Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019204 (hepatocellular carcinoma)
71,386 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The gene expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was studied in mammalian cell lines exposed to hyperoxia. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that hyperoxic exposure increased the HO-1 mRNA levels in various types of cells, including human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. This increase was time- and dose-dependent, and reversible. The HO-1 mRNA levels in HepG2 cells were increased to 2.3- and 4.2-fold of the control by hyperoxic exposure of 6 and 23 h, respectively. Cycloheximide and actinomycin D inhibited the increases in the HO-1 mRNA level produced by hyperoxia, indicating that response to hyperoxia is dependent on de novo protein synthesis and mRNA transcription. Antioxidants, desferrioxamine (DES) and o-phenanthroline (OP) partially inhibited the HO-1 mRNA elevation by hyperoxia. In addition to hyperoxia, sodium arsenite (NaAsO2), cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which are reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) generators, increased the HO-1 mRNA level by 11-, 22- and 2.5-fold, respectively. OP, an antioxidant and a bivalent metal chelator, blocked the HO-1 mRNA elevation induced either by hyperoxia or by the three ROI generators. In contrast to OP, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant and membrane-permeable reducing reagent, enhanced the HO-1 mRNA elevation induced by hyperoxia, although NAC inhibited the mRNA elevation induced by NaAsO2, CdCl2 and H2O2. These results indicate that oxygen tension regulates HO-1 gene expression and suggest that hyperoxia-specific and redox-sensitive regulators may be involved in hyperoxia-mediated HO-1 gene expression.
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PMID:Oxygen tension regulates heme oxygenase-1 gene expression in mammalian cell lines. 974 10

Liver cirrhosis, which is associated with decreased plasma and hepatic glutathione (GSH), has been reported to cause the suppression of NK activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Since low GSH levels in lymphocytes are known to alter lymphocyte function, we examined the correlation between intracellular GSH levels and the cytotoxic activity of liver-associated mononuclear cells (liver MNC). We show here that rat liver contains a highly active population of NK cells (CD3- NKR-P1 + cells) that kill Yac-1 in vitro and that the cytotoxic activity of this NK population is directly proportional to liver MNC GSH. This proportionality is independent of the methods used to alter GSH level. Thus, in vitro treatment of liver MNC with buthionine sulfoximine to lower GSH levels lowers the cytotoxic activity. MNC from cirrhotic liver, in which implanted tumor cells grow faster, have both low GSH levels and low cytotoxicity, and supplementation of cirrhotic liver MNC with N-acetylcysteine raises GSH levels and increases cytotoxicity. These findings suggest a physiologic mechanism, i.e. decreased GSH, may be causally associated with the increased incidence of hepatoma in cirrhotic individuals and the increased growth of hepatoma cells in cirrhotic animals. Thus, we suggest that the GSH is important to the optimal functioning of the hepatic immunity that protects against hepatoma development.
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PMID:N-acetylcysteine improves cytotoxic activity of cirrhotic rat liver-associated mononuclear cells. 979 17

Time- and dose-dependent increases in the steady-state mRNA levels of the genes encoding the catalytic and regulatory subunits of the enzyme gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS) were observed in HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cells after exposure to pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC). PDTC was demonstrated to manifest both antioxidant and pro-oxidant properties in HepG2 cells, as assessed by the decreased fluorescence of the redox-sensitive dye Dihydrorhodamine 123 and by the oxidation of glutathione respectively. Attempts to characterize the signalling pathway from PDTC exposure to increases in the expression of the GCS catalytic and regulatory subunit genes demonstrated that induction by PDTC could be partially blocked by treatment with the thiol agent N-acetylcysteine and by the copper chelator bathocuproine disulphonic acid. These findings suggested that the up-regulation of the two genes resulted from a PDTC-induced pro-oxidant signal, which was partially copper-dependent. In summary, these studies demonstrate that PDTC exposure elicits a cellular response in HepG2 cells, characterized by the induction of the genes encoding the two subunits of the enzyme GCS and increased de novo synthesis of the cellular protectant GSH.
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PMID:Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate up-regulates the expression of the genes encoding the catalytic and regulatory subunits of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and increases intracellular glutathione levels. 1005 36

Amiloride and its more potent analog, hexamethylene amiloride (HMA), inhibits Na+ :H+ exchange and decreases intracellular pH in a concentration-dependent way in two human hepatocarcinoma cell lines and in a rat hepatocarcinoma cell line that differs in its phenotypic characteristics, resembling the clinical situation encountered in human hepatocarcinomas. After 24 h of exposure, DNA synthesis and cell protein content of the cultures decreases according to the concentration of the drugs and in parallel to Na+ exchange inhibition and the drop in pHi promoted. RNA and protein syntheses are less sensitive to its action. The above effects induced by HMA are accompanied by an abrupt decrease in cell viability and lysosomal integrity at 24 h. These effects develop gradually with the exposure time as does the increase in free radical production. Decreased viability is totally or partially restored by N-acetylcysteine or deferoxamine, but the degree of intracellular acidification produced is not. These results tend to suggest that intracellular acidification can diminish cell growth and provoke cytotoxic cell death by diminishing reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and impairing lysosomal integrity, reflecting the sensitivity of hepatocarcinoma cells to Na+ exchange inhibition and intracellular acidosis.
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PMID:Na+ :H+ exchange inhibition induces intracellular acidosis and differentially impairs cell growth and viability of human and rat hepatocarcinoma cells. 1040 66

Hepatitis C is emerging as a serious worldwide problem. In the United States the current mortality figures may triple in the next ten years, rivaling HIV. The disease has a latency of 10-30 years and symptoms or signs may not appear until cirrhosis is evident. Adequate diagnosis, including liver biopsy, is essential in assessing the current stage of the viral infection and the need for treatment. Hepatitis C may manifest as hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, lichen planus, glomerulonephritis, mixed cryoglobulinemia, or porphyria. The hepatic damage is due both to the cytopathic effect of the virus and the inflammatory changes secondary to immune activation. The use of the botanical components glycyrrhizin, catechin, silymarin and phytosterols, and the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine and vitamin E are reviewed for their efficacy in treating chronic hepatitis and affecting liver damage.
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PMID:Hepatitis C: epidemiology and review of complementary/alternative medicine treatments. 1046 47

Heme oxygenase catalyzes the first and rate-controlling step of heme catabolism. Induction of heme oxygenase-1 can be caused by numerous factors, including heme, other metalloporphyrins, transition metal ions, heat shock, ultraviolet light, phorbol esters, sodium arsenite, and phenylarsine oxide (PAO). Induction of this enzyme may protect cells from oxidative damage. Using heme oxygenase-1 promoter/reporter gene constructs, we have previously reported that the sodium arsenite-mediated induction of heme oxygenase-1 in chick embryo liver cells and chicken hepatoma (LMH) cells involves an AP-1 element. We have now investigated whether the PAO-mediated induction of heme oxygenase-1 also involves an AP-1 element. Primary cultures of chick embryo liver cells were transiently transfected with heme oxygenase-1 promoter/reporter gene constructs, treated with PAO, and reporter gene activities were measured. We found that the PAO-mediated increase in reporter gene activity was dose- and time-dependent. This activity was decreased by prior treatment with N-acetylcysteine. Studies with mutated constructs showed that both an AP-1 element and a metal responsive element are involved in the PAO-mediated induction of the heme oxygenase-1 reporter construct. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that nuclear proteins from PAO-treated cells had increased binding to an AP-1 probe, and that this increase was abrogated by N-acetylcysteine. These findings support the hypothesis that the PAO-mediated induction of heme oxygenase-1 is caused by activation of AP-1 and MRE/cMyc elements and may involve nuclear proteins whose states of phosphorylation determine binding to regulatory elements, and thus the level of expression of heme oxygenase-1.
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PMID:Effects of phenylarsine oxide on expression of heme oxygenase-1 reporter constructs in transiently transfected cultures of chick embryo liver cells. 1060 Jan 59

Peroxisome proliferators are a class of hepatic carcinogens in rodents and are proposed to act in part by increasing reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide. We previously showed that treatment of rats with ciprofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator, results in increased hepatic nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) DNA binding activity. In this study, we have examined the link between peroxisome proliferators and NF-kappaB activation in hepatoma cell lines to test whether increased nuclear NF-kappaB levels activate NF-kappaB-regulated genes and to determine the mechanism of NF-kappaB activation. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated NF-kappaB induction by ciprofibrate in peroxisome proliferator-responsive H4IIEC3 rat hepatoma cells but not in peroxisome proliferator-insensitive HepG2 human hepatoma cell lines. In addition, we found that stably transfected NF-kappaB-regulated reporter genes were activated by ciprofibrate in H4IIEC3 cells. This reporter gene activation was blocked by the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine and vitamin E. These studies suggest that hepatocytes are at least partially responsible for peroxisome proliferator-mediated hepatic NF-kappaB activation, and support the possibility that this activation is dependent upon reactive oxygen species.
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PMID:Activation of nuclear factor-kappaB by the peroxisome proliferator ciprofibrate in H4IIEC3 rat hepatoma cells and its inhibition by the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine and vitamin E. 1064 51

Ebselen, 2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one, is a synthetic seleno-organic compound with antioxidant capability. In the present study, we systematically examined the ability of ebselen to induce apoptosis in a human hepatoma cell line, HepG(2). Ebselen-induced apoptosis was evaluated by (i) TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay; (ii) analysis of sub-G1 cells; (iii) cell morphology, including cell size and granularity examination; and (iv) DNA gel electrophoresis. The results showed that ebselen was able to induce typical apoptosis in HepG(2) cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In order to explore the possible mechanisms involved in ebselen-induced apoptosis, the effect of ebselen on intracellular thiol concentrations including reduced glutathione (GSH) and protein thiols and the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) pretreatment on ebselen-induced apoptosis were investigated. It was found that (i) ebselen rapidly depleted intracellular GSH and protein thiols, moreover, the depletion preceded the occurrence of apoptosis; (ii) NAC, a precursor of intracellular GSH synthesis, significantly alleviated ebselen-induced apoptosis; and (iii) BSO, a specific inhibitor of intracellular GSH synthesis, augmented ebselen-induced apoptosis significantly. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that ebselen is able to induce apoptosis in HepG(2) cells, most probably through rapid depletion of intracellular thiols.
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PMID:Ebselen induces apoptosis in HepG(2) cells through rapid depletion of intracellular thiols. 1066 92

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD; dioxin), the prototype agonist of the aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor, is a potent tumor promoter as well as a complete liver carcinogen that produces an oxidative stress response in rodents and in cultured cell lines. It has been proposed that TCDD promotes neoplastic transformation through oxidative signal transduction pathways, which results in activation of immediate-early response transcription factors. To set the stage for a test of this hypothesis, we evaluated the effect of TCDD treatment on the activation of several transcription factors, including those in the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) families, which are activated by changes in the redox state of cells. In an extension of prior results, we found that TCDD treatment produced a sustained overexpression of AP-1 for at least 72 hr in wild-type mouse hepatoma Hepa-1 cells, but not in the Ah receptor-deficient derivative c35 or in cytochrome P450-1A1 (CYP1A1)-negative c37 cells. In addition, TCDD treatment caused a significant increase in the DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB, but not in the activities of the other transcription factors tested. AP-1 and NF-kappaB activation were blocked by the thiol antioxidant N-acetylcysteine and by nordihydroguaiaretic acid, an antioxidant and lipooxygenase inhibitor and an inhibitor of the epoxygenase activity of CYP1A1, and did not take place in c35, c37, or in Ah nuclear translator-deficient c4 cells. Hence, sustained activation of these two transcription factors by TCDD is likely to result from a CYP1A1-dependent and Ah receptor complex-dependent oxidative signal. Electrophoretic mobility supershift analyses with specific antibodies showed that most of the increase in NF-kappaB binding activity could be accounted for by increases in p50/p50 complexes. Since these complexes are known to repress NF-kappaB-dependent gene transcription, our results delineate a second molecular mechanism, in addition to the recently found block of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated p50/p65 activation, that may be responsible for the immunosuppresive effects of TCDD.
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PMID:Activation of transcription factors activator protein-1 and nuclear factor-kappaB by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. 1069 65

A toxic dose of acetaminophen (APAP) reduces the activity of NF-kappaB in mouse liver. NF-kappaB inactivation may be important for APAP toxicity, as this transcription factor can play a central role in maintaining hepatic viability. We recently reported that APAP likewise inhibits serum growth factor activation of NF-kappaB in a mouse hepatoma cell line (Hepa 1-6 cells). Here we present evidence that APAP's antioxidant activity may be involved in this NF-kappaB inhibition in Hepa 1-6 cells. Like the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC), APAP was found to suppress the H(2)O(2)-induced oxidation of an intracellular reactive oxygen species probe (dihydrodichlorofluorescein) in Hepa 1-6 cells. Treatment of Hepa 1-6 cells with H(2)O(2) was sufficient for NF-kappaB activation and IkappaBalpha degradation, and APAP was able to block both of these events. The APAP inhibition of NF-kappaB activation by serum growth factors may also be due to APAP's antioxidant activity, as the antioxidants NAC and PDTC likewise inhibit this activation. The potential role of NF-kappaB and oxidant-based growth factor signal transduction in APAP toxicity is discussed.
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PMID:Acetaminophen inhibits NF-kappaB activation by interfering with the oxidant signal in murine Hepa 1-6 cells. 1082 69


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