Rat Ascites Hepatoma Research Articles

Two nucleotides next to the anticodon of cytoplasmic rat tRNA(Asp) are likely generated by RNA editing.

The nucleotide sequences of major cytoplasmic tRNA(Asp) from rat liver and rat ascites hepatoma comprise a U32 and C33 next to the anticodon as was confirmed by different procedures. Additionally we identified a tRNA(Asp) with C32 and U33 in a minor proportion. We have shown earlier that the tRNA(Asp) gene is part of a cluster of tRNA genes which is amplified at least ten times in the rat nuclear genome. Six independent isolated clones display identical sequences in the coding region of the tRNA(Asp) gene which differ from tRNA(Asp) in having C32 and T33. Using a combination of single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analyses and direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products we have now demonstrated that no variant allele of the tRNA(Asp) gene with T32 and C33 exists in the rat genome. Together with the RNA sequencing data these findings strongly indicate that major rat tRNA(Asp) is generated by post-transcriptional pyrimidine transitions at positions 32 and 33 and that the minor tRNA(Asp) is its unedited precursor.

MRNA levels of catalytic subunits of protein phosphatases 1, 2A, and 2C in hepatocarcinogenesis.

The mRNA levels of three phosphoseryl/phosphothreonyl protein phosphatases, PP1, PP2A and PP2C, in rat liver have been determined by Northern blot analysis in various stages of rat chemical hepatocarcinogenesis using a Solt‐Farber model. Five weeks after administration of diethyl‐nitrosamine, the mRNA levels of PPlα, PP2A and PP2C were elevated 8, 29 and 11 times, respectively, as compared to those of the control livers. However, in primary hepatoma induced according to the Solt‐Farber model, the mRNA levels of all three protein phosphatases were dramatically decreased to normal levels or even to much lower levels, whereas the mRNA level of glutathione S‐transferase placental form, a tumor marker protein, was greatly elevated as compared with that of the control livers. In a poorly differentiated hepatoma AH13, a line of rat ascites hepatoma, the mRNA level of PP1α was 5.6 times higher than that of the control livers, whereas the mRNA level of PP2C was almost the same as that of the control livers and the level of PP2A mRNA was distinctly lower than that of the control livers. These data appear to suggest some involvement of protein phosphatases in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Sequential degradation of interstitial collagen by metalloproteinases extracted from tumors of murine ascites hepatomas.

Gelatinolytic and collagenolytic proteinases were separately isolated by different extraction methods from the mouse ascites hepatoma MH134, and from rat ascites hepatoma AH109A. The activities of two proteinases in each extract showed no significant differences, but after trypsin activation the activities of proteinases from the highly metastatic MH134 were significantly increased compared to the enzyme activities in AH109A, which has low metastatic potential. The total activities of collagenase and gelatinase were increased 7.2- and 5.1-fold; their specific activities were increased 5.2- and 4.8-fold, respectively. Gelatinase and collagenase from MH134 were characterized on gelatin zymography. The gelatinase had a molecular weight of 99 and activation by 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA) or trypsin resulted in its conversion to 79 or 79-95 kD, respectively. The collagenase revealed a major gelatinolytic band at 89 kD, which was converted to 85 and 70 kD by APMA-activation, and a minor gelatinolytic band at 60 kD. These proteinases could degrade native type I collagen to small fragments in a cooperative manner. Trypsin inhibitor, which affects the trypsin activation of latent gelatinase, was extracted together with gelatinase. The inhibitory activity of the enzyme from AH109A showed a 4.1-fold higher specific activity and 3.7-fold greater total activity than that from MH134. The proteinase(s) capable of activating the gelatinase was also extracted from MH134.

Comparison of the Effects of Intravenously Bolus‐administered Endothelin‐1 and Infused Angiotensin II on the Subcutaneous Tumor Blood Flow in Anesthetized Rats

To evaluate the effects of endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) on tumor blood flow, the authors measured the mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) of enflurane‐anesthetized male Donryu rats and the tissue blood flow of subcutaneously implanted tumor (Yoshida rat ascites hepatoma LY‐80) by using a hydrogen clearance method. The tumor blood flow was evaluated in terms of the ratio to the maximum blood flow, which was defined as the largest flow in the same position during successive measurements. After bolus intravenous administration of ET‐1 (1.0 nmol/kg), MABP reached approximately 140 mmHg (at 5 30 min), diminishing gradually to the baseline level over 2 h. The tumor blood flow increased from 36.7 ± 20.6 to 59.5 ± 30.2% (n = 32, P <0.001, at 2 min), returning to the baseline level at 10 min. On the other hand, at 2 min after the beginning of continuous intravenous infusion of [Asp1, Ile5]‐angiotensin II (AII; the dose was determined by a blood pressure control system for keeping MABP at approximately 150 mmHg, consequently 0.26 μg/kg/min on the average), the tumor blood flow increased from 42.3 ±21.6 to 76.4±22.6% (n = 32, P < 0.001), which was significantly larger than the flow after ET‐1. The results indicate that hypertension induced by systemic ET‐1 injection is less effective than hypertension induced by continuous systemic AII infusion in increasing tumor blood flow; AII is probably a suitable agent as a safe and effective enhancer of tumor blood flow. Moreover, ET‐1 appears to constrict arterial vessels in the microcirculation time‐dependently, while AII constricts probably only normal peripheral arterioles.

Growth-associated changes in fatty acid compositions of nuclear phospholipids of liver cells

To know the possible relationships between nuclear phospholipids and cell proliferation, we have extensively analyzed phospholipids extracted from the nuclei of rat hepatic cells at various growth states. The content of phospholipid in nuclei as well as its composition was similar among liver cells tested, i.e., the regenerating rat livers (28 h, post-hepatectomy), sham-operated or non-treated control livers, and rat ascites hepatoma, AH7974 cells. In contrast, the fatty acid compositions of phospholipids differed from each other among these cells. At the 2-position of phospholipids in the regenerating liver nuclei at 28 h after partial hepatectomy, 18:1 (oleic acid) increased transiently at the expense of 20:4 (arachidonic acid) and 22:6 (docosahexaenoic acid), compared with those in the sham-operated control nuclei. This change in fatty acid composition was commonly observed throughout all phospholipids analyzed, i.e., phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylserine (PS). On the other hand, the change at 1-position was rather limited: in the regenerating liver nuclei (28 h), 18:1 increased only in PC at the expense of 18:0 (stearic acid). The similar and more marked deviation at the 2-position was observed with AH7974 nuclei it contained approximately 2-times more of 18:1 in PC, PE and PI than regenerating liver nuclei (28 h), and the decreased levels of 20:4 and/or 22:6. It should be noted that there were significant differences in the fatty acid compositions of PE and PS between sham-operated and non-treated controls. So, the sham-operated rat is the appropriate control for proliferation. These results indicate that the increased level of monoenoic fatty acid accompanied by the decreased level of polyunsaturated fatty acid in nuclear phospholipids may be related with cell proliferation.

Serum Requirement for in vitro Invasion by Tumor Cells

The effect of fetal calf serum (FCS) on in vitro invasion by rat ascites hepatoma cells (AH130) was studied by using the in vitro invasion assay. Although the coculture of the highly invasive clone (MM1) of AH130 cells and the mesothelial cell layer or endothelial cell layer in modified minimum essential medium supplemented with 10% PCS resulted in extensive penetration of the layer by the tumor cells, the omission of PCS resulted in an almost complete elimination of the in vitro invasion. The in vitro invasiveness by human small cell lung cancer cells (OCIO) was also remarkably reduced by the omission of PCS from the assay medium, suggesting a requirement of serum for the in vitro tumor cell invasion. When 10% PCS was added to the medium 2 h after the tumor cell seeding in FCS‐free invasion assay system, penetration by MM1 cells was observed within an hour. This rate of penetration was almost the same as that when 10% PCS was added at the time of tumor cell seeding. PCS was also required for the penetration of a mesothelial cell monolayer by MM1 cells in a defined growth medium (SFM‐101), in which MM1 cells were well maintained. The invasion‐inducing activity appears to be independent of the growth‐stimulating activity in serum.

Cell killing mode of liblomycin (NK313), a novel dose-survival relationship different from bleomycins.

Liblomycin (NK313) is a novel derivative of bleomycin (BLM) and peplomycin (PEP). The cell kill kinetics of NK313 on rat ascites hepatoma AH66 were compared with those of PEP. NK313 induced intracellular DNA cleavage and arrested cell cycle progression at the G2 phase similarly to PEP. The cytocidal effect of NK313, however, was found to be different from that of PEP as described below: 1) The dose-survival curve for cells exposed to PEP for 1 hour was upward concave, whereas in case of NK313, the survival curve was linear. PEP was more effective to AH66 than NK313 at lower concentration, but at higher concentration, NK313 was much more effective. 2) The time-survival curve for cells treated with either NK313 or PEP was biphasic. NK313, however, did not induce temporary resistance of AH66 cells to NK313, while PEP induced resistance to PEP. 3) NK313 was effective against the cells which became temporarily resistant to PEP by the treatment of PEP. These differences suggest that NK313 might be of value to treat PEP-insensitive tumor cells.

Amino acid uptake in plasma membrane vesicles isolated from proliferating tumor cells and tissues

The transport of L-alanine, a natural substrate of system A, across plasma membrane vesicle preparations has been studied in the early stages of rat DENA-PH hepato-carcinogenesis and in a very undifferentiated rat ascites hepatoma cell line (Yoshida AH-130) in the exponential and stationary phase of growth.Kinetic analyses indicated an increase of the Vmax value in DENA-PH-treated rats 30 h after partial hepatectomy as well as in exponential growing Yoshida ascites cells. In DENA-PH-treated rats the Km value was drastically reduced 7 and 60 days after surgery, when enzyme-altered hyperplastic and preneoplastic lesions were present in rat liver. Drastically reduced Km values were also found in Yoshida ascites cells.The results suggest that an altered alanine transporter might take place in liver plasma membranes from carcinogen-treated rats. This appears to occur also in an established tumor cell line, grown in vivo.

O-094 - Effect of calmodulin inhibitors on membrane transport of vinblastine in multidrug—resistant rat ascites hepatoma AH66 cells.

O-094 - Effect of calmodulin inhibitors on membrane transport of vinblastine in multidrug—resistant rat ascites hepatoma AH66 cells.

Base sequences of highly repetitive components in nuclear DNAs from rat liver and rat-ascites hepatoma

A 370-bp highly repetitive component in each of the nuclear DNAs from rat liver (RL) and rat-ascites hepatoma (AH) was isolated by HindIII digestion and cloned in pUC9. Ten of the resulting clones were arbitrarily selected and sequenced. Heterogeneity of size was found in 7 of the RL clones (366–369 bp), but in only 2 of the AH clones (369 bp). The sequence homology was 64.6% among the RL clones; 80.3% among the AH clones. The base compositions were AT-rich, ranging from 61.1% to 64.7%. Many A and/or T runs consisting of 2–5 bases were interspersed throughout each sequence. The restriction sites reported previously [12], EcoRI, HaeIII, HindIII, HinfI and HphI sites, were confirmed in almost all of the clones. In the present experiment, 12 kinds of the sites were further found in both RL and AH clones.

High cell density suspension culture of mammalian anchorage independent cells: oxygen transfer by gas sparging and defoaming with a hydrophobic net.

Gas sparging directly into the culture-broth is not done in cell culture, except when the gas flow rate is very small, because much foaming occurs. During screening of defoaming methods, foam was observed to be broken up effectively when it made contact with a net fabricated from hydrophobic materials. Providing a highly efficient oxygen supply to suspension culture was tried using the new defoaming method. In a 5 l reactor equipped with the foam-eliminating net fabricated with polysiloxane, oxygen was transferred at 21 mmole/l.h equivalent to a consumption rate of 1 X 10(8) cells/ml, even at a low oxygen gas flow rate of 0.1 cm/s corresponding to a fourth of the gas flow rate when foam leaked through the net. Perfusion culture of rat ascites hepatoma cell JTC-1 was successfully carried out in the 5 l scale culture system with the net and a hydrophobic membrane for cell filtration. The viable cell concentration reached 2.7 X 10(7) cells/ml after twenty-seven days, in spite of the nutrient-deficient condition of the lower medium exchange rate, that is, a working volume a day, and viability was maintained at more than 90%. In a 1.21 scale culture of mouse-mouse hybridoma cell STK-1, viable cell concentration reached 4 X 10(7) cells/ml. These results showed that oxygen transfer by gas sparging with defoaming was useful for high density suspension culture. A foam-breaking mechanism was proposed.

In vivo Analysis of Tumor Vascularization in the Rat

By using transparent chambers in rats, we have directly observed tumor‐induced neovascularization in the early stage and the formation of intricate networks in Yoshida rat ascites hepatoma AH109A and Sato lung carcinoma at high magnification. We counted branching point numbers per unit area in the microvascular network with and without tumors in order to clarify the sites from which new vascular sprouts originate. Branching point number per unit area in normal tissue was 13.6 ± 7.4/0.1 mm2 in the field near a terminal arteriole, and 12.9 ± 7.3/0.1 mm2 in the field distant from a terminal arteriole. There was no significant difference between these two fields in the normal vascular network. On the other hand, in the tumor vascular network, the branching point number in the field near a terminal arteriole was 50.4 ± 12.6/0.1 mm2, and 30.1 ± 11.5/0.1 mm2 in the field distant from a terminal arteriole. The difference is highly significant (P<0.001). The frequency with which new capillaries originated from veins and venules was very low. We concluded from these results that the position from which tumor vessels originated was usually the terminal portion of a terminal arteriole.

Particulate‐associated Protein Phosphatases of Rat Hepatomas as Compared with the Enzymes of Rat Liver

In the course of investigating the neoplastic alterations of protein phosphatases, the particulate fractions of rat liver and AH‐13, a strain of rat ascites hepatoma, were chromatographed on DEAE‐cellulose and assayed for protein phosphatase using glycogen synthase D and phosphorylase a as substrates. The synthase phosphatase activity of rapidly growing AH‐13 was due almost entirely to a divalent cation‐inhibited protein phosphatase, tentatively designated phosphatase N, the level of which was elevated remarkably in the hepatoma as compared with liver. Other hepatomas including primary hepatoma induced with 3′‐methyl‐4‐dimethylaminoazobenzene also exhibited high levels of this phosphatase. Phosphatase N exhibited Mr=49,000 (gel filtration) and has been partially purified with little alteration in properties. Partially purified phosphatase N was inhibited by divalent cations, rabbit skeletal muscle polypeptide inhibitor‐2 and heparin, and released the catalytic subunit of type‐1 protein phosphatase upon tryptic digestion. It is therefore apparent that phosphatase N is a type‐1 protein phosphatase. There is some evidence to suggest that the high levels of phosphatase N in neoplastic cells are due primarily to enhanced synthesis of its non‐catalytic (regulatory) subunit.

Studies on responsiveness of hepatoma cells to catecholamines. V. Loss of adrenergic response of glycogen phosphorylase in rat ascites hepatoma AH130 cells.

The beta-adrenoceptor-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) dependent glycogenolytic cascade was examined in normal rat hepatocytes and rat ascites hepatoma AH130 cells. The cyclic AMP content in AH130 cells was half of that in normal hepatocytes, and the cyclic AMP levels in both kinds of cells were clearly increased by isoproterenol (IPN). Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was higher in AH130 cells than in normal hepatocytes. Phosphorylase kinase activities in 10000 x g supernatant of normal hepatocytes and AH130 cells were also increased in the presence of cyclic AMP. Phosphorylase a activities in the supernatant of both kinds of cells gradually decreased during incubation with 40 mM glucose at 37 degrees C, and the enzyme activity of normal hepatocytes was completely restored by the addition of Mg2(+)-adenosine triphosphate (ATP), but in the case of the hepatoma cells the recovery was small. The decreased phosphorylase a activity in the hepatoma cells was increased by additional glycogen but did not exceed the level before the incubation. In the case of normal hepatocytes it was not affected by glycogen. This indicates that glycogen contained in the cells influences the activation of phosphorylase; the glycogen content in AH130 cells was far less than in normal hepatocytes. On the other hand, when intact cells were incubated with a high concentration of glucose, phosphorylase a activity in the homogenate of normal hepatocytes was decreased and could be restored by IPN and dibutyryl cyclic AMP, but the enzyme activity in the homogenate of AH130 cells was very low and hardly changed after the incubation and treatment with these agents.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Existence of Mg2+-Dependent, Neutral Sphingomyelinase in Nuclei of Rat Ascites Hepatoma Cells1

A sphingomyelinase, which specifically hydrolyzes sphingomyelin into ceramide and phosphocholine, was solubilized from nuclear matrix fraction of rat ascites hepatoma, AH7974 cells. The solubilized enzyme was subjected to Mono Q column chromatography in an FPLC system. The sphingomyelinase which was adsorbed on the column and eluted at 0.25-0.5 M NaCl was characterized. The enzyme required 10 mM MgCl2, 0.01% Triton X-100, 1 mM dithiothreitol, and a higher concentration of buffer than 1 M for its maximal activity, and the optimal pH was 6.7-7.2 in 2 M Tris/acetic acid or 7.5 in 2 M potassium acetate/acetic acid. N-Ethylmaleimide completely inhibited the enzyme activity at 0.2 mM. Therefore, this enzyme is classified as a Mg2+-dependent, neutral sphingomyelinase. The sphingomyelinase sedimented at 4.3S through a 10-30% glycerol gradient containing 2 M potassium acetate. This enzyme was highly specific to sphingomyelin and did not hydrolyze phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol. Various characteristics of the nuclear sphingomyelinase were similar to those of the plasma membrane enzyme except its requirement for a high concentration of buffer and SH-reagent.

Overcoming effect of antibody against rat alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) on the growth of daunorubicin‐resistant mutant rat ascites hepatoma cell line AH66

A daunorubicin (DNR)-resistant variant (AH66DR) of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing rat ascites hepatoma AH66 was established. AH66DR was 169 times more resistant to DNR than AH66. A growth-inhibitory effect due to the decrease in sugar uptake following treatment of the cell lines with specific antibody against highly purified rat AFP was also observed. Pre-incubation of both lines with antibody prior to the measurement of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2dG) uptake resulted in a 45-55% decrease in 2dG uptake compared to control cells with a 2-fold reduction of Vmax value while the Km remained unchanged. Upon pre-incubating AH66DR with antibody, an increased intracellular level of DNR concentration with reduction of efflux rate was observed. A significantly superior cytotoxic effect against AH66DR, which reached almost the same level as the cytotoxic effect of DNR against AH66, was found, as compared to various other controls when tumor cells were cultured with a mixture of antibody and DNR. Our in vitro results suggest that the DNR-resistance of the AFP-producing tumor cells may be overcome if the cells are treated with specific antibody.

A malignant, stem cell-like somatic hybrid between a mouse teratocarcinoma and a rat ascitic hepatoma is differentiation competent

A hybrid clone was developed by the fusion of a pluripotent mouse teratocarcinoma cell line PCC-4 Aza R to the Zajdela ascitic hepatoma (ZAH) of rat origin. This hybrid cell line, F2231A, possessed a predominantly teratocarcinoma morphology with a large nucleus and prominent nucleoli, and grew in nests. F2231A cells formed undifferentiated tumours in irradiated Sv/129 mice. It formed aggregates when subcultured at high densities in bacteriological Petri dishes. The hybrid cell line differentiated in response to retinoic acid and also underwent spontaneous differentiation upon overgrowth. Karyological analysis showed the presence of several rat chromosomes in the hybrid and upon isozyme analysis it was found that only the rat variant of the X-linked enzyme HGPRT was expressed. Analysis of the genomic DNA with a cloned probe, specific for rat repetitive sequences, gave strong positive signals in the hepatoma parent and F2231A cells while the parental embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells were negative. The hybrid cell line, like the PCC-4 cells, expressed the SSEA-1 surface marker but not SSEA-3, intercellular fibronectin and EGF receptors. Upon differentiation of F2231A cells there was a loss of expression of SSEA-1. The mRNA for α-fetoprotein was expressed by the hybrid cell line and in this respect it resembled the hepatoma parent. Albumin mRNA was not detectable in the hybrid cell line. The mRNA for the transformation-related protein, p53, was expressed at a high level in F2231A cells. The hybrid cell line F2231A retained several of the biochemical and immunological properties of the teratocarcinoma cells.

Forskolin inhibits the Gs-stimulated adenylate cyclase in rat ascites hepatoma AH66F cells

Forskolin increased intracellular cyclic AMP and augmented cyclic AMP formation by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) in normal rat hepatocytes and ascites hepatoma AH66 cells. However, in AH66F cells which were derived from the AH66 cell line, the diterpene only slightly increased the cyclic AMP level, and dose-dependently inhibited the accumulation caused by PGE1. Forskolin dose-dependently activated adenylate cyclase in these membranes, and the magnitude of activation by forskolin was largest in the following order: hepatocytes, AH66 cells, and AH66F cells. This difference may be based on the number of forskolin-binding sites. The binding affinity of forskolin for each cell membrane was similar. The number and affinity of forskolin-binding sites in these cells were not influenced by 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p]. In hepatocytes and AH66 cells, forskolin and other adenylate cyclase activators such as PGE1, GTP, Gpp(NH)p, F-, and Mn2+ synergistically increased the enzyme activity. In AH66F cells, the forskolin-stimulated activity was hardly influenced by the GTP analog, and forskolin diminished the activities induced by the GTP analog in a manner similar to that of diterpene alone. Forskolin (10 microM) also significantly inhibited the activities induced by PGE1, GTP, and F-. The effect of forskolin with Mn2+ was additive in AH66F cells. The data suggest that forskolin promotes the interaction between the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein and the catalytic unit in the membrane of normal hepatocytes and AH66 cells, but it interferes with the coupling in AH66F cells.

Inhibition of in vitro Tumor Cell Invasion by Transmethylation Inhibitors

Three inhibitors of S‐adenosylmethionine‐mediated transmethylation, 5′‐methylthioadenosine (MTA), 2′‐deoxyadenosine and sinefungin, inhibited in vitro invasion by a highly invasive clone (Cl‐30) of rat ascites hepatoma cells, AH 130 (AH cells). Difluoromethylthioadenosine (DFMTA), a non‐metabolizable derivative of MTA, also caused strong inhibition of invasion at concentrations that did not suppress the growth of the tumor cells. Cl‐30 cells precultured in methionine‐depleted medium showed decreased invasiveness. DFMTA was also effective on the invasion by fibrosarcoma, B16 melanoma and human lung carcinoma cell lines.

A novel phospholipase A 2 associated with nuclear matrix: stimulation of the activity and modulation of the Ca 2+ dependency by polyphosphoinositides

Neutral phospholipase A 2 activity, which hydrolyzed phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine with the same efficiency, was identified in the nuclear matrix prepared from purified nuclei of rat ascites hepatoma cells (AH 7974). The enzyme activity was optimal at pH 7.0 and required Ca 2+ absolutely. Concentrations of Ca 2+ for a maximal and a half-maximal activation were 1·10 −2 and 1·10 −3 M, respectively, and little activity was detected at Ca 2+ concentrations lower than 1·10 −5 M. Addition of acidic phospholipids markedly stimulated the enzyme activity, and further, lowered the minimum Ca 2+ concentration required for activation. In particular, the polyphosphoinositides phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate and 4,5-diphosphate were most effective. These two polyphosphoinositides lowered the Ca 2+ concentration required for half-maximal activation to 10 −5 M and dramatically stimulated the activity at that Ca 2+ concentration (> 30-fold). The neutral phospholipase A 2 activity such as characterized in the present study was very low in the other subcellular fractions including mitochondria, microsome, plasma membrane and cytosol.