The onset of oncogene hypomethylation in the livers of rats fed methyl-deficient, amino acid-defined diets.

This study examines proto-oncogene hypomethylation in rat livers during the early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis by dietary methyl deprivation in the presence and absence of initiation by diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Male weanling F344 rats were fed a complete diet, or a diet deficient in methionine and choline (MDD). Half the animals in each dietary group were given a single initiating dose of DEN (20 mg/kg). Animals from each of the treatment groups were killed at 1, 3, 8, 16 and 32 weeks, and hepatic DNA was isolated. This DNA was digested with the restriction enzymes MspI and HpaII to determine the extent of methylation of the CCGG sequences in c-Ha-ras, c-Ki-ras and c-fos proto-oncogenes. The results indicate that the administration of the MDD produced hypomethylation of these proto-oncogenes at all times investigated, independent of DEN initiation. The methylation changes in the c-Ha-ras gene increased in intensity throughout the experiment until at 32 weeks they were similar to the patterns seen in both neoplastic and preneoplastic livers of rats fed the deficient diet for 18 months. These results demonstrate that early, selective hypomethylation of some, but not all, CCGG sites occurs in rats undergoing hepatocarcinogenesis by dietary methyl deprivation.     

Increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 protein during rat hepatocarcinogenesis caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined diet and chemopreventive efficacy of a specific inhibitor, nimesulide

Expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 protein during rat hepatocarcinogenesis associated with fatty change, fibrosis, cirrhosis and oxidative DNA damage, caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet were investigated in F344 male rats, along with the chemopreventive efficacy of the specific COX-2 inhibitor, nimesulide (NIM). Nimesulide, which was administered in the diet at concentrations of 200, 400, 600 and 800 p.p.m. for 12 weeks, decreased the number and size of preneoplastic enzyme-altered liver foci, levels of oxidative DNA damage, and the grade and incidence of fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner. A preliminary long-term study of 65 weeks also revealed that 800 p.p.m. NIM decreased the multiplicity of neoplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas and prevented the development of cirrhosis. Western blot analysis revealed that COX-2 protein was barely expressed in control livers and increased approximately 2.9-fold in the livers of rats fed on a CDAA diet for 12 weeks and approximately 4.5-5.4-fold in tumors, with a diameter larger than 5 mm, at 80 weeks. Immunohistochemically, COX-2 protein was positive in sinusoidal and stromal cells in fibrotic septa, which were identified by immunoelectron microscopy as Kupffer cells, macrophages, either activated Ito cells or fibroblasts, after exposure to the CDAA diet for 12 weeks, whereas it was only occasionally weakly positive in sinusoidal, probably Kupffer, cells in control livers. In neoplastic nodules in rats fed on a CDAA diet for 30 and 80 weeks, sinusoidal cells and cells with relatively large round nuclei and scanty cytoplasm were strongly positive for COX-2 protein, with the neoplastic hepatocytes in the minority of the nodules, but not the cancer cells, being moderately positive. These results clearly indicate that rat hepatocarcinogenesis, along with fatty change, fibrosis and cirrhosis, is associated with increased expression of COX-2 protein, and point to the chemopreventive efficacy of a selective COX-2 inhibitor against, at least, the early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Development of hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas associated with fibrosis in C57BL/6J male mice given a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined diet.

Development of hepatocellular carcinomas in rats caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet, usually associated with fatty liver, fibrosis, cirrhosis and oxidative DNA damage, has been recognized as a useful model of hepatocarcinogenesis caused by endogenous factors. In the present study, in order to further explore involved factors and genes, we established an equivalent model in spontaneous liver tumor-resistant C57BL/6J mice. Six-week-old males and females were continuously fed the CDAA diet and histological liver lesions and oxidative DNA damage due to 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were examined after 22, 65 and 84 weeks. In male mice, fatty change and fibrosis were evident at 22 weeks, and preneoplastic foci of altered hepatocytes were seen at an incidence of 8/8 (100%) and a multiplicity of 6.6 +/- 4.0 per mouse at 65 weeks. Hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas developed at incidences of 16/24 (66.7%) and 5/24 (20.8%), and multiplicities of 1.42 +/- 1.32 and 0.29 +/- 0.62, respectively, at 84 weeks. The female mice exhibited resistance to development of these lesions. The CDAA diet also increased 8-OHdG levels in male but not female mice. These results indicate that a CDAA diet causes hepatocellular preneoplastic foci, adenomas and carcinomas associated with fibrosis and oxidative DNA damage in mice, as in rats, providing a hepatocarcinogenesis model caused by endogenous factors in mice.     

Development of Hepatocellular Adenomas and Carcinomas Associated with Fibrosis in C57BL/6J Male Mice Given a Choline-deficient, L-Amino Acid-defined Diet

Development of hepatocellular carcinomas in rats caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid defined (CDAA) diet, usually associated with fatty liver, fibrosis, cirrhosis and oxidative DNA damage, has been recognized as a useful model of hepatocarcinogenesis caused by endogenous factors. In the present study, in order to further explore involved factors and genes, we established an equivalent model in spontaneous liver tumor-resistant C57BL/6J mice. Six-week-old males and females were continuously fed the CDAA diet and histological liver lesions and oxidative DNA damage due to 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were examined after 22, 65 and 84 weeks. In male mice, fatty change and fibrosis were evident at 22 weeks, and preneoplastic foci of altered hepatocytes were seen at an incidence of 8/8 (100%) and a multiplicity of 6.6±4.0 per mouse at 65 weeks. Hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas developed at incidences of 16/24 (66.7%) and 5/ 24 (20.8%), and multiplicities of 1.421±1.32 and 0.29±0.62, respectively, at 84 weeks. The female mice exhibited resistance to development of these lesions. The CDAA diet also increased 8-OHdG levels in male but not female mice. These results indicate that a CDAA diet causes hepatocellular preneoplastic foci, adenomas and carcinomas associated with fibrosis and oxidative DNA damage in mice, as in rats, providing a hepatocarcinogenesis model caused by endogenous factors in mice.     

Reversibility of changes in nucleic acid methylation and gene expression induced in rat liver by severe dietary methyl deficiency

As we have reported previously, both DNA and tRNA become hypomethylatedin livers of rats fed a cancer promoting, methyl-deficient diet(MDD) for as short a period as one week. Within the same period,activities of tRNA and DNA methyltransferases (MTases) increaseand levels of mRNAs for several genes believed to have rolesin growth regulation are altered. These diet-induced changesin nucleic acid methylation and gene expression increased inextent when MDD was fed continuously for four weeks. We alsoobserved hypomethylation of specific CCGG sites within severalgenes for which mRNA levels were increased. These included c-myc,c-fos and c-Ha-ras. To investigate the reversibility of suchdiet-induced alterations in methylation and gene expression,animals were fed MDD for four weeks, after which a diet supplementedwith adequate sources of methyl groups (CSD) was fed for 1–3weeks. One to two weeks after the restoration of an adequatediet, the overall extent of methylation of tRNA and DNA fromlivers of these rats did not differ from that of tRNA and DNAfrom livers of age matched animals continually maintained onCSD. At the same time, activities of MTases in the liver droppedto normal values. Levels of mRNAs for all genes studied returnedto control levels within three weeks after ending MDD feeding,although at different rates. In contrast, MDD-induced hypomethylationof some HpaII sites in c-myc, c-fos and c-Ha-ras genes persistedafter 3 weeks refeeding of an adequate diet. These results,which demonstrate that most of the effects of MDD on the parameterswe have studied occur rapidly and are essentially reversible,are consistent with the role of MDDs as promoters of hepatocarcinogenesis.However, the finding that unmethylated sites persist in genesthat play a role in growth regulation suggests a mechanism bywhich intermittent or long term exposure to MDDs could resultin heritable phenotypic changes in some hepatocytes that leadto hyperplasia and tumorigenesis.     

Prevention by Methionine of Enhancement of Hepatocarcinogenesis by Coadministration of a Choline-deficient L-Amino Acid-defined Diet and Ethionine in Rats

The effects of methionine on hepatocarcinogenesis induced by Coadministration of a choline-deflcient L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet and ethionine were examined. F344 male rats were divided into 4 experimental groups. Groups 1 and 2 received the CDAA diet and a choline-supplemented L-amino acid-defined (CSAA) diet, respectively. Group 3 received the CDAA diet containing 0.05% ethionine, and group 4 the CDAA diet containing 0.05% ethionine and 0.47% methionine. Animals were killed after 12 weeks of treatment. Histologically, the CDAA diet induced intracellular fat accumulation and foci. In contrast, ethionine caused not only foci, but also hyperplastic nodules, cholangiofibrosis and the proliferation of oval cells without such fat accumulation. Methionine abolished the development of all of the liver lesions induced by Coadministration of the CDAA diet and ethionine. To investigate the effects of methionine on induction of c- myc and c-Ha- ras expression, as well as generation of 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OHGua) and 2-thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS), by Coadministration of the CDAA diet and ethionine, subgroups of 3 to 5 animals were killed at 2, 4, 8 or 11 days after the beginning of the experiment. Coadministration of the CDAA diet and ethionine markedly enhanced the level of expression of c- myc and c-Ha- ras , 8-OHGua formation and TBARS generation as compared with the CDAA or CSAA diet within 11 days, and methionine blocked these actions. These results indicate that addition of methionine prevents the induction of c- myc and c-Ha- ras expression, 8-OHGua formation and TBARS generation, as well as hepatocellular lesions, by Coadministration of the CDAA diet and ethionine in rats, and suggest a possible involvement of oxidative stress and gene expression in hepatocarcinogenesis by these agents.     

Alterations in expression and methylation of specific genes in livers of rats fed a cancer promoting methyl-deficient diet

We have reported earlier that hypomethylated DNA is rapidly induced in the livers of male Fischer rats fed an extremely methyl-deficient diet (MDD). The early effects of dietary methyl deficiency on the expression of several genes in the livers of such animals have now been investigated. Poly(A)+ RNA was isolated from the livers of rats fed MDD or a similar diet supplemented with adequate supplies of choline, methionine, folic acid and vitamin B12 (CSD) for periods ranging from 1 to 4 weeks. The levels of mRNAs for the c-myc and c-fos protooncogenes in livers of rats given either MDD or the liver carcinogen, 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF), were compared by Northern blot analysis with those in livers of animals given control diets. Both AAF and MDD induced significant elevations in levels of mRNAs specific for these two genes. After 1 week of MDD intake, large increases in the levels of c-myc and c-fos mRNAs and a smaller increase in the levels of c-Ha-ras mRNAs were observed. In contrast, there were marked decreases in the levels of mRNAs for epidermal growth factor receptor and for epidermal growth factor. These effects on mRNA accumulation persisted and were further enhanced during a 4 week period of MDD feeding. The appearance of hypomethylated DNA in the livers of these MDD-fed rats coincided with the observed changes in levels of mRNA for these genes associated with the regulation of cell growth. Increases in levels of mRNA for c-fos, c-Ha-ras and c-myc were correlated with loss of methylation at specific sites within these genes as early as 1 week after the start of MDD feeding. These combined observations are consistent with the hypothesis that methyl-deficient diets are cancer promoting and/or carcinogenic, at least in part, because they induce hypomethylation of DNA with concomitant alterations in the regulation of gene expression.     

Prevention by 1'-acetoxychavicol acetate of the induction but not growth of putative preneoplastic, glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive, focal lesions in the livers of rats fed a choline- deficient, L-amino acid-defined diet

The effects of 1'-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) on endogenous rat liver carcinogenesis because of chronic feeding of a choline-deficient, L- amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet were examined. Male Fischer 344 rats, 6 weeks old, received the CDAA diet containing ACA at doses of 0, 0.005, 0.010 and 0.050% for 12 weeks and were then killed. ACA decreased the numbers of putative preneoplastic, glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive, focal lesions developing in the livers of rats fed the CDAA diet but did not alter their sizes. At the same time, ACA reduced the levels of 8-hydroxyguanine, a parameter of oxidative DNA damage, but did not significantly affect generation of 2-thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances, indicators of oxidative extra-DNA damage, or hepatocyte proliferation. Furthermore, ACA did not exert any significant effects on the numbers or sizes of GST-P-positive lesions in the livers of rats when administered between weeks 2 and 8 after initiation with a single i.p. dose of 200 mg/kg body wt of N- nitrosodiethylamine. These results indicate that ACA prevents the CDAA diet-associated induction of putative preneoplastic lesions by reduction of oxidative DNA damage but does not affect their subsequent growth.      

Effect of hepatocyte growth factor on endogenous hepatocarcinogenesis in rats fed a choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a promising agent for the treatment of intractable liver disease, due to its mitogenic, anti-apoptotic, and anti-fibrotic effects. We investigated the effect of recombinant human HGF (rh-HGF) on the development of both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and preneoplastic nodules in rats fed a choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet, an animal model of hepatocarcinogenesis resembling human development of HCC with cirrhosis. From weeks 13 to 48 of the CDAA diet, rh-HGF (0.1 or 0.5 mg/kg/day) was administered intravenously to rats in four-week cycles, with treatment for five consecutive days of each week for two weeks, followed by a two-week washout period. Treatment with rh-HGF significantly inhibited the development of preneoplastic nodules in a dose-dependent manner at 24 weeks. Although the numbers and areas of the preneoplastic nodules in rats treated with rh-HGF were equivalent to those in mock-treated rats by 60 weeks, the incidence of HCC was reduced by HGF treatment. Although one rat treated with low-dose rh-HGF exhibited a massive HCC, which occupied almost the whole liver, and lung metastases, HGF treatment did not increase the overall frequency of HCC. Administration of high-dose rh-HGF, however, induced an increase in the urinary excretion of albumin, leading to decreased serum albumin at 60 weeks. These results indicate that long-term administration of rh-HGF does not accelerate hepatocarcinogenesis in rats fed a CDAA diet. However, these findings do not completely exclude the potential of HGF-induced hepatocarcinogenesis; this issue must be resolved before rh-HGF can be used for patients with intractable liver diseases, especially those with cirrhosis.     

Inhibitory effect of dietary iron deficiency on inductions of putative preneoplastic lesions as well as 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in DNA and lipid peroxidation in the livers of rats caused by exposure to a choline-deficient L-amino acid defined diet.

Effects of dietary iron deficiency on inductions of putative preneoplastic lesions and oxidative alterations in the livers of rats by a choline-deficient L-amino acid defined (CDAA) diet were examined. Male Fischer 344 rats, 4 weeks old, were used with a total experimental period of 16 weeks, consisting of 4-week pretreatment and 12-week treatment periods (periods A and B respectively). During period A, a choline-supplemented L-amino acid defined (CSAA) or an iron-deficient CSAA diet was administered, and the CDAA or an iron-deficient CDAA diet was fed in period B. Formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG), a DNA adduct generated by activated oxygen species, in DNA and lipid peroxidation in liver cell membranes were sequentially determined after the beginning of period B. At the end of the experiment, development of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and glutathione S-transferase placental form (GSTP) positive liver lesions were quantitatively analysed. In the animals fed the CDAA diet, formation of 8OHdG and lipid peroxidation increased with time, and GGT and GSTP positive liver lesions developed. Formation of 8OHdG, lipid peroxidation and the numbers of induced enzyme-altered liver lesions were all reduced in rats fed the iron-deficient CSAA diet in period A and/or the iron-deficient CDAA diet in period B. The present results indicate that iron plays an important role in induction of preneoplastic liver lesions in rats caused by exposure to the CDAA diet possibly in connection with its known catalytic role in generation of highly reactive activated oxygen species.