Induction of glutathione S-transferase P-form in primary cultured rat hepatocytes by epidermal growth factor and insulin

Proteomic analysis on insulin signaling in human hematopoietic cells: identification of CLIC1 and SRp20 as novel downstream effectors of insulin

Insulin/IGF-I-dependent signals play important roles for the regulation of proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and autophagy in various cells, including hematopoietic cells. Although the early protein kinase activation cascade has been intensively studied, the whole picture of intracellular signaling events has not yet been clarified. To identify novel downstream effectors of insulin-dependent signals in relatively early phases, we performed high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE)-based proteomic analysis using human hematopoietic cells 1 h after insulin stimulation. We identified SRp20, a splicing factor, and CLIC1, an intracellular chloride ion channel, as novel downstream effectors besides previously reported effectors of Rho-guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor 2 and glutathione S-transferase-pi. Reduction in SRp20 was confirmed by one-dimensional Western blotting. Moreover, MG-132, a proteasome inhibitor, prevented this reduction. By contrast, upregulation of CLIC1 was not observed in one-dimensional Western blotting, unlike the 2-DE results. As hydrophilic proteins were predominantly recovered in 2-DE, the discrepancy between the 1-DE and 2-DE results may indicate a certain qualitative change of the protein. Indeed, the nuclear localization pattern of CLIC1 was remarkably changed by insulin stimulation. Thus insulin induces the proteasome-dependent degradation of SRp20 as well as the subnuclear relocalization of CLIC1.

Does glutathione S-transferase Pi (GST-Pi) a marker protein for cancer?

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs, EC 2.5.1.18) are multifunctional and multigene products. They are versatile enzymes and participate in the nucleophilic attack of the sulphur atom of glutathione on the electrophilic centers of various endogenous and xenobiotic compounds. Out of the five, alpha, micro, pi, sigma and theta, major classes of GSTs, GST-pi has significance in the diagnosis of cancers as it is expressed abundantly in tumor cells. This protein is a single gene product, coded by seven exons, that is having 24 kDa mass and pI value of 7.0. Four upstream elements such as two enhancers, and one of each of AP-1 site and GC box regulate pi gene. During chemical carcinogenesis because of jun/fos oncogenes (AP-1) regulatory elements, specifically GST-pi is expressed in liver. Therefore this gene product could be used as marker protein for the detection of chemical toxicity and carcinogenesis.

Significance of hepatic preneoplasia in risk identification and early detection of neoplasia

Among the different types of liver tumor, hepatocellular neoplasms predominate by far in both animals and man. Consequently, preneoplastic foci of altered hepatocytes (FAH), preceding both hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas, represent the most prevalent form of hepatic preneoplasia observed in animals for a long time, and identified in human chronic liver diseases associated with, or predisposing to, hepatocellular carcinomas more recently. Morphological, microbiochemical, and molecular biological approaches in situ revealed striking similarities in specific changes of the cellular phenotype of preneoplastic FAH developing in experimental and human hepatocarcinogenesis, irrespective of whether this was elicited by chemicals, hormones, viruses or radiation. The advantage of using FAH for risk identification (aiming at primary cancer prevention) in long-term and medium-term carcinogenesis bioassays has been well documented, but quantitative morphometric approaches appear to be indispensable for an appropriate evaluation of both bioassays. The detection of phenotypically similar FAH in various animal models and in humans prone to develop or bearing hepatocellular carcinomas favors the extrapolation from data obtained in animals to humans. Moreover, the recently reported frequent finding of FAH in fine-needle biopsies of patients suffering from chronic liver diseases opens new perspectives for secondary prevention of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Glutathione S-transferases from rainbow trout liver and freshly isolated hepatocytes: purification and characterization

Glutathione S-transferases (GST) form an important family of biotransformation enzymes catalyzing the conjugation of glutathione to a great variety of xenobiotic compounds. The objective of this study was to compare the different characteristics of GST from freshly isolated rainbow trout hepatocytes with those corresponding to the total liver of the same fish, in order to establish the similarities. GST was purified by affinity chromatography and enzymatic activity was determined towards two substrates, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and ethacrynic acid (ETHA). The different isoenzymes were determined by HPLC associated with SDS-PAGE. Slight differences between the samples were obtained when the results corresponding to the enzyme activity were compared. HPLC results showed that all GST isoforms present in the total liver samples were represented in the isolated cells too, corresponding to isoforms with molecular masses of approximately 25.5 and 23.0 kDa.

The nature of halogen substitution determines the mode of cytotoxicity of halopropanols

The cytochrome P450-dependent generation of reactive metabolites from 1,3-dichloropropanol and 1,3-dibromopropanol was assessed in a microsomal thiol depletion assay, while the toxicity of these compounds was assessed in rat hepatocyte cultures and in the 3T3 cell line. Thiol-depleting metabolites of both compounds were generated in the microsomal assay; however, only dibromopropanol extensively depleted glutathione when glutathione S-transferase was used as the enzyme source. The cytotoxicity of dichloropropanol was both cytochrome P450- and glutathione-dependent, whereas that of dibromopropanol was glutathione-dependent but largely independent of cytochrome P450. These results indicate that the mechanisms underlying the cytotoxicity of halopropanols are dependent on the nature of the halogen substitution and that microsomal and cellular assays for reactive metabolite generation may yield conflicting results.

c-fos gene expression in rat liver is induced by phenobarbital

In the present study we investigated c-fos expression in rat livers, that was initiated with the three arylamines, 2-acetylaminofluorene, 2-acetylaminophenanthrene and trans-4-acetylaminostilbene. The tumor promoter phenobarbital was applied chronically for 26, 52 and 100 weeks. Gene expression, determined by the mRNA level, and FOS protein were increased after 52 weeks of treatment in arylamine initiated as well as in phenobarbital only treated animals. Expression of c-fos seems to be a phenobarbital induced effect that is independent of additional initiator treatments. This finding was supported by immunohistochemical studies demonstrating increased FOS levels to be localized around the central vein. The results indicate that phenobarbital, a widely used tumor promoter, induces c-fos expression. In addition, we demonstrated enhanced FOS in GST-P-positive foci and in tumors.

Decrease in class pi glutathione transferase mRNA levels by ultraviolet irradiation of cultured rat keratinocytes

The effect of ultraviolet (UV) B irradiation on pi class glutathione transferase (GST-P) gene expression was examined in cultured rat keratinocytes. Immunoblotting demonstrated GST-P to be the major GST form in the cells, and it was significantly decreased following irradiation. Northern blot analysis revealed that the mRNA decreased to 10-25% of the initial value 24 h after irradiation at a dose of 40 mJ/cm2. No remarkable changes were observed at earlier time points. Hydrogen peroxide treatment enhanced GST-P mRNA expression, with a 70% increase at 250 microM concentration. Alterations in possible trans-acting factors were examined to clarify the mechanism of repression by UV irradiation. c-Jun mRNA was induced 3.5-fold at 4 h after irradiation, but by 24 h fell to a lower level than that observed initially. c-Fos mRNA was increased 10-fold at 1 h but was completely suppressed at 12 and 24 h. Thus, the changes of c-Jun and c-Fos mRNA differed from that of GST-P mRNA. The level of mRNA for silencer factor-B was decreased to less than 10% at 12 h. UV irradiation of cells transfected with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene containing enhancer (GPE I) or silencer regions of the GST-P gene did not suppress CAT activity. Although basal expression of the GST-P gene was mainly dependent on GPE I, altered expression of c-jun, c-fos and other genes coding for factors possibly trans-acting on GPE I did not appear to be responsible for the decreased GST-P mRNA levels.

Lentinan enhances sensitivity of mouse colon 26 tumor to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) and decreases glutathione transferase expression

We investigated the influence of a combination of lentinan, a biological response modifier, and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP) on the growth and glutathione S-transferase (GST) content of colon 26 tumor to examine whether lentinan represses GST expression and enhances the therapeutic effects of CDDP. Female CDF1 mice inoculated subcutaneously with transplantable colon 26 adenocarcinoma cells (1 X 10(6)/mouse) received intraperitoneal administrations of lentinan, CDDP, or the two drugs in combination, on days 10, 14, 17 and 21 after the inoculation. On day 24, tumor weights (estimated from their length and width) were significantly lower in the CDDP+ lentinan group (2.7+/-1.3 g) than in the CDDP alone group (4.3+/-0.7 g, P<0.05), both values being less than in the nontreated control group (7.2+/-1.5 g). The major GST form of colon 26 tumor was identified as GST-II, the Pi class form, and a minor form as GST-III belonging to the Mu class. Both GST-II and GST-III values on day 24 were significantly decreased in the lentinan alone (0.90+/-0.29 and 0.26 +/-0.11 microg/mg protein, respectively) and lentinan + CDDP groups (0.98+/-0.22 and 0.29+/-0.07 microg/mg protein), as compared with the control levels (1.39+/-0.20 and 0.52+/-0.11 microg/mg protein). However, these values were not different between the CDDP alone and lentinan + CDDP groups. Neither tissue interleukin (IL)-6, glutathione nor platinum values were different between the two groups. IL-6 values were elevated in about half of the samples treated with lentinan or CDDP and exhibited a modest inverse correlation with GST-II levels (r= -0.46). A GST inhibitor, ethacrynic acid, enhanced the sensitivity of cultured colon 26 cells to CDDP, suggesting the possible involvement of GST in modulating the cytotoxicity of CDDP to this cell line. These results indicated that lentinan administration decreases tissue GST-II and GST-III contents and enhances the sensitivity of colon 26 tumor to CDDP.

Phosphorylation of c-Jun stimulated in primary cultured rat liver parenchymal cells by a coplanar polychlorinated biphenyl

Phosphorylation of c-Jun was stimulated in primary cultured rat liver parenchymal cells by treatment with a coplanar polychlorinated biphenyl congener, 3,3'4,4'5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PenCB), as well as by epidermal growth factor, but was not stimulated by the non-coplanar form. However, the amount of c-Jun mRNA did not increase with PenCB treatment. PenCB may activate a signal-transducing pathway consisting of protein kinases.

The glutathione S-transferase supergene family: regulation of GST and the contribution of the isoenzymes to cancer chemoprotection and drug resistance

The glutathione S-transferases (GST) represent a major group of detoxification enzymes. All eukaryotic species possess multiple cytosolic and membrane-bound GST isoenzymes, each of which displays distinct catalytic as well as noncatalytic binding properties: the cytosolic enzymes are encoded by at least five distantly related gene families (designated class alpha, mu, pi, sigma, and theta GST), whereas the membrane-bound enzymes, microsomal GST and leukotriene C4 synthetase, are encoded by single genes and both have arisen separately from the soluble GST. Evidence suggests that the level of expression of GST is a crucial factor in determining the sensitivity of cells to a broad spectrum of toxic chemicals. In this article the biochemical functions of GST are described to show how individual isoenzymes contribute to resistance to carcinogens, antitumor drugs, environmental pollutants, and products of oxidative stress. A description of the mechanisms of transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of GST isoenzymes is provided to allow identification of factors that may modulate resistance to specific noxious chemicals. The most abundant mammalian GST are the class alpha, mu, and pi enzymes and their regulation has been studied in detail. The biological control of these families is complex as they exhibit sex-, age-, tissue-, species-, and tumor-specific patterns of expression. In addition, GST are regulated by a structurally diverse range of xenobiotics and, to date, at least 100 chemicals have been identified that induce GST; a significant number of these chemical inducers occur naturally and, as they are found as nonnutrient components in vegetables and citrus fruits, it is apparent that humans are likely to be exposed regularly to such compounds. Many inducers, but not all, effect transcriptional activation of GST genes through either the antioxidant-responsive element (ARE), the xenobiotic-responsive element (XRE), the GST P enhancer 1(GPE), or the glucocorticoid-responsive element (GRE). Barbiturates may transcriptionally activate GST through a Barbie box element. The involvement of the Ah-receptor, Maf, Nrl, Jun, Fos, and NF-kappa B in GST induction is discussed. Many of the compounds that induce GST are themselves substrates for these enzymes, or are metabolized (by cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases) to compounds that can serve as GST substrates, suggesting that GST induction represents part of an adaptive response mechanism to chemical stress caused by electrophiles. It also appears probable that GST are regulated in vivo by reactive oxygen species (ROS), because not only are some of the most potent inducers capable of generating free radicals by redox-cycling, but H2O2 has been shown to induce GST in plant and mammalian cells: induction of GST by ROS would appear to represent an adaptive response as these enzymes detoxify some of the toxic carbonyl-, peroxide-, and epoxide-containing metabolites produced within the cell by oxidative stress. Class alpha, mu, and pi GST isoenzymes are overexpressed in rat hepatic preneoplastic nodules and the increased levels of these enzymes are believed to contribute to the multidrug-resistant phenotype observed in these lesions. The majority of human tumors and human tumor cell lines express significant amounts of class pi GST. Cell lines selected in vitro for resistance to anticancer drugs frequently overexpress class pi GST, although overexpression of class alpha and mu isoenzymes is also often observed. The mechanisms responsible for overexpression of GST include transcriptional activation, stabilization of either mRNA or protein, and gene amplification. In humans, marked interindividual differences exist in the expression of class alpha, mu, and theta GST. The molecular basis for the variation in class alpha GST is not known. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Expression of glutathione S-transferase P-form in primary cultured rat liver parenchymal cells by coplanar polychlorinated biphenyl congeners is suppressed by protein kinase inhibitors and dexamethasone

Glutathione S-transferase P-form (GST-P, EC 2.5.1.18) mRNA was expressed by epidermal growth factor as well as by 3,4,5,3',4'-penta-chlorinated biphenyl (PenCB) in primary cultured rat liver parenchymal cells. The expression of GST-P was suppressed by inhibitors of protein kinase C and dexamethasone, an antagonist of AP-1 transcription factor activity, whereas expression of cytochrome P450IA2 by PenCB was not affected by these reagents. The AP-1 related transcription factor may be essential for the expression of GST-P by PenCB as also may be a protein kinase C type enzyme.

The human glutathione S-transferase P1-1 gene: modulation of expression by retinoic acid and insulin

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a group of enzymes which play an important role in the detoxication of xenobiotics. It is shown that the expression of human glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (GSTP1-1) is suppressed by retinoic acid (RA) as the result of decreased transcription from its gene, GSTP1. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assays indicate that the effect of RA on the transcription of a GSTP1 promoter-CAT fusion gene is mediated by the region -99 to +72 of GSTP1. A consensus activator protein 1-binding site, located at nucleotide position -59 to -65 of GSTP1, is suggested to be responsible for RA repression. This effect of RA on GSTP1 expression is mediated by the human beta-type RA receptor, hRAR beta, but not the chicken retinoid X receptor, cRXR. The retinoid X receptor does not augment the action of hRAR beta on GSTP1. In addition, it is shown that GSTP1-1 expression is enhanced by insulin as a result of increased transcription of GSTP1. Assay of CAT activity indicates that the effect of insulin on the transcription of GSTP1 is also mediated by the region -99 to +72 of GSTP1. Comparison with sequences of other insulin-responsive genes, suggests that insulin enhancement of GSTP1 expression is effected by an eight-base-pair sequence, 'CCCGCGTC', located at +48 to +55 in intron 1 of the gene. These results are discussed in relation to the increased expression of GSTP1-1 in many tumour cells.

Glutathione S-transferases: gene structure and regulation of expression

The current knowledge about the structure of GST genes and the molecular mechanisms involved in regulation of their expression are reviewed. Information derived from the study of rat and mouse GST Alpha-class, Ya genes, and a rat GST Pi-class gene seems to indicate that a single cis-regulatory element, composed of two adjacent AP-1-like binding sites in the 5'-flanking region of these GST genes, is responsible for their basal and xenobiotic-inducible activity. The identification of Fos/Jun (AP-1) complex as the trans-acting factor that binds to this element and mediates the basal and inducible expression of GST genes offers a basis for an understanding of the molecular processes involved in GST regulation. The induction of expression of Fos and Jun transcriptional regulatory proteins by a variety of extracellular stimuli is known to mediate the activation of target genes via the AP-1 binding sites. The modulation of the AP-1 activity may account for the changes induced by growth factors, hormones, chemical carcinogens, transforming oncogenes, and cellular stress-inducing agents in the pattern of GST expression. Recent observations implying reactive oxygen as the transduction signal that mediates activation of c-fos and c-jun genes are presently considered to provide an explanation for the induction of GST gene expression by chemical agents of diverse structure. The possibility that these agents may all induce conditions of oxidative stress by various pathways to activate expression of GST genes that are regulated by the AP-1 complex is discussed.

Characteristics of small cell colonies developing in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes

Phenotypes of the cells developing into small colonies after days of primary culture of adult rat hepatocytes in serum-free modified Dulbecco Modified Eagles' medium containing 10 mM nicotinamide and 10 ng/ml epidermal growth factor were analyzed immunocytochemically, cytochemically and ultrastructurally. Albumin, cytokeratin 8 and 18 were seen by immunocytochemical techniques in the cells of the small colonies at Day 6. Transferrin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, ceruloplasmin, and haptoglobin, proteins secreted by mature hepatocytes, were faintly stained in these cells as was alpha-fetoprotein. These proteins were secreted into the culture medium as evidenced by immunoblot analysis. gamma-Glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase and glucose 6-phosphatase were not present in the cells of the small colonies as well as the surrounding hepatocytes at Day 6 of culture. In addition, ultrastructural examinations of the cells in the small colonies indicated that these cells not only had many characteristic mitochondria and desmosomes, but also a few small peroxisomes. Such cells, even after 20 days in culture were proliferating, as evidenced by the intranuclear presence of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The potential relation of these cells to hepatocytes which may serve as the principal reserve for replicating hepatocytes is discussed.

Phenotypic properties of liver tumors induced by dehydroepiandrosterone in F-344 rats

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a C19 adrenal steroid hormone, induces peroxisome proliferation in liver cells and is hepatocarcinogenic in the rat. The present study deals with the phenotypic properties of DHEA-induced liver lesions. A majority of the altered areas (80-87%), neoplastic nodules (> 94%) and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC, 80-100%) lacked the marker enzymes gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and placental form of glutathione S-transferase (GSTP). Northern blot analysis of HCC from 4 rats revealed no detectable GSTP mRNA. These HCC, however, showed a marked decrease in the staining of glucose-6-phosphatase and adenosine triphosphatase. These results indicate that the phenotypic properties of liver tumors induced by DHEA and amphipathic carboxylate peroxisome proliferators are similar.

Glutathione transferases and cancer

The glutathione transferases, a family of multifunctional proteins, catalyze the glutathione conjugation reaction with electrophilic compounds biotransformed from xenobiotics, including carcinogens. In preneoplastic cells as well as neoplastic cells, specific molecular forms of glutathione transferase are known to be expressed and have been known to participate in the mechanisms of their resistance to drugs. In this article, following a brief description of recently identified molecular forms, we review new findings regarding the respective molecular forms involved in carcinogenesis and anticancer drug resistance, with particular emphasis on Pi class forms in preneoplastic tissues. The rat Pi class form, GST-P (GST 7-7), is strongly expressed not only in hepatic foci and hepatomas, but also in initiated cells that occur at the very early stages of chemical hepatocarcinogenesis, and is regarded as one of the most reliable markers for preneoplastic lesions in the rat liver. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-responsive element-like sequences have been identified in upstream regions of the GST-P gene, and oncogene products c-jun and c-fos are suggested to activate the gene. The Pi-class forms possess unique enzymatic properties, including broad substrate specificity, glutathione peroxidase activity toward lipid hydroperoxides, low sensitivity to organic anion inhibitors, and high sensitivity to active oxygen species. The possible functions of Pi class glutathione transferases in neoplastic tissues and drug-resistant cells are discussed.