Gamma-glutamyltransferase from human hepatoma cell lines: purification and cell culture of HepG2 on microcarriers

Micro total bioassay system for ingested substances: assessment of intestinal absorption, hepatic metabolism, and bioactivity

Oral medicines and food constituents are absorbed in the intestine and metabolized in the liver, after which they exhibit their activity toward a target tissue. Micromodels of human tissues were developed to mimic these processes and bioactivities. By integrating the micromodels, we realized a micro total bioassay system for oral substances; this system comprised a microintestine, microliver, and the target components. The microchip was composed of a slide glass and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheets with microchannels fabricated by photolithography. Caco-2 cells were cultured in the intestine component, and HepG2 cells, in the liver component. The human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells were cultured in the target component, and the activities of anticancer agents and estrogen-like substances were successfully assayed. By using this system, the overall properties of the ingested cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, 17-β estradiol, and soy isoflavone, i.e., their intestinal absorption, hepatic metabolism, and bioactivity toward target cells, could be assayed with operative ease. Further, the assay time and cell consumption were reduced compared to those in conventional in vitro bioassay systems.

Activation of DNA biosynthesis in human hepatoblastoma HEPG2 cells by the nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprusside

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in carcinogenesis is controversial as it has been shown to both stimulate and inhibit tumour growth. Also, there are contradictory opinions regarding the effects of NO on the proliferation of normal and tumour cells. The aim of our study was to use an in vitro model to determine the influence of exogenous NO donors on DNA biosynthesis by measuring [3H] thymidine incorporation in human hepatoblastoma cells (HepG2). The studies were conducted with the following NO precursors: sodium nitroprusside (SNP), S-nitrosoglutathione, and nitroglycerine (NTG). Out of all three NO donors, SNP increased NO levels and strongly stimulated DNA biosynthesis. A SNP concentration of 150 microM induced optimal NO levels necessary for the activation of DNA biosynthesis. Lower levels of DNA biosynthesis (118% increase over the control) were observed in the presence of NTG, whereas S-nitrosoglutathione had no effect. Antioxidants such as thiol-containing drugs, N-acetylcysteine and tocopherol, proved to be the most efficient co-activators of SNP-induced DNA synthesis. On the other hand, supplementing the SNP-containing medium with compounds that induce oxidative stress and lower the level of -SH groups such as hydrogen peroxide, doxorubicin, and N-ethylmaleimide, led to the inhibition of DNA synthesis. Therefore, our results firmly confirm the hypothesis that biological effects of exogenous NO donors depends on the redox status of the cell.

Modulation of extracellular homocysteine concentration in human cell lines

BACKGROUND

Despite the growing evidence that plasma homocysteine is a cardiovascular risk factor, the mechanism behind the vascular injuries is still unknown. Information about the metabolism of homocysteine is, therefore, essential for an understanding of its role in atherogenesis, thereby enabling a modulation of that risk.

METHODS

In the present study, we have examined the modulation of extracellular homocysteine in HeLa and hepatoma cell cultures in relation to a changed extracellular thiol redox status and in the presence of specific inhibitors of amino acid transporters.

RESULTS

The findings in the present study show that a changed thiol redox status by copper ions, copper chelator or the monothiol, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), affects extracellular homocysteine in the same way in hepatoma cell cultures, but not to the same extent as observed in HeLa cell cultures. However, the dithiols, dithiothreitol (DTT) and alpha-lipoic acid (LA), which lowered extracellular homocysteine concentration in HeLa cell cultures, increased the extracellular total homocysteine concentration in hepatoma cell cultures, probably mainly as a result of increased release of homocysteine extracellularly. Studies with specific inhibitors of amino acid transporters in HeLa cell cultures showed that homocysteine uptake occurred mainly by system A and glutamate transporters. Hepatoma cells seemed to have a much smaller uptake capacity of homocysteine compared to HeLa cells.

CONCLUSION

The lack of uptake capacity of homocysteine in hepatoma cells indicates that hepatocytes only play a small role in the elimination of homocysteine from circulation. Intracellular metabolism, cellular export and the complex pattern of homocysteine uptake in different cells are important to examine further in order to possibly be able to lower plasma homocysteine levels.

gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase and l-cysteine regulate methylmercury uptake by HepG2 cells, a human hepatoma cell line

Mechanisms of methylmercury (MeHg) and inorganic mercury (Hg) uptake were examined in HepG2 cells, a human hepatoma-derived cell line. MeHg uptake was faster when it was present as the l-cysteine complex, as compared to the glutathione (GSH), CysGly, gamma-GluCys, d-cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, l-penicillamine, or albumin complexes. Uptake of MeHg-l-cysteine was independent of Na(+), stereoselective, and was inhibited by the amino acid transport system l substrates l-leucine, l-valine, and l-phenylalanine (5 mM). Moreover, [(3)H]l-leucine uptake was inhibited by MeHg-l-cysteine, suggesting that MeHg-l-cysteine is transported into HepG2 cells by an l-type amino acid carrier. Uptake of MeHg as the GSH complex (MeHg-SG) was dependent on the extracellular GSH concentration, and was diminished when cellular gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity was inhibited. Inorganic mercury uptake was slower than that of MeHg, but was also sensitive to the type of thiol ligand present. These findings demonstrate that mercury uptake by HepG2 cells is dependent on the chemical structure of the mercury compound, the thiol ligand, and the activity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase appears to play a key role in the disposition of MeHg-SG by facilitating the formation of MeHg-l-cysteine, which is readily transported into the cells on an amino acid-type carrier.

Gene transfer technologies for the production of enzyme and protein reference materials

To maintain the success of recommended methods and to allow comparison among various methods of enzyme analysis, enzyme reference materials are required, having catalytic properties as close as possible to those of the corresponding human enzymes. Though human sources are preferable, ethical reasons require the extraction and purification from animal tissues. By providing theoretically unlimited amounts of material, gene transfer technologies and mass culture can overcome the need of human or mammalian tissues. We have used these technologies to produce human gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and pancreatic lipase (PL) in various types of host cells. Different strategies were tested, especially for GGT, depending on the inherent properties and requirements of the human enzyme. Expression and purification protocols were optimized, yielding good amounts of recombinant enzymes which share many physico-chemical and catalytic features with their natural counterparts. Kinetic constants and catalytic behavior were very similar, demonstrating the usefulness of these products as reference materials. We assume recombinant DNA technologies could be successfully applied to most enzymes or proteins assayed in clinical chemistry laboratories.

Molecular and functional characterization of recombinant human gamma-glutamyltransferase. Coupling of its activity to glutathione levels in V79 cells

We previously described the establishment of a transfected cell line (V79HGGT) that stably produces the highest recombinant human gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity. We now report the utilization of V79HGGT as a model system for studying human GGT. The papain-solubilized recombinant enzyme has been highly purified from cultured cells by a new procedure. Studies on the purified enzyme, either by N-terminal sequencing or by characterization of its enzymic activities, confirmed that recombinant GGT shares structural and catalytic identity with native human enzymes. The circular dichroism analysis indicated an alpha-helical content of 19%. Based on these data, we have undertaken a study on the functional consequences of elevated GGT activity on the reduced glutathione (GSH) content. GSH status was followed in V79 and V79HGGT cells throughout growth. A particular pattern was observed for each cell line, depending on, but differentially affected by, alteration of the culture medium. Elevated GGT activity was associated with a 2.5-fold reduced GSH content, clearly suggesting a negative influence of the highly expressed enzyme on the GSH level under normal growth conditions. Possible mechanisms involved are proposed. Our findings pointed out that, among the GSH-related enzymes, GGT could constitute an important factor determining the steady-state content of GSH.

Expression of some hepatocyte-like functional properties of WRL-68 cells in culture

Some morphologic and functional characteristics of an hepatic fetal human epithelial cell line (WRL-68 cells) were determined to validate the use of these cells as an in vitro hepatic model. WRL-68 cells have a morphologic structure similar to hepatocytes and hepatic primary cultures. They secrete alpha-feto protein and albumin and exhibit a cytokeratin pattern similar to other hepatic cultures. WRL-68 cells preserve the activity of some characteristic or specific liver enzymes or both used in clinical chemistry for the diagnosis of hepatic disorders, i.e. alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase.

Comparison of sulfur amino acid utilization for GSH synthesis between HepG2 cells and cultured rat hepatocytes

HepG2 cells are widely used as a model of human hepatocytes for studies of drug metabolism and toxicity. However, GSH metabolism in HepG2 cells is poorly characterized. This report describes the utilization of sulfur amino acids for GSH synthesis in HepG2 cells. In contrast to primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, which rely mostly on methionine for GSH synthesis, HepG2 cells use cystine. Their inability to utilize methionine for GSH synthesis was not due to lack of methionine uptake or low cellular ATP levels, but rather to the lack of S-adenosyl-methionine synthetase activity. When HepG2 cells were cultured overnight in medium containing cystine as the only sulfur amino acid, addition of glutamate or acivicin had minimal to no effect on cell GSH; however, addition of threonine significantly depleted cell GSH. When cystine (0.18 mM) uptake was measured, glutamate (2.5 mM), which inhibited cystine uptake in cultured rat hepatocytes, had a minimal effect in HepG2 cells. Instead, threonine (20 mM) strongly inhibited the apparent uptake of cystine by HepG2 cells. Strong inhibition by threonine of apparent cystine uptake was actually due to inhibition of cysteine uptake, which resulted from GSH-cystine mixed disulfide exchange. Radio-HPLC confirmed this. After incubating cells with [35S]cystine (0.18 mM) for 10 min, the total counts inside the cell matched the counts in the uptake medium in the form of GSH-cysteine mixed disulfide. Finally, HepG2 cells took up cysteine by both Na(+)-dependent and -independent mechanisms. The former exhibited high affinity and low capacity, whereas the latter exhibited the opposite. At a physiologic concentration of cysteine (10 microM), 68% of cysteine uptake occurred via the Na(+)-dependent system and 32% via system L1.

Establishment of a V79 transfected cell line highly producing recombinant human gamma-glutamyltransferase

gamma-Glutamyltransferase (GGT) is a glutathione-metabolizing enzyme whose activity variations in serum and organs are valuable markers of preneoplastic processes, alcohol abuse and induction by drugs. To elucidate the implication of GGT in various metabolic pathways, we established a stable transfected V79 cell line highly producing the human GGT. A full length cDNA, encoding the human hepatoma Hep G2 GGT, was subcloned into an expression vector under the control of the SV40 early promoter and was used to transfect V79 cells. A cell line was selected, exhibiting a GGT activity of 2 units per mg of protein, one of the highest levels reported to date. The recombinant GGT purified from this cell line showed the expected heterodimeric structure, with two subunits existing as sialylated and differentially glycosylated isoforms, with mean molecular masses of 80 and 29 kDa. Catalytic features were found to be identical to those of human serum and Hep G2 GGTs. Thus, the newly engineered cell line should be useful for the production of human GGT and as a potential alternative model for pharmacological studies.

Gamma-glutamyltransferase: nucleotide sequence of the human pancreatic cDNA. Evidence for a ubiquitous gamma-glutamyltransferase polypeptide in human tissues

gamma-Glutamyltransferase (GGT, EC 2.3.2.2) is an enzyme involved in glutathione metabolism and drug and xenobiotic detoxification. Using human hepatoma Hep G2 GGT cDNA as probe, we isolated a cDNA from a human pancreatic cDNA library. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences revealed a 2244-bp insert that includes an open reading frame of 1710 bp, encoding a protein identical to the Hep G2 and human placenta GGTs. Similarly, the 5' untranslated region, though shorter, is highly homologous to that of Hep G2 cDNA. These data suggest strongly that the same gene encodes human GGT in the placenta, Hep G2 and the pancreas. We further studied the distribution of the corresponding mRNA, called type I mRNA, in different human tissues. Using a highly sensitive method associating reverse transcription with specific amplification by polymerase chain reaction, cDNA was synthesized from total RNA isolated from the tissues and GGT specific fragments were amplified. We observed the presence of a specific cDNA fragment corresponding to the type I mRNA in the human tissues and cells tested, providing the evidence for a ubiquitous expression of this GGT mRNA in human tissues.

High-level expression of enzymatically active mature human gamma-glutamyltransferase in transgenic V79 Chinese hamster cells

gamma-Glutamyltransferase [GGT; (5-glutamyl)-peptide:amino-acid 5-glutamyltransferase, EC 2.3.2.2] is a glutathione-metabolizing enzyme, whose activity variations in serum and organs are valuable markers of preneoplastic processes, alcohol abuse, and induction by xenobiotics. To elucidate the implication of GGT in various metabolic pathways, we established a stable transgenic V79 cell line, highly producing the human GGT. A full-length cDNA, encoding the human hepatoma HepG2 GGT, was subcloned in an expression vector under the control of the simian virus 40 early promoter and was used to transfect V79 cells. We selected a cell line exhibiting a GGT activity of 2 units per mg of protein, the highest GGT expression level reported to date. As described for the human kidney and liver enzymes, the recombinant GGT purified from this cell line showed a heterodimeric structure. Its two subunits existed as sialylated and differentially glycosylated isoforms, with mean molecular masses of 80 and 29 kDa. However, catalytic features were found to be identical to those of human serum and HepG2 GGTs. The newly engineered cell line thus should be useful for the production of human GGT and as a potential alternative model for pharmacological studies.