Expression of HNFs and C/EBPalpha is correlated with immunocytochemical differentiation of cell lines derived from human hepatocellular carcinomas, hepatoblastomas and immortalized hepatocytes

AbstractAXIN1 mutations are observed in 8–10% of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and originally were considered to support tumor growth by aberrantly enhancing β-catenin signaling. This view has however been challenged by reports showing neither a clear nuclear β-catenin accumulation nor clearly enhanced expression of β-catenin target genes. Here, using nine HCC lines, we show that AXIN1 mutation or siRNA mediated knockdown contributes to enhanced β-catenin signaling in all AXIN1-mutant and non-mutant lines, also confirmed by reduced signaling in AXIN1-repaired SNU449 cells. Both AXIN1 and AXIN2 work synergistically to control β-catenin signaling. While in the AXIN1-mutant lines, AXIN2 is solely responsible for keeping signaling in check, in the non-mutant lines both AXIN proteins contribute to β-catenin regulation to varying levels. The AXIN proteins have gained substantial interest in cancer research for a second reason. Their activity in the β-catenin destruction complex can be increased by tankyrase inhibitors, which thus may serve as a therapeutic option to reduce the growth of β-catenin-dependent cancers. At concentrations that inhibit tankyrase activity, some lines (e.g. HepG2, SNU398) were clearly affected in colony formation, but in most cases apparently independent from effects on β-catenin signaling. Overall, our analyses show that AXIN1 inactivation leads to enhanced β-catenin signaling in HCC cell lines, questioning the strong statements that have been made in this regard. Enhancing AXIN activity by tankyrase monotherapy provides however no effective treatment to affect their growth exclusively through reducing β-catenin signaling.

Download Full-text

p53 regulates epithelial–mesenchymal transition through microRNAs targeting ZEB1 and ZEB2

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.20110235 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 208 (5) ◽

pp. 875-883 ◽

Cited By ~ 354

Author(s):

Taewan Kim ◽

Angelo Veronese ◽

Flavia Pichiorri ◽

Tae Jin Lee ◽

Young-Jun Jeon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcription Factors ◽

Tumor Progression ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Family Members ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Hepatocellular Carcinomas ◽

Zeb2 Expression

p53 suppresses tumor progression and metastasis. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process in tumor progression and metastasis. The transcription factors ZEB1 and ZEB2 promote EMT. Here, we show that p53 suppresses EMT by repressing expression of ZEB1 and ZEB2. By profiling 92 primary hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and 9 HCC cell lines, we found that p53 up-regulates microRNAs (miRNAs), including miR-200 and miR-192 family members. The miR-200 family members transactivated by p53 then repress ZEB1/2 expression. p53-regulated miR-192 family members also repress ZEB2 expression. Inhibition or overexpression of the miRNAs affects p53-regulated EMT by altering ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression. Our findings indicate that p53 can regulate EMT, and that p53-regulated miRNAs are critical mediators of p53-regulated EMT.

Download Full-text

Expression of androgen receptor mRNA in human hepatocellular carcinomas and hepatoma cell lines

Hepatology ◽

10.1002/hep.1840140116 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 99-102 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Hitoshi Nakagama ◽

Toshiaki Gunji ◽

Shin Ohnishi ◽

Takashi Kaneko ◽

Takashi Ishikawa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Androgen Receptor ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Hepatoma Cell ◽

Hepatoma Cell Lines ◽

Receptor Mrna ◽

Hepatocellular Carcinomas

Download Full-text

(EB) Virus: Latency and Expression in Transplanted and Cultured Human Cells

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100065882 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. 368-369

Author(s):

B. G. Uzman ◽

M. M. Kasac ◽

H. Saito ◽

A. Krishan

Keyword(s):

Cell Lines ◽

Primary Cultures ◽

Virus Particles ◽

Barr Virus ◽

Virus Latency ◽

Virus Surveillance ◽

Cultured Human Cells ◽

Epstein Barr ◽

Serial Transplantation ◽

Tubular Arrays

In conjunction with the cultivation and transplantation of cells from human tumors by the Programs of Microbiology and Immunogenetics, virus surveillance by electron microscopy has been routinely employed. Of particular interest in this regard have been 3 cell lines cultured from lymph nodes or spleen of 2 patients with Hodgkin's disease and 1 patient with Letterer-Siwe's disease. Each of these cell lines when transplanted in Syrian hamster neonates conditioned with anti-lymphocyte serum grew as serially transplantable tumors; from such transplants of the 3 cell lines cell cultures were retrieved.Herpes type virus particles (Figs. 1, 2, 3) were found in the primary cultures of all three lines, in frozen thawed aliquots of same, and in cultures retrieved from their tumors growing by serial transplantation in hamsters. No virus was detected in sections of 25 of the serially transplanted tumors. However, in 10 such tumors there were repeated instances of tubular arrays in the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum (Fig. 4). On serologic examination the herpes virus was shown to be the Epstein-Barr virus.

Download Full-text

Comparison of Choriocarcinoma and Normal Placenta

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100065663 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. 324-325

Author(s):

John C. Garancis ◽

Roland A. Pattillo ◽

Robert O. Hussa ◽

Jon V. Straumfjord

Keyword(s):

Cell Lines ◽

Small Cells ◽

Tissue Cultures ◽

Glycogen Depletion ◽

Cell Surfaces ◽

Intercellular Spaces ◽

Concomitant Increase ◽

Gestational Choriocarcinoma ◽

Cytoplasmic Glycogen ◽

Normal Placenta

Two different cell lines (Be-Wo and Jar) of human gestational choriocarcinoma have been maintained in continuous tissue culture for a period of four and two years respectively without losing the ability to elaborate human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Tissue cultures, as revealed by electron microscopy, consisted of small cells with single nuclei. In some instances cell surfaces were provided with microvilli but more often the intercellular spaces were narrow and bridged by desmosomes. However, syncytium was not formed. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was poorly developed in both cell lines, except in some Be-Wo cells it was prominent. Golgi complex, lysosomes and numerous free ribosomes, as well as excessive cytoplasmic glycogen, were present in all cells (Fig. 1). Glycogen depletion and concomitant increase of ER were observed in many cells following a single dose of 10 ugm/ml of adrenalin added to medium (Fig. 2).

Download Full-text

Immunocytochemical localization of β1-4 galactosyltransferase in endometrial carcinoma cells

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100162284 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 944-945

Author(s):

Ichiro Yamamoto ◽

Toshiaki Tachibana ◽

Hiroko Maruyama ◽

Noriyuki Komatsu ◽

Hiroyuki Kuramoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endometrial Carcinoma ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Endometrial Adenocarcinoma ◽

Protein A ◽

Rabbit Antiserum ◽

Carcinoma Cells ◽

Affinity Column ◽

Antibody Technique ◽

Galactosyl Transferase ◽

C Terminus

We have paid attention to the alteration of glycosyltransferase in carcinoma cells, because it might be related to the malignancy of the cells. In this connection, localization of β1-4 galactosyl transferase (β1-4 Gal T) in human endometrial carcinoma cells was examined immunocytochemically using two kinds of cell lines, each of which showed different degree of differentiation.An antibody was purified from the rabbit antiserum against the synthetic peptide, IFNRLVFRGMSC (W89) of human β1-4 Gal T coupled with KLH (keyhole limpet hemocyanine) by protein A column and peptide-affinity column chromatography. The anti-W89 serum reacts to the C-terminus of human β 1-4 Gal T and to both membrane-bound and soluble forms of the enzyme. Cell line of well differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma (I) and that of poorly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma (50B) were cultivated respectively in MEM medium containing 15% FCS and 2 mM glutamine for 4 d at 37°C under 5% CO2. The cells were fixed in a mixture of 4% paraformaldehyde and 0.1% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M Soerensen’s phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 4°C for 30 min, washed with PBS, then freezed and thawed. The indirect method of the peroxidase- labeled antibody technique was used for immunocytochemistry of both LM and TEM on the cell lines. The cells were dehydrated in ethanol and embedded in TAAB 812. Ultrathin sections were observed under a TEM, JEM-100S.

Download Full-text

Absence of temporal ordering of apoptotic features in heat-shock treated leukemia and lymphoma cell lines

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100166257 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

pp. 758-759

Author(s):

D. W. Fairbain ◽

M.D. Standing ◽

K.L. O'Neill

Keyword(s):

Heat Shock ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Chromatin Condensation ◽

Membrane Integrity ◽

Resistant Cell ◽

Membrane Blebbing ◽

Late Loss ◽

Induced Apoptosis ◽

Dying Cells ◽

In Cells

Apoptosis is a genetically defined response to physiological stimuli that results in cellular suicide. Features common to apoptotic cells include chromatin condensation, oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation, membrane blebbing, nuclear destruction, and late loss of ability to exclude vital dyes. These characteristics contrast markedly from pathological necrosis, in which membrane integrity loss is demonstrated early, and other features of apoptosis, which allow a non-inflammatory removal of dead and dying cells, are absent. Using heat shock-induced apoptosis as a model for examining stress response in cells, we undertook to categorize a variety of human leukemias and lymphomas with regard to their response to heat shock. We were also interested in determining whether a common temporal order was followed in cells dying by apoptosis. In addition, based on our previous results, we investigated whether increasing heat load resulted in increased apoptosis, with particular interest in relatively resistant cell lines, or whether the mode of death changed from apoptosis to necrosis.

Download Full-text