Sex-dependent regulation of hepatic peroxisome proliferation in mice by trichloroethylene via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha)

The mechanism of trichloroethylene-induced liver peroxisome proliferation and the sex difference in response was investigated using wild-type Sv/129 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha)-null mice. Trichloroethylene treatment (0.75 g/kg for 2 weeks by gavage) resulted in liver peroxisome proliferation in wild-type mice, but not in PPARalpha-null mice, suggesting that trichloroethylene-induced peroxisome proliferation is primarily mediated by PPARalpha. No remarkable sex difference was observed in induction of peroxisome proliferation, as measured morphologically, but a markedly higher induction of several enzymes and PPARalpha protein and mRNA was found in males. On the other hand, trichloroethylene induced liver cytochrome P450 2E1, the principal enzyme responsible for metabolizing trichloroethylene to chloral hydrate, only in males, which resulted in similar expression levels in both sexes after the treatment. Trichloroethylene influenced neither the level of catalase, an enzyme involved in the reduction of oxidative stress, nor aldehyde dehydrogenase, the main enzyme catalyzing the conversion to trichloroacetic acid. These results suggest that trichloroethylene treatment causes a male-specific PPARalpha-dependent increase in cellular oxidative stress.     

Diminished hepatocellular proliferation in mice humanized for the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha

Lipid-lowering fibrate drugs function as agonists for the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). Sustained activation of PPARalpha leads to the development of liver tumors in rats and mice. However, humans appear to be resistant to the induction of peroxisome proliferation and the development of liver cancer by fibrate drugs. The molecular basis of this species difference is not known. To examine the mechanism determining species differences in peroxisome proliferator response between mice and humans, a PPARalpha-humanized mouse line was generated in which the human PPARalpha was expressed in liver under control of the tetracycline responsive regulatory system. The PPARalpha-humanized and wild-type mice responded to treatment with the potent PPARalpha ligand Wy-14643 as revealed by induction of genes encoding peroxisomal and mitochondrial fatty acid metabolizing enzymes and resultant decrease of serum triglycerides. However, surprisingly, only the wild-type mice and not the PPARalpha-humanized mice exhibited hepatocellular proliferation as revealed by elevation of cell cycle control genes, increased incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine into hepatocyte nuclei, and hepatomegaly. These studies establish that following ligand activation, the PPARalpha-mediated pathways controlling lipid metabolism are independent from those controlling the cell proliferation pathways. These findings also suggest that structural differences between human and mouse PPARalpha are responsible for the differential susceptibility to the development of hepatocarcinomas observed after treatment with fibrates. The PPARalpha-humanized mice should serve as models for use in drug development and human risk assessment and to determine the mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis of peroxisome proliferators.     

Molecular profiling of hepatocellular carcinomas developing spontaneously in acyl-CoA oxidase deficient mice: comparison with liver tumors induced in wild-type mice by a peroxisome proliferator and a genotoxic carcinogen

By using cDNA microarrays, we studied the expression profiles of 26 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) developing spontaneously in peroxisomal fatty acyl-CoA oxidase null (AOX-/-) mice. The development of liver tumors in AOX-/- mice is due to sustained activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) by the unmetabolized substrates of AOX, which serve as natural PPARalpha ligands. We then compared the AOX-/- liver tumor expression profiles with those induced by ciprofibrate, a non-genotoxic peroxisome proliferator, or by the genotoxic carcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DENA) to discern differences in gene expression patterns that may predict or distinguish PPARalpha-mediated liver tumors from genotoxically derived tumors. Our results show that HCCs developing in AOX-/- mice share a number of deregulated (up- or down-regulated) genes with ciprofibrate-induced liver tumors. The overall commonality of expression between AOX-/- and ciprofibrate-induced liver tumors but not with DENA-induced tumors strongly implicates the activation of PPARalpha and PPARalpha-regulated genes in liver, including those participating in lipid catabolism, as key factors in the development of HCC in AOX-/- and in ciprofibrate-treated mice. Northern blot analysis confirmed the differential expression of some of the genes identified in the present study, and also some genes identified previously as PPARalpha regulated, such as CD36, lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus (Ly-6D), and C3f. We found a panel of 12 genes upregulated in all three classes of liver tumors, namely AOX-/-, ciprofibrate-induced and DENA-induced. These include an uncharacterized RIKEN cDNA, lipocalin 2, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1, Ly-6D and CD63 among others. In conclusion, these results identify distinguishing features between non-genotoxic and genotoxic carcinogen derived liver tumors as well as genes that are upregulated in both types and suggest that RIKEN cDNA, Ly-6D and lipocalin 2 in particular appear to be desirable molecular markers for further study in liver carcinogenesis and progression.     

Differential susceptibility of mice humanized for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha to Wy-14,643-induced liver tumorigenesis

Peroxisome proliferators, such as lipid-lowering fibrate drugs, are agonists for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). Sustained activation of PPARalpha leads to the development of liver tumors in rodents. Paradoxically, humans appear to be resistant to the induction of peroxisome proliferation and development of liver tumors by peroxisome proliferators. To examine the species differences in response to peroxisome proliferators, a PPARalpha humanized mouse (hPPARalpha) was generated, in which the human PPARalpha was expressed in liver under control of the Tet-OFF system. To evaluate the susceptibility of hPPARalpha mice to peroxisome proliferator-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, a long-term feeding study of Wy-14,643 was carried out. hPPARalpha and wild-type (mPPARalpha) mice were fed either a control diet or one containing 0.1% Wy-14,643 for 44 and 38 weeks, respectively. Gene expression analysis for peroxisomal and mitochondrial fatty acid metabolizing enzymes revealed that both hPPARalpha and mPPARalpha were functional. However, the incidence of liver tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma was 71% in Wy-14,643-treated mPPARalpha mice, and 5% in Wy-14,643-treated hPPARalpha mice. Upregulation of cell cycle regulated genes such as cd1 and Cdks were observed in non-tumorous liver tissue of Wy-14,643-treated mPPARalpha mice, whereas p53 gene expression was increased only in the livers of Wy-14,643-treated hPPARalpha mice. These findings suggest that structural differences between human and mouse PPARalpha are responsible for the differential susceptibility to the peroxisome proliferator-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. This mouse model will be useful for human cancer risk assessment of PPARalpha ligands.     

Role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) in bezafibrate-induced hepatocarcinogenesis and cholestasis

Prolonged administration of peroxisome proliferators to rodents typically leads to hepatocarcinogenesis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) is required to mediate alterations in PPARalpha target gene expression, repress apoptosis, enhance replicative DNA synthesis, oxidative stress to DNA and hepatocarcinogenesis induced by the relatively specific PPARalpha agonist, Wy-14,643. Interestingly, administration of the less specific PPARalpha agonist, bezafibrate, leads to a modest induction of PPARalpha target genes in the absence of PPARalpha expression. In these studies, the role of PPARalpha in modulating hepatocarcinogenesis induced by long-term feeding of 0.5% bezafibrate was examined in wild-type (+/+) and PPARalpha-null (-/-) mice. The average liver weight was significantly higher in (+/+) and (-/-) mice fed bezafibrate than controls, but this effect was considerably less in (-/-) mice as compared with similarly treated (+/+) mice. Increased levels of mRNA encoding cell cycle regulatory proteins and DNA repair enzymes were found in (+/+) mice fed bezafibrate, and this effect was not found in (-/-) mice. In mice fed bezafibrate for 1 year, preneoplastic foci, adenomas and a hepatocellular carcinoma were found in (+/+) mice, while only a single microscopic adenoma was found in one (-/-) mouse. This effect was observed in both Sv/129 and C57BL/6N strains of mice, although only preneoplastic foci were observed in the latter strain. Interestingly, hepatic cholestasis was observed in 100% of the bezafibrate-fed (-/-) mice, and this was accompanied by significantly elevated hepatic expression of mRNA encoding bile salt export pump and lower expression of mRNA encoding cytochrome P450 7A1, consistent with enhanced activation of the bile acid receptor, farnesoid X receptor. Results from these studies demonstrate that the PPARalpha is required to mediate hepatocarcinogenesis induced by bezafibrate, and that PPARalpha protects against potential cholestasis.     

Chemopreventive effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma on gastric carcinogenesis in mice

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is known to be expressed in several cancers, and the treatment of these cancer cells with PPARgamma ligands often induces cell differentiation and apoptosis. Recently, the chemopreventive potential of PPARgamma ligands on colon carcinogenesis was reported, although the effect of PPARgamma on colon carcinogenesis and the mechanism of the effect remain controversial. In this study, we attempted to elucidate the role of PPARgamma in gastric carcinogenesis and explored the possible use of PPARgamma ligand as a chemopreventive agent for gastric cancer. N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU, 240 ppm) was given in drinking water for 10 weeks to induce gastric cancer in PPARgamma wild-type (+/+) and heterozygous-deficient (+/-) mice, followed by treatment with PPARgamma ligand [troglitazone, 0.15% (w/w) in powder food] or the vehicle alone for 42 weeks. At the end of the experiment, PPARgamma (+/-) mice were more susceptible to MNU-induced gastric cancer than wild-type (+/+) mice (89.5%/55.5%), and troglitazone significantly reduced the incidence of gastric cancer in PPARgamma (+/+) mice (treatment 55.5%/vehicle 9%) but not in PPARgamma (+/-) mice. The present study showed that (a) PPARgamma suppresses gastric carcinogenesis, (b) the PPARgamma ligand troglitazone is a potential chemopreventive agent for gastric carcinogenesis, and (c) troglitazone's chemopreventive effect is dependent on PPARgamma.     

PPARγ基因沉默抑制裸鼠肝癌血管生成的初步研究

目的:探讨过氧化物酶体增殖物活化受体γ(PPARγ)基因沉默对肝癌裸鼠模型瘤内血管生成的影响.方法:构建PPARγ短发夹状RNA表达质粒并转染HCCLM3细胞(pshPPARγ组),以空质粒转染为对照组.观察两组皮下种植瘤生长曲线及体积,肺转移灶数量及分级.免疫组织化学法检测抗-CD34、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)、血小板反应蛋白(TSP1)表达;RT-PCR检测MMP-2和TIMP2表达.结果: pshPPARγ组种植瘤体积为(1.86±0.65) cm3,微血管密度(MVD)为20.84±6. 38,肺转移灶数量为(37.2±0.7)个/肺,分级为1～2级,对照组体积为(4.86±1.15) cm3,MVD为39.48±9.01,肺转移灶数量为(107.8±6.1)个/肺,分级多为3～4级,两组种植瘤体积、MVD和转移灶数量、分级的差异有统计学意义,t值分别为5.082、8.441和21.83, P值均＜0.05.pshPPARγ组TSP1蛋白阳性表达,而VEGF蛋白为弱阳性或阴性表达,MMP-2 mRNA表达下调,而TIMP2 mRNA表达下调,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义,t值分别为11.34、 8.44, P值均＜0.01.结论: PPARγ基因沉默可降低肝癌种植瘤血管生成,与调节MMP-2/TIMP2表达,影响VEGF/TSP1平衡有关.     

Expression profiling and identification of novel genes in hepatocellular carcinomas.

Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and unlike certain other cancers, such as colon cancer, a mutational model has not yet been developed. We have performed gene expression profiling of normal and neoplastic livers in C3H/HeJ mice treated with diethylnitrosamine. Using oligonucleotide microarrays, we compared gene expression in liver tumors to three different states of the normal liver: quiescent adult, regenerating adult, and newborn. Although each comparison revealed hundreds of differentially expressed genes, only 22 genes were found to be deregulated in the tumors in all three comparisons. Three of these genes were examined in human hepatocellular carcinomas and were found to be upregulated. As a second method of analysis, we used Representational Difference Analysis (RDA) to clone mRNA fragments differentially expressed in liver tumors versus regenerating livers. We cloned several novel mRNAs that are differentially regulated in murine liver tumors. Here we report the sequence of a novel cDNA whose expression is upregulated in both murine and human hepatocellular carcinomas. Our results suggest that DEN-treated mice provide an excellent model for human hepatocellular carcinomas.     

A peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma antagonist induces vimentin cleavage and inhibits invasion in high-grade hepatocellular carcinoma

Increased expression of vimentin in carcinomas correlates with parameters of malignant potential such as tumor grade and tumor metastasis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) has been intensively evaluated as a potential target for the inhibition of cell growth and metastasis in cancer cells. In the present study, we examined whether PPARgamma is a possible target molecule for the prevention of cell growth and invasion by treatment with agonists (troglitazone, rosiglitazone) and antagonists (T0070907, GW9662) in four different hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines. We also evaluated the effects of the PPARgamma agonists and antagonists on tumor cell migration and invasion. The expression level of PPARgamma protein was higher in the sarcomatoid SH-J1 and poorly differentiated HLE cell lines than that in the well-differentiated HCC cell lines (HepG2 and Huh-7). Expression of vimentin was high in the SH-J1 HCC cell line and minimally detected in the HLE cell line. Treatment with low doses of the PPARgamma antagonists inhibited cell growth and colony formation of all four of the HCC cell lines. Vimentin in the high-grade HCC cells was cleaved by the treatment with the PPARgamma antagonists. Furthermore, treatment with the PPARgamma antagonists also strongly inhibited migration and invasion of the SH-J1 and HLE cells. However, treatment with low doses of the agonists had no effect on vimentin expression, migration, and invasion of the high-grade HCC cells but cell growth was inhibited by treatment with high concentrations of the agonists. Our results indicate that treatment with a PPARgamma antagonist may prevent cell growth and invasion of high-grade HCC cells. Our findings also suggest that PPARgamma antagonists inhibit cell growth and invasion through vimentin disarrangement in high-grade HCC.     

Human uterine leiomyomata express higher levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, retinoid X receptor alpha, and all-trans retinoic acid than myometrium

Uterine leiomyomata are the main indication for a hysterectomy in the United States and occur in 25% of women >35 years. Because uterine leiomyomata can form when ovariectomized guinea pigs are exposed to estradiol and retinoic acids, we tested whether human leiomyomata had high levels of retinoic acids and related nuclear receptors. Compared with normal human myometrium, leiomyomata had 3- to 5-fold higher levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), retinoid X receptor alpha proteins, and all-trans retinoic acid, but only during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. 9-cis Retinoic acid was undetectable in either leiomyomata or myometrium. PPARgamma mRNA levels were lower in leiomyomata than myometrium, but only during the luteal phase of the cycle. A PPARgamma agonist, troglitazone, was given to guinea pigs along with estradiol and all-trans retinoic acid and produced the largest leiomyomata seen to date in this model. By contrast, no tumors formed when troglitazone was given alone or with estradiol or when troglitazone was given with estradiol and 9-cis retinoic acid. New therapies for human leiomyomata may emerge by combining antagonists for PPARgamma and retinoid X receptor alpha with selective estrogen receptor modulators.     

Hepatitis C virus core protein induces spontaneous and persistent activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha in transgenic mice: implications for HCV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis

Persistent infection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) can lead to a high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV core protein plays important roles in HCV-related hepatocarcinogenesis, because mice carrying the core protein exhibit multicentric HCCs without hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. However, the precise mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis in these transgenic mice remains unclear. To evaluate whether the core protein modulates hepatocyte proliferation and apoptosis in vivo, we examined these parameters in 9- and 22-month-old transgenic mice. Although the numbers of apoptotic hepatocytes and hepatic caspase 3 activities were similar between transgenic and nontransgenic mice, the numbers of proliferating hepatocytes and the levels of numerous proteins such as cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and c-Myc, were markedly increased in an age-dependent manner in the transgenic mice. This increase was correlated with the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). In these transgenic mice, spontaneous and persistent PPARalpha activation occurred heterogeneously, which was different from that observed in mice treated with clofibrate, a potent peroxisome proliferator. We further demonstrated that stabilization of PPARalpha through a possible interaction with HCV core protein and an increase in nonesterified fatty acids, which may serve as endogenous PPARalpha ligands, in hepatocyte nuclei contributed to the core protein-specific PPARalpha activation. In conclusion, these results offer the first suggestion that HCV core protein induces spontaneous, persistent, age-dependent and heterogeneous activation of PPARalpha in transgenic mice, which may contribute to the age-dependent and multicentric hepatocarcinogenesis mediated by the core protein.     

Concomitant suppression of hyperlipidemia and intestinal polyp formation in Apc-deficient mice by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ligands

Epidemiological studies have shown a positive association of colon cancer with hyperlipidemia. Furthermore, signaling generated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and gamma ligands, suggested to be candidate tumor preventive agents, has been shown to lower serum triglyceride levels. In the present study, we assessed hyperlipidemia in Apc-deficient mice, model animals for human familial adenomatous polyposis, and examined the effects of pioglitazone and bezafibrate, respectively, PPARgamma and PPARalpha agonists, on both hyperlipidemia and intestinal polyposis. Serum lipid levels in Apc(1309) mice and Min mice from 6 to 15 weeks of age were measured. Although serum levels of triglyceride and cholesterol were low in both Apc(1309) and wild-type mice at 6 weeks, triglycerides were elevated 10-fold in Apc(1309) mice by the age of 12 weeks but not in their wild-type counterparts. Cholesterol was also increased significantly, and marked centrilobular-restricted steatosis was observed in the livers of aged Apc(1309) mice. Similar findings were observed for Min mice at 15 weeks of age. Moreover, lipoprotein lipase mRNA levels in the liver and small intestine of Apc(1309) and Min mice were demonstrated to be lower than those in wild-type mice. Treatment of Apc(1309) mice with 100 and 200 ppm pioglitazone or bezafibrate for 6 weeks from 6 weeks of age caused dose-dependent reduction in serum triglycerides and cholesterol, along with reduction in the numbers of intestinal polyps to 67% of the control value. The present study clearly demonstrated a hyperlipidemic state in Apc gene-deficient mice and a potential of PPARalpha and PPARgamma ligands to suppress both hyperlipidemia and polyp formation. Hyperlipidemia in these mice may thus be associated with their intestinal lesion development.     

Spontaneous development of hepatocellular carcinomas in the FLS mice with hereditary fatty liver

The fatty liver Shionogi (FLS) mouse is an inbred strain that develops spontaneous fatty liver (hepatic steatosis) chronically without obesity. Here, we reported that the mice develop spontaneous hepatocellular tumors with high incidences. The mice with age of over 1 year frequently developed whitish protuberant nodules in the livers, which were histologically diagnosed as hepatocellular adenoma and/or carcinoma (HCC). An incidence of HCC was 12/30 (40%) in males at 15-16 months of age, while in females that was 0/36 at 13-16 months and 4/42 (9.5%) at 20-24 months. Furthermore, histological examinations showed that after 2-4 months of age mononuclear cell infiltration and clusters of foamy cells appear in the fatty liver with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase, suggesting presence of inflammatory responses and liver injury. These observations show that the FLS mice develop hepatocellular tumors following steatohepatitis. The mouse might be a good animal model for investigating liver tumor and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.     

Association of common polymorphisms in inflammatory genes interleukin (IL)6, IL8, tumor necrosis factor alpha,NFKB1, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma with colorectal cancer

Animal models and epidemiological observations suggest that a continuous inflammatory condition predisposes to colorectal cancer (CRC), but the roles of different elements participating in inflammatory responses have been little investigated in relation to CRC. We have studied the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in the interleukin (IL)-6 (-174 G>C), IL8 (-251T>A), tumor necrosis factor alpha (-308G>A), and PPARG (Pro12Ala) genes and the risk of CRC in a group of 377 cases and 326 controls from Barcelona, Spain. These genes are known to be important for inflammation of the colorectum and common allelic variants have been shown to have a biological effect. The PPARG Ala12 and IL8-251A genotypes are associated with reduced risk of disease (0.56, 95% CI, 0.37-0.85, P = 0.0056, and 0.70, 95% CI, 0.50-0.99, P = 0.043, respectively), whereas the IL6-174C genotype is associated with increased risk (1.53, 95% CI, 1.12-2.09, P = 0.0073). We also studied a single nucleotide polymorphism in intron 11 of the NFKB1 gene (rs1020759), which probably lacks any functional role, and found no significant association with the disease. This is the first report that IL6, IL8, and PPARG genes are important in relation to inflammation-related risk of sporadic CRC.