Conditioned medium from cultured rat hepatocytes completely blocks induction of glutamine synthetase by dexamethasone in several rat liver epithelial cell lines

A variant RL-ET-1G of a rat liver epithelial cell line (RL-ET-1) characterized by a very high inducibility for glutamine synthetase (GS) in response to dexamethasone was established by cultivation in glutamine-free, glutamate-supplemented culture medium. Using this cell line, conditioned medium produced by periportal hepatocytes in primary culture was found to suppress this induction, acting with a lag-phase of about 8 h irrespective whether the GS activity was basal or preinduced. Analysis of the response of several epithelial cell lines to the conditioned medium showed a reciprocal relationship between the dexamethasone-dependent induction and the residual activity after exposure to the conditioned medium, indicating that a hypothetical factor in the conditioned medium was interfering with the induction process but not with the basal GS level of these cells. Careful analysis revealed that the effect of the conditioned medium was neither due to deficiency of a component used up by the hepatocytes, nor due to glutamine or ammonia, both of which affected GS activity at concentrations above 0.5 mmol/L. The hypothetical factor was found to be quite small (molecular mass range 100–500 Da), heat and acid stable, as well as highly water soluble. Most interestingly, the conditioned medium did not suppress GS induction in astroglial cells and in the two hepatoma cell lines C2 and FAO, but strongly diminished the spontaneous induction of GS in cocultured pig hepatocytes, suggesting that the hypothetical factor acts primarily on normal nontransformed liver-derived cell populations.     

Cellular characteristics of epithelial cell lines from juvenile rat liver: selective induction of glutamine synthetase by dexamethasone

Four epithelial cell lines established from juvenile rat liver and selected on the basis of their capacity to prolong the lifespan of cocultured hepatocytes were compared with respect to several immunocytochemical markers (vimentin, cytokeratin 19, MAB 19C6), enzyme activities, and amino acid uptake systems. Their phenotypes were found to be quite different from that of hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells (BEC), but very similar among each other. In particular, a variety of functions affected by dexamethasone (DEX) or changing spontaneously in cultured hepatocytes and/or BEC, showed neither inducibility nor spontaneous changes in the four cell lines. Instead, the lines were inducible for glutamine synthetase (GS) by DEX, in contrast to hepatocytes and BEC but also to other juvenile or adult epithelial lines that did not support cocultured hepatocytes. In addition, they showed relatively high basal levels of GS activity, exceeding those found in adult epithelial cell lines and approaching the average values found for liver tissue. Basal as well as DEX-induced GS activity was reduced in the presence of newborn calf serum, while only DEX-induced but not basal activity was suppressed by glutamine.These results suggest an origin of these four juvenile epithelial cell lines different from that of hepatocytes as well as of BEC. Furthermore, they suggest the coherent acquisition of new functional properties during early phases of cultivation of these cell lines; the selective inducibility of GS by DEX and its suppression by glutamine are the most intriguing of these, because neither is found in any normal cell type present in rat liver.     

Acute-phase-response induction in rat hepatocytes co-cultured with rat liver epithelial cells.

The response of rat hepatocytes co-cultured with rat liver epithelial cells to conditioned medium (CM) from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated monocytes was investigated by measuring the concentration of alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M), alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), albumin and transferrin, as well as the changes in glycosylation of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein. During an initial 8-day treatment with CM, concentrations of alpha 2M and AGP increased markedly over those of control culture, whereas concentrations of albumin and transferrin decreased. The glycosylation pattern of AGP indicated an important relative increase of the concanavalin A-strongly-reactive (SR) variant upon treatment. When CM addition to hepatocyte culture medium was stopped, the concentrations of the four proteins and the glycosylation pattern of AGP reverted to those of control cultures. Further addition (on day 15) to cultures of CM increased the concentration of alpha 2M and decreased albumin and transferrin concentrations. Although AGP concentrations did not increase above those of controls, the appearance of the SR variant was again stimulated by CM. These results show that, in co-culture, rat hepatocytes remain able to respond to repeated inflammatory stimuli.     

Induction of glutamine synthetase in periportal hepatocytes by cocultivation with a liver epithelial cell line

Cocultures of periportal, glutamine synthetase-negative (GS-) hepatocytes with endothelial cells of human veins or epithelial cells of rat liver (clone RL-ET-14) were established for testing whether GS could be induced in the hepatocytes by interactions between the different cell types. While GS activity in endothelial cells was below detection level that of RL-ET-14 cells decreased from 62 mU/mg (24 h) to 38 mU/mg (168 h). During cocultivation with endothelial cells no change in the low GS activity could be detected. In contrast, when periportal hepatocytes were cocultured with RL-ET-14 cells, GS activity of the cocultures increased continuously from 26 mU/mg (24 h) to 56 mU/mg during cultivation for 168 h. Immunocytochemical staining of the cocultures for GS showed that this rise of GS activity was associated with an increase of GS level in the periportal hepatocytes and a decrease in the RL-ET-14 cells. Correspondingly, cultivation of periportal hepatocytes with media conditioned by the RL-ET-14 cells led to an increase in GS activity which, however, remained below that of cocultures, while conditioned medium of hepatocytes resulted in a decrease of GS activity in pure cultures of RL-ET-14 cells. "Separated" cocultures, where hepatocytes and RL-ET-14 cells reached each other only at the border of a circular area, demonstrated that induction of GS was highest in the marginal hepatocytes and lowest in those located in the center indicating that besides (a) soluble factor(s) other kinds of cell-cell interactions might be responsible for full induction of GS expression in periportal hepatocytes.     

Expression of carbamoylphosphate synthetase I and glutamine synthetase in hepatic organoids reconstructed by rat small hepatocytes and hepatic nonparenchymal cells

The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of carbamoylphosphate synthetase I (CPS) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in small hepatocyte colonies and whether the heterogeneous expression of the enzymes could be induced during the maturation of small hepatocytes. Small hepatocytes isolated from an adult rat liver were cultured and proliferated to form colonies. The expression of CPS and GS was examined using immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting. In this culture more than 99% of morphologically hepatic cells were positive for CPS and all small hepatocytes were negative for GS at day 5. CPS-positive cells dramatically decreased with time in culture, whereas GS-positive ones appeared and their number increased in the colonies. Two to 3 weeks after plating, colonies with rising and piled-up cells appeared and the number of such colonies reached about 25% of all colonies at day 30. In most rising and piled-up cells in colonies both proteins were strongly expressed, whereas many small hepatocytes in monolayer colonies did not express either protein. When small hepatocytes in monolayer colonies were overlayed with Matrigel, the cells gradually piled up and both CPS and GS proteins were dramatically induced. The expression of CPS and GS in small hepatocytes may interact with the extracellular matrix because the rising and piled-up cells appear to be induced by the extracellular matrix produced by hepatic nonparenchymal cells.     

The effect of a conditioned medium from neonatal rat hepatocytes on a mixed culture of Kupffer cells and fibroblast-like liver cells]

The study was carried out on primary coculture Kupffer cells and liver fibroblasts of newborn and mature rats. At first Kupffer cells and liver fibroblasts were taken on the equal quantity. There were observed significant decrease of Kupffer cells quantity and fibroblasts death after 4-5 days in coculture. Mitotic and functional activity liver fibroblasts, adhesion of Kupffer cells were increased by the using of conditioned medium of newborn rat hepatocytes. The rise of mitotic activity of liver fibroblasts and quantity of nucleolus in their nuclei forestalls of the increase Kupffer cells size, appearing of Kupffer cells with some nuclei.     

Heterogeneous distribution of glutamine synthetase during rat liver development

Two days before birth, immunohistochemical detection of glutamine synthetase already reveals a heterogeneous distribution pattern related to the vascular architecture of the liver. Only a small number of hepatocytes in the vicinity of the efferent venules show relatively high staining intensity. Before that age, only megakaryocytes show intense staining, while liver parenchyma is only faintly stained. The developmental profile of glutamine synthetase activity shows two periods of increasing enzyme activity: one in the perinatal period and one in the second and third postnatal week. Both periods are correlated with high levels of circulating corticosteroid hormones. Although the relative number of intensely stained hepatocytes increases during the first rise in enzyme activity, the second rise is correlated with a decreasing number of glutamine synthetase-positive hepatocytes which, however, show a considerable increase in staining intensity. Carbamoylphosphate synthetase shows a homogeneous distribution pattern in the perinatal period. Conditions that lead during development to a relatively high level of glutamine synthetase expression in the pericentral compartment apparently originate before the appearance of conditions that lead to a relatively high level of carbamoylphosphate synthetase gene expression in the periportal compartment. Our results indicate that downstream localization of glutamine synthetase in liver acinus is essential from the perinatal period onwards, whereas reciprocal distribution of glutamine synthetase and carbamoylphosphate synthetase gene expression (that is found in adult rat liver) is not.     

Characterization of glutamine synthetase from avian liver mitochondria

1. Glutamine synthetase has been purified to homogeneity from chicken liver mitochondria. 2. The native enzyme is an octamer composed of identical subunits with monomeric mol. wt of 42,000 dalton. 3. Apparent Kms for NH4+, ATP and glutamate were 0.5, 0.9 and 6 mM, respectively. D-Glutamate and L-alpha-hydroxyglutarate were utilized as substrates with activities approx. 40% those obtained with glutamate. Of several nucleotides tested, none were effective replacements for ATP. 4. Heavy metal ions were inhibitory as were Mn2+, Ca2+ and lanthanide ions. 5. Despite its different subcellular localization and physiological function, avian glutamine synthetase is markedly similar to the weakly-bound microsomal rat liver enzyme with respect to a number of physical and chemical properties.     

Reversible inhibition of mammalian glutamine synthetase by tyrosine nitration

The effect of tyrosine nitration on mammalian GS activity and stability was studied in vitro. Peroxynitrite at a concentration of 5 micro mol/l produced tyrosine nitration and inactivation of GS, whereas 50 micro mol/l peroxynitrite additionally increased S-nitrosylation and carbonylation and degradation of GS by the 20S proteasome. (-)Epicatechin completely prevented both, tyrosine nitration and inactivation of GS by peroxynitrite (5 micro mol/l). Further, a putative "denitrase" activity restored the activity of peroxynitrite (5 micro mol/l)-treated GS. The data point to a potential regulation of GS activity by a reversible tyrosine nitration. High levels of oxidative stress may irreversibly damage and predispose the enzyme to proteasomal degradation.     

Heterogeneous expression of glutamine synthetase mRNA in rat liver parenchyma revealed by in situ hybridization and Northern blot analysis of RNA from periportal and perivenous hepatocytes

Using radiolabeled specific cDNA glutamine synthetase mRNA could be detected by in situ hybridization exclusively within those few perivenous hepatocytes which stained immunocytochemically for glutamine synthetase. This localization of glutamine synthetase mRNA was recently reported by Moorman et al. [(1988) J. Histochem. Cytochem. 36, 751-755]. Biotinylated cDNA was not suitable for mRNA detection because of a very high background staining under the conditions of in situ hybridization. Dot blot and Northern blot analysis of RNA isolated from periportal and perivenous subfractions of hepatocytes also demonstrated the exclusive perivenous localization of two hybridizable glutamine synthetase mRNAs of length 2.8 and 1.6 kilobases. These results indicate that the unique heterogeneity of glutamine synthetase in rat liver parenchyma is controlled at the pretranslational level.     

Stimulation of murine bone-marrow colony formation by conditioned medium from human fetal liver cells

Summary A substance that stimulates growth of colonies of mononuclear granulocytic cells derived from the bone marrow of mice was produced by incubating fetal liver cells (conditioned medium). This substance appears to have the same properties described elsehwere as colony-stimulating factor (CSF). The enhanced stimulatory ability of the conditioned medium fromhuman fetal liver cells compared to medium not conditioned suggests that fetal liver is a potent source of colony-stimulating factor.     

Possible growth hormone regulation of rat liver glutamine synthetase activity.

Hypophysectomy results in a marked decrease in glutamine synthetase activity of rat liver homogenates. The enzyme is affected to a lesser extent in the kidneys and is not influenced in the brain. Bovine growth hormone treatment of hypophysectomized rats elevates the diminished glutamine synthetase activity in liver and kidneys but has no effect on the brain enzyme. Adrenalectomy also results in decreased liver glutamine synthetase activity although less than the decline seen with hypophysectomy. Cortisol treatment has no effect on glutamine synthetase activity in hypophysectomized animals. Our results suggest that growth hormone is involved in the regulation of liver glutamine synthetase activity. This regulation may be important in the utilization of α-amino nitrogen from glucogenic amino acids associated with growth hormone enhanced glucose production.     

Heterogeneous distribution of glutamine synthetase among rat liver parenchymal cells in situ and in primary culture.

The distribution of glutamine synthetase [L-glutamate: ammonia ligase (ADP-forming), EC 6.3.1.1)] among rat liver parenchymal cells in situ and in primary culture was investigated by indirect immunofluorescence using a specific antiserum. In intact liver, the enzyme was found to be localized exclusively within a very small population of the parenchymal cells surrounding the terminal hepatic venules. Other parts of the parenchyma including non-parenchymal cell types did not stain for this enzyme. Heterogeneity was preserved during isolation of liver parenchymal cells and persisted in cultured cells for at least 3 days. Despite alterations in enzyme activity due to the adaptation of the cells to the culture conditions or due to the hormonal stimulation of the enzyme activity, no change in the relative number of cells expressing this enzyme could be detected. This rather peculiar localization of glutamine synthetase demonstrates an interesting aspect of liver zonation and might have important implications for liver glutamine and, more generally, nitrogen metabolism. Furthermore, it raises the question of whether there might be a phenotypic difference among liver parenchymal cells.     

Junctional competence in clones of mammary epithelial cells,and modulation by conditioned medium

Colony-forming epithelial cells exfoliated in human milk have been examined by immunofluorescence using antibodies to cytokeratins (tonofilaments), and to high molecular weight desmosomal core proteins. The cells may be classified by their ability to form junctional complexes with their neighbours. Those deficient in desmosomal junctions, called D ? cells, grow into colonies of noncontiguous cells without desmosomes, and with a perinuclear network arrangement of cytokeratins. Junction forming, or D + cells, grow as contiguous cell sheets with abundant desmosomes and well developed bundles of tonofilaments. D ? cells may also segregate D + cells among their progeny yielding mixed clones, and a gradual increase in the overall number of D + cells during culture. Established D + cells have surface markers characteristic of mammary epithelium and are presumably derived by exfoliation of luminal cells of the alveoli or ducts which contain desmosomal junctions. D ? cells also possess mammary epithelial cell markers, but their origin is unknown. Medium conditioned by the Nil 8 line of hamster cells contains a junction-promoting activity that accelerates the rate, or frequency, of segregation of D + cells from D ? cells, so that milk cells grown in this medium predominently give closed colonies of D + cells. Medium conditioned by the MRC5 strain of human embryo lung cells, however, contains a junction-inhibiting activity, which prevents new junction formation and probably destroys existing junctions, so that cells in this medium mostly grow as open colonies of cells with D ? phenotype. It is hoped that studies with this experimental system will assist in the better understanding of normal and abnormal regulation of desmosomal junctions and their role in tissue integrity.