haptoglobin, and hemopexin, Northern blot analyses of extracted cellular RNA, expressed increased amounts of mRNA for the liver-specific protein albumin (as compared with cells on vitrogen). In cultures treated with phenobarbital, cytochrome P-450b, and cytochrome P-450e, mRNAs and proteins were barely detectable in cells on Vitrogen but were induced to levels similar to those in the liver in vivo in matrigel cultures. Likewise, the use of matrigel greatly enhanced the induction of mRNA and protein for P-450c by 3-methylcholanthrene and for P-450p by steroidal and nonsteroidal inducers. However, neither substratum permitted induction of P-450d by 3-methylcholanthrene, suggesting that the effects of matrigel are selective even for expression in liver of members of the superfamily of cytochrome P-450 genes. Within 5 days in cultures on Vitrogen, hepatocytes expressed detectable amounts of fetal liver aldolase activity and also mRNA for vimentin and type I collagen, each considered a phenotypic change reflecting hepatocyte "dedifferentiation." None of these was present in cells on matrigel. Responsiveness to mitogenic stimuli, as judged by incorporation of 3H-thymidine into DNA, was also decreased in hepatocytes cultured on matrigel. Finally, there was a remarkable increase in the levels of both matrices during the first 2 days in culture. However, the continuously cytoskeleton mRNA over time in culture than did the rounded cells on matrigel. We conclude that hepatocytes cultured on matrigel, as opposed to the standard collagen, exhibit remarkably enhanced expression of many liver-specific functions.     

Strain differences in the maintenance of cytochrome P-450 and mixed-function-oxidase activities in cultured rat hepatocytes. Effect of prostaglandins.

The mixed-function-oxidase (MFO) activities, ethoxyresorufin and pentoxyphenoxazone O-dealkylase, of cultured Hooded-Lister(HL)-rat hepatocytes declined rapidly during 72 h of culture, whereas in Sprague-Dawley(SD)-rat hepatocytes the MFO activities increased between 24 and 72 h in culture. Cytochrome P-450 content declined at the same rate in both HL- and SD-rat hepatocyte cultures. NADPH:cytochrome c reductase and NADH:cytochrome b5 reductase were more stable in SD- than in HL-rat hepatocyte cultures. 16,16-Dimethylprostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha improved the maintenance of cytochrome P-450 content, MFO activity and NADPH:cytochrome c reductase in the HL-rat hepatocyte cultures. In SD-rat hepatocytes, the prostaglandins had no effect on cytochrome P-450 content or NADPH:cytochrome c reductase activity, whereas they prevented the increase observed in MFO activities between 24 and 72 h after culture.     

Characteristcs of microsomal enzyme controls in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

Cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, biphenyl hydroxylase, and epoxide hydratase have been compared in intact rat liver and in primary hepatocyte cultures. After 10 days in culture, microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and epoxide hydratase activities declined to a third of the liver value, while cytochrome P-450 decreased to less than a tenth. Differences in the products of benzo[a]pyrene metabolism and gel electrophoresis of the microsomes indicated a change in the dominant form(s) of cytochrome P-450 in the cultured hepatocytes. Exposure of the cultured cells to phenobarbital for 5 days resulted in a threefold induction in NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and epoxide hydratase activities which was typical of liver induction of these enzymes. Exposure of the cells to 3-methylcholanthrene did not affect these activities. Cytochrome P-450 was induced over two times by phenobarbital and three to four times by 3-methylcholanthrene. The λ_max of the reduced carbon monoxide complex (450.7 nm) and analysis of microsomes by gel electrophoresis showed that the phenobarbital-induced cytochrome P-450 was different from the species induced by 3-methylcholanthrene (reduced carbon monoxide λ_max = 447.9 nm). However, metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene (specific activity and product distribution) was similar in microsomes of control and phenobarbital- and 3-methylcholan-threne-induced hepatocytes and the specific activity per nmole of cytochrome P-450 was higher than in liver microsomes. The activities for 2- and 4-hydroxylation of biphenyl were undetectable in all hepatocyte microsomes even though both activities were induced by 3-methylcholanthrene in the liver. Substrate-induced difference spectra and gel electrophoresis indicated an absence in phenobarbital-induced hepatocytes of most forms of cytochrome P-450 which were present in phenobarbital-induced rat liver microsomes. It is concluded that the control of cytochrome P-450 synthesis in these hepatocytes is considerably different from that found in whole liver, while other microsomal enzymes may be near to normal. Hormonal deficiencies in the culture medium and differential hormonal control of the various microsomal enzymes provide a likely explanation of these effects.     

Long-term culture of adult rat hepatocyte spheroids

Hepatocytes from adult rats were cultured on poly-HEMA-coated surface to form spheroids in hormonally defined media as previously shown with newborn rat hepatocytes. Spheroidal aggregates of adult rat hepatocytes were morphologically similar to those of newborn rat hepatocytes and could also form a monolayer of uniform liver parenchyma-like cells when transferred on collagen-coated surfaces even after 2 months of culture. Under these culture conditions, albumin and transferrin secreted in vitro by adult rat hepatocyte spheroids were detectable by immunoprecipitation method at least until 2 months of culture. The production of proteins by hepatocyte spheroids could be regulated in vitro by IL-6: the secretion of alpha 2-macroglobulin was increased and the secretion of albumin was decreased in the presence of this cytokine. In addition, cytochrome P450 IA1 was strongly induced by methylcholanthrene in adult rat hepatocyte spheroids, and the induction remained relatively constant up to 22 days of culture. These cells were also able to metabolize lidocaine to monoethylglycinexylidine when measured up to 14 days of culture, showing the presence of a relatively high level of P450 IIIA2. The UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity, specific for bilirubin conjugation, decreased to 18% of the initial value after 2 weeks of culture. This work showed that adult rat hepatocytes in long-term spheroid culture kept differentiated functions, providing a new model for the in vitro study of hepatocyte functions and complementing that of newborn rat hepatocytes using the same system.     

Ligands maintain cytochrome P-450 in liver cell culture by affecting its synthesis and degradation

Rat hepatocytes cultured for 24 h lose 68% of their cytochrome P-450. It is shown that this loss is due to the failure of cultured hepatocytes to synthesize cytochrome P-450 as well as enhanced degradation. Compounds that form ligands with cytochrome P-450, eg metyrapone, prevent the loss of cytochrome P-450. Ligands are generally considered to protect proteins from degradation but the present work suggests that the effect of metyrapone on cytochrome P-450 synthesis is of equal importance to its effect on degradation in preventing the loss of cytochrome P-450 in hepatocyte culture.     

Induction of cytochrome P-450c in hematopoietic cells of fetal liver

The transplacental inductive effect of beta-naphthoflavone (beta NF) on cytochrome P-450 isozymes was studied in separate hematopoietic and hepatocyte cells from fetal rat liver. Two fractions of dispersed fetal liver cells were isolated by Ficoll-Paque centrifugation and shown by histologic examination to be enriched in erythroblasts and hepatocytes, respectively. beta NF treatment increased ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity 250-fold in both erythroblast and hepatocyte cell fractions. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunostaining techniques showed the induction of cytochrome P-450c, but not P-450d, in erythroblast and hepatocyte fractions.     

Nitric oxide-dependent CYP2B degradation is potentiated by a cytokine-regulated pathway and utilizes the immunoproteasome subunit LMP2

CYP2B proteins in rat hepatocytes undergo NO-dependent proteolytic degradation, but the mechanisms and the reasons for the specificity towards only certain P450 (cytochrome P450) enzymes are yet unknown. In the present study we found that down-regulation of CYP2B proteins by the NO donor NOC-18 is accelerated by pretreatment of the hepatocytes with IL-1 (interleukin-1β) in the presence of an NO synthase inhibitor, suggesting that an NO-independent action of IL-1 contributes to the lability of CYP2B proteins. The immunoproteasome subunit LMP2 (large multifunctional peptidase 2) was significantly expressed in hepatocytes under basal conditions, and IL-1 induced LMP2 within 6-12 h of treatment. CYP2B protein degradation in response to IL-1 was attenuated by the selective LMP2 inhibitor UK-101, but not by the LMP7 inhibitor IPSI. The results show that LMP2 contributes to the NO-dependent degradation of CYP2B proteins, and suggest that induction of LMP2 may be involved in the potentiation of this degradation by IL-1.     

Evidence that ligand formation is a mechanism underlying the maintenance of cytochrome P-450 in rat liver cell culture. Potent maintenance by metyrapone.

The loss of cytochrome P-450 in cultured rat hepatocytes can be prevented by substituted pyridines, especially isonicotinamide, 3-hydroxypyridine and metyrapone. The effect of these compounds is independent of protein synthesis, suggesting that they maintain pre-existing cytochrome P-450. The efficiency of pyridines at maintaining cytochrome P-450 in hepatocyte culture is highly correlated with their ability to bind to this cytochrome, suggesting that ligand formation with cytochrome P-450 prevents its accelerated turnover in liver cell culture.     

An in vitro model of rodent nongenotoxic hepatocarcinogenesis.

An in vitro model of liver in which rat hepatocytes are maintained as cocultures with nonparenchymal epithelial cells (NPC) derived from liver has been developed and characterized with respect to maintenance of hepatocyte viability and differentiated function. The system was then evaluated as a model for studying peroxisome proliferator-induced rodent liver nongenotoxic carcinogenesis. Within the coculture model, hepatocyte viability and morphology were maintained for 1 month or more within a system that is both easily accessible for microscopic examination and is free of any additives that may lead to artifacts. Even after 1 month or more, hepatocyte cocultures retained expression of the constitutive liver marker albumin. In addition, they maintained the ability to show induction of the peroxisome proliferator-inducible enzymes peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme (PBE) and cytochrome P450IVA1 in response to the peroxisome proliferator nafenopin. After 4 weeks, NPC cocultures showed a six- and a fourfold induction of PBE and cytochrome P450IVA1 expression, respectively, which compared well with the three- and fivefold induction seen in freshly isolated cells. This was paralleled by an increase in the cytoplasmic volume fraction of peroxisomes averaging eightfold. Interestingly, great heterogeneity was exhibited between adjacent hepatocytes in terms of the degree of peroxisome proliferation, a finding reflected by immunocytochemical staining which indicated heterogeneity in the level of expression of the peroxisome proliferator-inducible enzymes. Other cell lines representing different tissue types, morphologies, and species were also examined for their ability to support hepatocyte survival but were found to be ineffective, with the exception of a bovine corneal endothelial cell line. This line supported hepatocyte survival and maintenance of differentiated function but to a lesser extent than that observed with NPC. Ultrastructural examination of NPC cocultures revealed extensive interhepatocyte junctional complexes and interdigitation of adjacent membranes together with the presence of bile canalicular structures. There were no junctional complexes between the hepatocytes and the supporting feeder cells with any contact being limited to a close association of the hepatocytes with the extracellular matrix presumably produced by the NPC. The data demonstrate that hepatocytes maintained in vitro within an NPC coculture system retain differentiated function and the ability to respond to the peroxisome proliferator class of nongenotoxic carcinogens. Cocultures will provide us with a model system for the study of changes in hepatocyte growth regulation during rodent liver nongenotoxic carcinogenesis.     

Biochemical,morphological and flow cytometric evaluation of the effects of hexachlorobenzene on rat liver

This study investigated the ability of HCB (0.1% in the diet for 15 days) to cause early changes in the cellular ploidy of rat liver. Treatment caused marked hepatomegaly, increase of microsomal proteins and cytochrome P-450 content and reduction of hepatocyte microviscosity. Microscopic examination showed that the hepatocytes were enlarged, with hyaline cytoplasm and vacuoles. The size distribution of the isolated hepatocytes showed a larger percentage of bigger cells. Flow-cytometric DNA/protein analysis was performed on whole (fixed) cells and on nuclei. From the combined results of both analyses it was possible to exclude significant changes in the percentages of diploid, mononucleated tetraploid, binucleated tetraploid and octoploid hepatocytes. The DNA and protein content of each subpopulation remained unchanged. Our results suggest that HCB does not cause early diploidization of liver cells and that hepatomegaly and cytochrome P-450 induction seem not to be correlated with effects on total DNA and total protein contents.Abbreviations HCB hexachlorobenzene - PI propidium iodide - FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate - DN diploid nuclei - SN 2N-4N nuclei in S-phase - TN tetraploid nuclei - DC diploid cells - SDC 2N-4N diploid cells in S-phase - TC tetraploid cells - STC 4N-8N tetraploid cells in S-phase - OC octoploid cells - MDC mononucleated diploid cells - SMDC mononucleated diploid cells in S-phase - BOC binucleated octoploid cells - SBTC binucleated tetraploid cells in S-phase - BTC binucleated tetraploid cells - MTC mononucleated tetraploid cells.     

Apparent maintenance of cytochrome P 450 by nicotinamide in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

The sole addition of a high, unphysiological, concentration of nicotinamide (25 mM) to a cell culture medium was found to maintain the cytochrome P 450 concentration of rat hepatocytes cultured for 24 hours at 71% of the level found in intact liver, whilst hepatocytes cultured without nicotinamide contained only 20% of their initial cytochrome P 450. Furthermore the P 450 concentration of hepatocytes cultured for 24 hours in the presence of 25 mM nicotinamide could be increased to the same level as found in intact rat liver by the inclusion of 1 mM nicotinamide into the medium used for cell isolation. Although the mechanism of action of nicotinamide is unknown this simple system for the maintenance of cytochrome P 450 in hepatocyte culture could provide the opportunity to study, under defined conditions $\text{in vitro}$, the factors that regulate cytochrome P 450 and hence determine hepatotoxicity and hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Effect of swainsonine on the processing of the asparagine-linked carbohydrate chains of alpha 1-antitrypsin in rat hepatocytes. Evidence for the formation of hybrid oligosaccharides

The biosynthesis of the proteinase inhibitor alpha 1-antitrypsin has been studied in rat hepatocyte primary cultures. Newly synthesized alpha 1-antitrypsin was found in hepatocytes as a glycoprotein of an apparent molecular weight of 49,000 carrying oligosaccharide side chains of the high mannose type. In the hepatocyte medium a secreted alpha 1-antitrypsin of an apparent molecular weight of 54,000 could be identified as a glycoprotein with carbohydrate chains of the complex type. Pulse-chase experiments revealed a precursor-product relationship for the two forms of alpha 1-antitrypsin. When the hepatocytes were treated with swainsonine, an intracellular form of alpha 1-antitrypsin with an apparent molecular weight of 49,000 indistinguishable from that of control cells was found. However, the alpha 1-antitrypsin secreted from swainsonine-treated hepatocytes was different from that present in control media. It was characterized by a lower apparent molecular weight (51,000), a higher amount of [3H]mannose incorporation, half as much incorporation of [3H]galactose, and the same amount of [3H]fucose incorporation compared to alpha 1-antitrypsin of control media. In contrast to the 54,000 complex type alpha 1-antitrypsin from control media the 51,000 alpha 1-antitrypsin from the medium of swainsonine-treated cells was found to be susceptible to the action of endoglucosaminidase H, even when fucose was attached to the proximal GlcNAc residue. alpha 1-Antitrypsin secreted from swainsonine-treated cells combines features usually associated with either high mannose or complex type oligosaccharides and therefore represents a hybrid structure. In spite of its effect on the carbohydrate part of alpha 1-antitrypsin swainsonine did not impair the secretion of the incompletely processed glycoprotein.