Human Epidermoid Cell Line A431 Research Articles

Simulation of Microgravity by Magnetic Levitation and Random Positioning: Effect on Human A431 Cell Morphology

Simulation of weightlessness is a desired replenishment for research in microgravity since access to space flights is limited. In real microgravity conditions, the human epidermoid cell line A431 exhibits specific changes in the actin cytoskeleton resulting ultimately in the rounding-up of cells. This rounding of A431 cells was studied in detail during exposure to Random Positioning Machine (RPM) rotation and magnetic levitation. Random rotation and magnetic levitation induced similar changes in the actin morphology of A431 cells that were also described in real microgravity. A transient process of cell rounding and renewed spreading was observed in time, illustrated by a changing actin cytoskeleton and variation in the presence of focal adhesions. However, side effects of both methods easily can lead to false linking of cellular responses to simulated microgravity. Therefore further characterization of both methods is required.

Affinity adsorption of glucose degradation products improves the biocompatibility of conventional peritoneal dialysis fluid

Reactive carbonyl compounds (RCOs) present in peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluid have been incriminated in the progressive deterioration of the peritoneal membrane in long-term PD patients. They are initially present in fresh conventional heat-sterilized glucose PD fluid and are supplemented during dwell time by the diffusion of blood RCOs within the peritoneal cavity. In the present study, RCO entrapping agents were immobilized on affinity beads to adsorb RCOs both in fresh PD fluid and in PD effluent. The RCO trapping potential of various compounds was assessed in vitro first by dissolving them in the tested fluid and subsequently after coupling with either epoxy- or amino-beads. The tested fluids include fresh heat-sterilized glucose and non-glucose PD fluids, and PD effluent. Their RCOs contents, that is, glyoxal (GO), methylglyoxal (MGO), 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG), formaldehyde, 5-hydroxymethylfuraldehyde, acetaldehyde, and 2-furaldehyde were monitored by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. The biocompatibility of PD fluid was assessed by a cytotoxic assay with either human epidermoid cell line A431 cells or with primary cultured human peritoneal mesothelial cells. Among the tested RCO entrapping agents, hydrazine coupled to epoxy-beads proved the most efficient. It lowered the concentrations of three dicarbonyl compounds (GO, MGO, and 3-DG) and those of aldehydes present in fresh heat-sterilized glucose PD fluid toward the low levels observed in filter-sterilized glucose PD fluid. It did not change the glucose and electrolytes concentration of the PD fluid but raised its pH from 5.2 to 5.9. Hydrazine-coupled epoxy-bead also lowered the PD effluent content of total RCOs, measured by the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (DNPH) method. The cytotoxicity of heat-sterilized PD fluid incubated with hydrazine-coupled epoxy-beads was decreased to the level observed in filter-sterilized PD fluid as the result of the raised pH and the lowered RCOs levels. Hydrazine-coupled epoxy-beads reduce the levels of a variety of dicarbonyls and aldehydes present in heat-sterilized glucose PD fluid to those in filter-sterilized PD fluid, without altering glucose, lactate, and electrolytes contents but with a rise in pH. Incubated with PD effluents, it is equally effective in reducing the levels of serum-derived RCOs. RCO entrapping agents immobilized on affinity beads improve in vitro the biocompatibility of conventional heat-sterilized glucose PD fluid. Their clinical applicability requires further studies.

Effects of FK506-binding Protein 12 and FK506 on Autophosphorylation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

FK506-binding proteins and cyclophilins are intracellular proteins that express peptidylproline cis-trans-isomerase (PPIase) activity. The effects of FK506-binding protein 12 (FKBP12) and the cyclophilins 18 and 23 on autophosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor prepared from plasma membranes of the human epidermoid cell line A431 have been investigated. Whereas FKBP12 inhibited EGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity in a concentration-dependent manner, the cyclophilins did not affect autophosphorylation. In contrast to the wild-type enzyme, several variants of FKBP12 with greatly reduced PPIase activity were unable to suppress EGF receptor tyrosine kinase significantly. Pervanadate an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases, abolished the effect of FKBP12 on EGF receptor autophosphorylation. Finally, FK506 and rapamycin, which are known to block the PPIase activity of FKBP12, induced a significant stimulation of EGF receptor autophosphorylation in intact A431 cells suggesting suppression of EGF receptor autophosphorylation by intracellular FKBP12 in vivo. Taken together the data point to an inhibitory function of FKBP12 in EGF receptor signaling, possibly induced by stimulation of a protein tyrosine phosphatase coupled to the EGF receptor. Both PPIase activity and substrate specificity of FKBP12 seem to be indispensable for this effect.

Dual bradykinin B2 receptor signalling in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells: activation of protein kinase C is counteracted by a GS-mediated stimulation of the cyclic AMP pathway.

Cell membranes of the human epidermoid cell line A431 express classical bradykinin (BK) B2 receptors, as assessed by [3H]BK binding studies. Furthermore, stimulation by BK induced a time-dependent modulation of protein kinase C (PKC) activity in A431 cells: a rapid activation (t1/2 approximately 1 min) is followed by a slow inhibition (t1/2 approximately 20 min) of PKC translocation measured by [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate binding. In addition, BK stimulated both adenylate cyclase activity in A431 membranes and accumulation of intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) in intact cells in a retarded manner. A possible BK-induced activation of the cAMP pathway mediated via PKC, phospholipase D, prostaglandins or Ca2+/calmodulin was excluded. A 35 kDa protein was found in A431 membranes to be specifically phosphorylated in the presence of both BK and protein kinase A (PKA). An anti-alpha s-antibody, AS 348, abolished stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in response to BK, cholera toxin and isoprenaline, strongly suggesting the involvement of Gs proteins in the BK action. The BK-activated cAMP signalling system might be important for the observed inactivation of PKC slowly evoked by BK: the BK-induced rapid activation of PKC is decreased by dibutyryl cAMP, and the slow inhibition of PKC is prevented by an inhibitor of PKA, adenosine 3':5'-monophosphothioate (cyclic, Rp isomer). The inhibition of PKC translocation might be exerted directly at the level of PKC activation, since stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis by BK was affected by neither dibutyryl cAMP nor forskolin. Thus our results provide the first evidence that A431 cells BK is able to activate two independent signal-transduction pathways via a single class of B2 receptors but two different G proteins. The lagging stimulation of the cAMP signalling pathway via Gs might serve to switch off PKC, which is rapidly activated via Gq-mediated stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

Acetaminophen-induced toxicity to human epidermoid cell line A431 and hepatoblastoma cell line Hep G2, in vitro, is diminished by silymarin.

The skin and liver may be targets for cytotoxicity induced by oxidative drug metabolites. We used human epidermoid A431 cells and human hepatoblastoma Hep G2 cells as the experimental model. The aim of the study was to investigate and evaluate the effect of silymarin on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced toxicity under controlled conditions. Silymarin is known to be a potent antioxidant that diminishes toxicity induced by a variety of other hepatotoxins (e.g. Amanita phaloides, algae's toxins, carbon tetrachloride). Glutathione (GSH) depletion was enhanced by adding to the medium buthionine sulfoximine [L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine, BSO]. Cells were incubated with high-concentration 5-20 mM APAP or alpha-(minimum essential medium for 2-24 h to evaluate the drug's ability to reduce cytoviability. Viability was then quantitated by metabolism of the tetrazolium dyes (MTT) and neutral red (NR). Cytoviability was 100% for controls. For Hep G2 treated for 24 h with 20 mM, APAP viability was 56.0% by MTT and 62.5% by NR. BSO-treated cells showed an enhanced cytotoxicity, determined by both assays. Administration of 0.5 mM silymarin reduced cytotoxicity significantly. In A431 cells, treatment with 20 mM APAP reduced viability by 57% (MTT) and 69% (NR) versus control (100%). BSO further decreased viability. Since incubation with silymarin showed significant protection against APAP toxicity, it can be considered a cytoprotective agent in this in vitro model of drug toxicity. GSH concentrations in both cell lines decrease significantly after exposure to 20 mM APAP, or 0.5 mM versus control (p < 0.05), and increased (p < 0.001) if incubated with APAP and silymarin. The protective effect could be through mitochondrial membrane stabilization and/or an increase in available GSH.