Increase of carcinogenic risk via enhancement of cyclooxygenase-2 expression and hydroxyestradiol accumulation in human lung cells as a result of interaction between BaP and 17-beta estradiol

Animal studies demonstrated that females are more susceptible than males to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)-induced toxicities, including lung carcinogenesis. Elevation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression has been shown to increase the risk of cancer development. BaP induces COX-2 expression, and an interaction between BaP and estrogen in relation to COX-2 expression is suspected. In the present study, 10 muM BaP alone only slightly increased COX-2 mRNA expression and 10 nM 17-beta estradiol (E(2)) alone slightly increased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion in human bronchial epithelial cells. However, co-treatment with BaP and E(2) potentiated COX-2 mRNA expression and significantly elevated PGE2 secretion. Utilizing specific inhibitors and reporter assays, we further investigated the potentiation mechanisms of E(2) on BaP-induced COX-2 expression. First, E(2) activated estrogen receptor to increase PGE2 secretion, which directly increased COX-2 expression. Second, E(2) potentiated BaP-induced nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation, which regulates COX-2 expression. Third, although the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) did not play a role in BaP-induced COX-2 expression, the potentiation effect of E(2) itself was AhR dependent. We further demonstrated that BaP induced the production of genotoxic E(2) metabolites (2- and 4-hydroxyestradiols) via AhR-up-regulated cytochromes P450 1A1 and 1B1. These metabolites could directly activate NF-kappaB to further promote COX-2 mRNA expression in human lung epithelial cells. These findings were further supported by increased PGE2 secretion in rat lung slice cultures. Our findings that the BaP-E(2) interaction enhanced COX-2 expression and hydroxyestradiol accumulation in the media of cultivated lung cells and tissues provide the needed scientific basis for higher risk of BaP-associated lung cancer in females.     

Glycine N-methyltransferase tumor susceptibility gene in the benzo(a)pyrene-detoxification pathway

Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) affects genetic stability by (a) regulating the ratio of S-adenosylmethionine to S-adenosylhomocystine and (b) binding to folate. Based on the identification of GNMT as a 4 S polyaromatic hydrocarbon-binding protein, we used liver cancer cell lines that expressed GNMT either transiently or stably in cDNA transfections to analyze the role of GNMT in the benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) detoxification pathway. Results from an indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay showed that GNMT was expressed in cell cytoplasm before BaP treatment and translocated to cell nuclei after BaP treatment. Compared with cells transfected with the vector plasmid, the number of BaP-7,8-diol 9,10-epoxide-DNA adducts that formed in GNMT-expressing cells was significantly reduced. Furthermore, the dose-dependent inhibition of BaP-7,8-diol 9,10-epoxide-DNA adduct formation by GNMT was observed in HepG2 cells infected with different multiplicities of infection of recombinant adenoviruses carrying GNMT cDNA. According to an aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase enzyme activity assay, GNMT inhibited BaP-induced cytochrome P450 1A1 enzyme activity. Automated BaP docking using a Lamarckian genetic algorithm with GNMT X-ray crystallography revealed a BaP preference for the S-adenosylmethionine-binding domain of the dimeric form of GNMT, a novel finding of a cellular defense against potentially damaging exposures. In addition to GNMT, results from docking experiments showed that BaP binds readily with other DNA methyltransferases, including HhaI, HaeIII, PvuII methyltransferases and human DNA methyltransferase 2. We therefore hypothesized that BaP-DNA methyltransferase and BaP-GNMT interactions may contribute to carcinogenesis.     

Inhibition of benzo[a]pyrene-activating enzymes and DNA binding in human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells by methoxylated flavonoids

Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor in lung carcinogenesis via carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitrosamines. In this study, we used benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) as the classic PAH compound and BEAS-2B cells, a model of normal human bronchial epithelial cells, to investigate whether 5,7-dimethoxyflavone (5,7-DMF) and 3',4'-DMF compared with resveratrol (RV) have chemopreventive properties in this cancer. Exposure of BEAS-2B cells to [(3)H]BaP (1 microM) showed increasing binding to DNA up to 72 h of exposure, about 20-fold higher than that at 0.5 h exposure. BaP exposure also increased both CYP1A1/1B1 and microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) enzyme activities with a maximum 10-fold increase at 48 h. BaP induced CYP1A1 protein and mRNA levels maximally after 48 h. In contrast, although CYP1B1 mRNA was rapidly induced, its protein expression showed a very poor response. Simultaneous treatment with BaP and 5,7-DMF, 3',4'-DMF or RV for 48 h inhibited BaP-DNA binding by > or =75%, with 3',4'-DMF being the most effective. 5,7-DMF affected CYP1A1 mRNA levels only modestly, whereas 3',4'-DMF was a potent inhibitor. The catalytic activity of CYP1A1/1B1 was reduced over 95% after exposure to 5,7-DMF, 3',4'-DMF or RV, most effectively by 3',4'-DMF. BaP-induced mEH activity was not affected by treatment with 5,7-DMF, but was significantly inhibited by 3',4'-DMF. In contrast, mEH activity was notably increased by RV. Most importantly, western blotting showed all three polyphenols dramatically reducing BaP-induced CYP1A1 protein expression. Both 5,7-DMF and 3',4'-DMF demonstrated very high, about 40-fold, accumulation in BEAS-2B cells. In summary, BaP exposure results in a high level of DNA binding in BEAS-2B cells, which is mainly mediated by induction of CYP1A1 protein, just as in the human lung. Two methoxylated dietary flavonoids with highly specific effects on BaP bioactivation block this DNA binding and CYP1A1 protein expression as effectively as RV, thus making them potential chemopreventive agents for BaP-induced lung carcinogenesis.     

贫铀诱发人支气管上皮细胞恶性转化

背景与目的：实验研究和流行病学调查结果表明,铀可广泛地影响人体健康,但其远期效应,特别是致癌性,还缺乏明确的结论。本文模拟人吸入贫铀（depleted uranium,DU)气溶胶的情形,研究难溶性贫铀诱发人支气管上皮细胞恶性转化及肺癌相关基因表达谱。方法：用难溶性贫铀氧化物（dUO2)作用腺病毒-12/SV40病毒永生化的人支气管上皮细胞（BEAS-2B）,通过观察不同代龄细胞的倍增时间,血清抗性,半固体琼脂克隆形成率及裸鼠成瘤性,鉴定细胞的恶性转化特性;用213个肺癌相关基因的芯片对贫铀诱发的转化BEAS-2B细胞的基因表达谱进行检测。结果：贫铀作用后的第5代BEAS-2B细胞倍增时间明显缩短,血清抗性显著增强;第10代细胞具有锚着独立性生长特性（半固体琼脂克隆形成）;第15代裸鼠体内成瘤。二甲亚砜（DMSO）对贫铀诱发的BEAS-2B细胞恶性转化有明显保护效果。213个肺癌相关基因的芯片检测结果表明,转化细胞中有70多个基因的表达水平发生明显改变,其中10余个基因表达水平明显下降。结论：贫铀在体外具有致癌性。     

36. Study on p16INK4a and p15INK4b genes of human bronchial epithelial cells malignantly transformed by cyclophosphamide and thiotepa

Transformed human bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B induced by CP and TEPA were used to study abnormity of the tumor suppressor genes p15INK4b and p16INK4a, through which we can provide clues for explanations of the molecular mechanism in carcinogenesis of human bronchial epithelial cells induced by CP and TEPA. Analysis of the genomic DNA from the transformed BEAS-CP, and BEAS-T cells using PCR amplification, singe strand conformation polymorphism(SSCP) and DNA sequencing     

Macrophages promote benzopyrene-induced tumor transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells by activation of NF-κB and STAT3 signaling in a bionic airway chip culture and in animal models

We investigated the role of macrophages in promoting benzopyrene (BaP)-induced malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells using a BaP-induced tumor transformation model with a bionic airway chip in vitro and in animal models. The bionic airway chip culture data showed that macrophages promoted BaP-induced malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells, which was mediated by nuclear factor (NF)-κB and STAT3 pathways to induce cell proliferation, colony formation in chip culture, and tumorigenicity in nude mice. Blockage of interleukin (IL)-6 or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α signaling or inhibition of NF-κB, STAT3, or cyclinD1 expression abrogated the effect of macrophages on malignant transformation in the bionic airway chip culture. In vivo, macrophages promoted lung tumorigenesis in a carcinogen-induced animal model. Similarly, blockage of NF-κB, STAT3, or cyclinD1 using siRNA transfection decreased the carcinogen-induced tumorigenesis in rats. We demonstrated that macrophages are critical in promoting lung tumorigenesis and that the macrophage-initiated TNF-α/NF-κB/cyclinD1 and IL-6/STAT3/cyclinD1 pathways are primarily responsible for promoting lung tumorigenesis.     

Chemopreventive effects of deguelin, a novel Akt inhibitor, on tobacco-induced lung tumorigenesis

Tobacco carcinogens induce Akt activation and lung carcinogenesis. We previously demonstrated that deguelin, a natural plant product, specifically inhibits the proliferation of premalignant and malignant human bronchial epithelial cells by blocking Akt activation. To evaluate the ability of deguelin to block tobacco carcinogen-induced lung tumorigenesis, we evaluated the in vivo effects of deguelin on Akt activation and lung tumorigenesis in transgenic mice in which Akt expression was induced by tamoxifen and in 4-(methylnitrosoamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)/benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-treated A/J mice. Deguelin suppressed Akt activation in vivo, as measured by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting, and statistically significantly reduced NNK/BaP-induced lung tumor multiplicity, volume, and load in A/J mice, as monitored by microcomputed tomography image analysis, with no detectable toxicity. These results indicate that deguelin warrants consideration as a chemopreventive agent for early-stage lung carcinogenesis in a clinical lung cancer chemoprevention trial.     

致癌物和X射线对人支气管上皮细胞的遗传毒理作用

从组织块长出的人支气管上皮细胞培养于MCDB151无血清培养基中,利用非程序性DNA合成(UDS)和微核试验检测化学致癌物和X射线对人支气管上皮细胞的遗传毒理作用。直接作用致癌物MNNG对所测试的7例上皮细胞均可分别引起UDS或微核增高,并具有剂量反应关系。X射线对4例都可引起微核增高。然而间接作用致癌物NNK和BaP引起的反应有明显个体差异。UDS试验中,NNK处理5例中有3例增高,BaP处理的4例中有3例增高。微核试验表明NNK处理的5例中3例为阳性,BaP处理4例中3例为阳性。本实验结果提示,NNK,BaP和X射线可能是人支气管上皮细胞潜在的致癌物。     

UHRF1通过调控细胞自噬抑制肺腺癌细胞增殖的分子机制研究

目的 探讨泛素样含PHD和环指结构域1(Ubiquitin like with PHD and ring finger domains 1, UHRF1)在肺腺癌(Lung adenocarcinoma)细胞的增殖、自噬中的作用及其潜在机制。方法 通过生物信息学网站(TCGA)检测UHRF1在肺腺癌组织中的表达。qRT-PCR和Western blot检测肺腺癌细胞系(PC-9、A549和H1299)以及人支气管上皮细胞(16HBE)中UHRF1的表达。转染UHRF1-shRNA后, 采用CCK-8、克隆形成以及Ki-67检测肺腺癌A549细胞活性和增殖能力的改变;蛋白免疫印记检测自噬相关LC3-I/II、Beclin-1蛋白以及增殖相关蛋白CDK6、Rb和PCNA蛋白的变化;透射电镜观察敲除UHRF1后A549细胞中对于自噬小体的影响。结果 在肺腺癌患者组织中UHRF1表达明显高于癌旁组织, 而相对于正常的支气管上皮细胞16HBE, 肺腺癌细胞系A549与H1299中UHRF1的mRNA和蛋白水平均明显升高。此外, CCK-8法和克隆形成实验表明沉默UHRF1能够降低肺腺癌细胞系A549的生长效率。Ki-67免疫荧光法检测结果显示敲除UHRF1后A549细胞增殖能力相对于正常对照组明显降低。此外我们发现, 敲除UHRF1导致CKD6和PCNA蛋白水平相对于Control-siRNA组表达升高, 而Rb蛋白表达下调。我们同时还发现, 沉默UHRF1后能够提高LC3-II/LC3-I的比例, 诱导Beclin-1的表达上调。沉默UHRF1促进A549细胞中自噬小体的形成。结论 UHRF1在肺腺癌中高表达, 沉默UHRF1能够发挥抑制增殖的作用。而这种作用可能是通过促进细胞自噬产生的。     

苯并(a)芘染毒致人支气管上皮细胞的周期改变及BPDE-DNA加合物形成

目的:通过观察苯并(a)芘(BaP)染毒致人支气管上皮细胞16HBE细胞周期改变及BPDE-DNA加合物形成的情况,探讨DNA损伤与细胞周期阻滞之间的关系。方法:用不同浓度BaP(0、1、2、4、8、16、32 μmol/L)染毒16HBE细胞24 h,用16 μmol/L BaP染毒16HBE细胞不同时间(0、1、2、4、8、12、24 h)以检测BaP染毒16HBE细胞的剂量和时间效应。再根据上述结果选择16 μmol/L BaP染毒16HBE细胞4 h后,恢复不同时间(0、1、2、4、8、12、24 h),处理结束后采用流式细胞术检测细胞周期分布情况,酶联免疫法和荧光免疫组化法检测BPDE-DNA加合物表达。结果:与正常对照组相比,随着BaP染毒浓度和染毒时间的增加,S期细胞所占比例均增加(P<0.05或P<0.01)。16 μmol/L BaP染毒16HBE细胞4 h后,恢复早期(4~12 h)S期细胞所占比例与恢复0 h相比明显增加(P<0.05),恢复24 h时S期细胞所占比例(24.52%)与恢复0 h相比明显降低(P<0.01),而与正常对照组(26.41%)相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。随着染毒浓度增加和染毒时间延长,16HBE细胞内BPDE-DNA加合物含量逐渐增加,与正常对照组相比差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01),染毒后恢复1 h时BPDE-DNA加合物含量与恢复0 h组相比显著增加(P<0.01),而后随恢复时间延长逐渐下降。回归分析显示BaP染毒后细胞S期所占比例与BPDE-DNA加合物含量符合Cubic方程(R²=0.386,P=0.01)。结论:BaP染毒所致BPDE-DNA加合物的形成与S期阻滞密切相关。     

Proteomics-based identification of proteins secreted in apical surface fluid of squamous metaplastic human tracheobronchial epithelial cells cultured by three-dimensional organotypic air-liquid interface method

Squamous cell carcinoma in the lung originates from bronchial epithelial cells that acquire increasingly abnormal phenotypes. Currently, no known biomarkers are clinically efficient for the early detection of premalignant lesions and lung cancer. We sought to identify secreted molecules produced from squamous bronchial epithelial cells cultured with organotypic culture methods. We analyzed protein expression patterns in the apical surface fluid (ASF) from aberrantly differentiated squamous metaplastic normal human tracheobronchial epithelial (NHTBE) and mucous NHTBE cells. Comparative two-dimensional PAGE analysis revealed 174 unique proteins in the ASF of squamous NHTBE cells compared with normal mucociliary differentiated NHTBE cells. Among them, 64 well-separated protein spots were identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, revealing 22 different proteins in the ASF from squamous NHTBE cells. Expression of six of these proteins [SCC antigen 1 (SCCA1), SCC antigen 2 (SCCA2), S100A8, S100A9, Annexin I, and Annexin II] in the squamous NHTBE cells was further confirmed with immunoblot analysis. Notably, SCCA1 and SCCA2 were verified as being expressed in squamous metaplastic NHTBE cells but not in normal mucous NHTBE or normal bronchial epithelium. Moreover, SCCA1 and SCCA2 expression increased in in vitro lung carcinogenesis model cell lines with increasing malignancy. In summary, we identified proteins that are uniquely secreted from squamous metaplastic primary human bronchial epithelial cells cultured by the organotypic air-liquid interface method. These ASF proteins may be used to detect abnormal lesions in the lung without collecting invasive biopsy specimens.     

5,7-Dimethoxyflavone downregulates CYP1A1 expression and benzo[a]pyrene-induced DNA binding in Hep G2 cells

The objective of this study was to examine the ability of dietary polyphenols to inhibit cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 expression and activity and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) DNA binding, with the main emphasis on prevention of chemical-induced hepatic carcinogenesis. For this purpose we used Hep G2 cells, a good model of the normal human hepatocyte for CYP1A1 cell signaling. First, when these cells were exposed to a low concentration (1 microM) of BaP, DNA binding occurred, which dramatically increased after 6 h of treatment. BaP also dramatically induced CYP1A1 activity, protein expression and mRNA levels, the likely reason for the marked increase in DNA binding. Second, we screened 25 polyphenols with highly varying chemical structures for maximum ability to inhibit CYP1A1 activity in the Hep G2 cells. Highly varying responses were obtained, ranging from a 10-fold induction by some polyphenols to almost complete inhibition, in particular by 5,7-dimethoxyflavone (DMF), a flavonoid found in some tropical plants. Third, we examined the ability of DMF to inhibit DNA binding of BaP and the mechanisms involved. DMF (2-20 microM) inhibited BaP-induced DNA binding. DMF also inhibited BaP-induced CYP1A1 activity, CYP1A1 protein expression and mRNA levels. Moreover, DMF directly inhibited the catalytic activity of recombinant CYP1A1 with an IC50 of 0.8 microM. In conclusion, DMF was a highly potent inhibitor of BaP-induced DNA binding and CYP1A1 protein expression and activity in the Hep G2 cells. These properties may make DMF an effective chemoprotectant in chemical-induced liver cancer.     

上皮来源的肿瘤细胞表达免疫球蛋白A

目的 证实上皮来源的肿瘤细胞表达免疫球蛋白,确定所表达的免疫球蛋白的类别。方法 采用免疫组化、Western blot及ELISA等方法检测MCF－7（人乳腺癌细胞系）、SW480（人结肠癌细胞系）、MGC（人胃癌细胞系）、HeLa(人宫颈癌细胞系）、CNE1－LMP1（稳定表达LMP1的鼻咽癌细胞系）、HNE2（鼻咽癌细胞系）和Tet-on-LMP1-HNE2(受四环素诱导可调控的鼻咽癌细胞系）等7种上皮来源的细胞系的细胞蛋白提取液及培养上清中的免疫球蛋白。结果 在7种上皮来源的瘤细胞系的蛋白提取液及培养上清中均检测到了人免疫球蛋白A。结论 上皮来源的肿瘤细胞表达免疫球蛋白A。     

Malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells with the tobacco-specific nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone

Sufficient evidence has demonstrated that cigarette smoking is causally associated with various types of human cancers. In the United States, about 90% of deaths from lung cancer among men and 79% of those among women are associated with smoking. Tobacco-specific nitrosamines are formed from nicotine and related tobacco alkaloids and are the most carcinogenic compounds of tobacco smoke. The most potent N-nitrosamine contained in tobacco smoke is 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, NNK. In the our study, the oncogenic transforming effects of graded doses of NNK were examined using papillomavirus-immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells. Growth kinetics, saturation density, resistance to serum-induced terminal differentiation, anchorage independent growth and tumorigenicity in nude mice were used to investigate the various stages of transformation in bronchial epithelial cells. We show here that immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells in culture can be malignantly transformed by treatment with NNK (100 microg/ml or 400 microg/ml) for 7 days. Transformed cells produced progressively growing subcutaneous tumors upon inoculation into nude mice. Immunofluorescence staining for keratin expression confirmed the epithelial nature of the tumor cells. Increased expression of p16, beta-catenin and PCNA in the established cell lines were detected by immunofluorescence staining and quantified by confocal microscopy. These data suggested that NNK can induce malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells, and the tumor cell lines established are useful models in investigating the carcinogenic mechanism(s) of NNK.     

Indole-3-carbinol inhibits 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone plus benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice and modulates carcinogen-induced alterations in protein levels

We tested the chemopreventive efficacy of indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a constituent of Brassica vegetables, and its major condensation product, 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), against lung tumorigenesis induced by a mixture of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in A/J mice. The mixture of NNK plus BaP (2 micromol each) was administered by gavage as eight weekly doses, whereas I3C (112 micromol/g diet) and DIM (2 and 30 micromol/g diet in experiments 1 and 2, respectively) were given in the diet for 23 weeks beginning at 50% of carcinogen treatment. I3C reduced NNK plus BaP-induced tumor multiplicity by 78% in experiment 1 and 86% in experiment 2; the respective reductions in tumor multiplicity by DIM were 5% and 66%. Using a quantitative proteomics method, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) coupled with mass spectrometry, we identified and quantified at least 250 proteins in lung tissues. Of these proteins, nine showed differences in relative abundance in lung tissues of carcinogen-treated versus untreated mice: fatty acid synthase, transketolase, pulmonary surfactant-associated protein C (SP-C), L-plastin, annexin A1, and haptoglobin increased, whereas transferrin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and apolipoprotein A-1 decreased. Supplementation of the diet of carcinogen-treated mice with I3C reduced the level of SP-C, L-plastin, annexin A1, and haptoglobin to that of untreated controls. These results were verified using immunoblotting. We show here that tumor-associated signature proteins are increased during NNK plus BaP-induced lung carcinogenesis, and I3C inhibits this effect, suggesting that the lung tumor chemopreventive activity of I3C might be related to modulation of carcinogen-induced alterations in protein levels.     

Dose-dependent benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]-DNA adduct levels and persistence in F-344 rats following subchronic dietary exposure to B(a)P

In order to investigate the relationship between BaP–DNA adduct formation and long-term exposure to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), DNA adduct levels in liver and lung tissues of male and female F-344 rats subchronically exposed to BaP were determined. Doses of 0, 5, 50, and 100 mg/kg BaP, representing control, low, intermediate, and high doses, respectively, were administered in the animal diet over a 90-day period. After dosing, animals were sacrificed, liver and lung tissues were removed, DNA was isolated and analyzed for BaP-induced DNA adducts by the ³²P-postlabeling method using a four-directional thin-layer chromatography system. At low and intermediate BaP doses, DNA adduct levels in the tissues were significantly correlated with exposure. However, at high BaP doses, the dose-DNA adduct relationship became non-linear. Similarly, the relative DNA adducts persistence at intermediate and high doses were significantly higher than that measured at low dose. The low and intermediate dose linearity and high dose non-linearity may be due to saturation of metabolic activation and detoxification enzymes, and DNA repair processes.     

Rat ovarian granulosa cell culture: a model system for the study of cell-cell communication during multistep transformation.

A spontaneously immortalized clonal granulosa cell line (SIGC) derived from primary rat ovarian granulosa cell cultures was developed as a model system to explore the process of transformation using an epithelial cell type. SIGC has an epithelial morphology and grows in culture without undergoing luteinization. The cell line is thought to represent an intermediate step in carcinogenesis because it seems to grow indefinitely in culture but does not form clones in soft agar or tumors in nude mice. Indirect immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis verified the constitutive expression of the recessive oncogene product p53 in the cell line, thereby suggesting a possible mechanism of immortalization. Ultrastructural studies indicated that SIGC cells are characterized by an undifferentiated phenotype with prominent intermediate filaments, desmosomes, and gap junctions. The identification of cytokeratin by indirect immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis suggests that SIGC functions as an epithelial cell type. Functional studies of cell-cell communication by a dye transfer technique (fluorescence recovery after photobleaching) showed reduced communication compared to normal primary granulosa cells in culture. SIGC cells were transfected with early region genes of SV40 virus in an attempt to generate fully transformed cell lines. The resulting cell line SV-SIGC expressed T-antigen, was anchorage independent, formed tumors in nude mice, and had reduced intercellular communication as compared to SIGC cells. Explants from the tumors in nude mice were used to generate another cell line (T-SV-SIGC), which exhibited further reduction in both the incidence and the rate of communication. These results clearly demonstrated a progressive loss of functional communication during multistep transformation of an ovarian cell type. These data demonstrate that this assay system based on an epithelioid cell type can be used to study the relationship between intercellular communication and the multistep process of carcinogenesis.     

Molecular mechanisms of TPA-mediated inhibition of gap-junctional intercellular communication: evidence for action on the assembly or function but not the expression of connexin 43 in rat liver epithelial cells.

We found that a rat liver epithelial cell line (IAR 20) expresses connexin 43, the major cardiac gap-junction protein, but not connexin 26 or connexin 32, major liver gap-junction proteins. The effects of TPA on connexin 43 expression in IAR 20 were investigated using northern blot analysis, western blot analysis, and an immunofluorescence technique. Gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in this cell line decreased within 60 min of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) treatment and recovered after 24 h. The number of immunofluorescence spots of connexin 43 on IAR 20 was closely related to the change in GJIC induced by TPA. However, TPA did not change the level of mRNA measured by northern blot analysis. Moreover, connexin 43 protein expression analyzed by western blotting suggests that connexin 43 proteins were still present in TPA-treated cells at a similar level. These results suggest that GJIC of these rat liver epithelial cells was mediated by connexin 43 protein and that TPA inhibited GJIC by inhibiting posttranslational processing of connexin 43 proteins, e.g., localization or assembly.     

结晶型NiS诱发人支气管上皮细胞系恶性转化

目的:研究结晶型硫化镍(NiS)诱发SV-40 Large T抗原永生化的人支气管上皮细胞系(16HBE)恶性转化作用.方法:体外用不同浓度结晶型NiS多次处理16HBE细胞,软琼脂集落形成和裸鼠成瘤试验鉴定转化细胞的恶性度.结果:细胞培养至35代,发现NiS可诱导16HBE恶性转化.转化细胞排列紊乱,重叠生长,在软琼脂中的集落形成率显著高于对照组(P＜0.01),并呈时间剂量依赖关系;转化细胞在裸鼠体内成瘤,组织学证实为低分化鳞状细胞癌.结论:结晶型NiS有较强的诱导人支气管上皮细胞恶性转化能力；该转化模型为镍致癌机制的分子水平研究提供了理想的研究系统。