Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects in rat and human hepatoma cell cultures of the orally active iron chelator ICL670 compared to CP20: a possible relationship with polyamine metabolism.

OBJECTIVE: Iron loading has been observed to have a hyperproliferative effect on hepatocytes in vitro and on tumour cells in vivo; removal of this iron being required to induce antitumour activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Antiproliferative effects of orally active tridentate iron chelator ICL670 (deferasirox) and bidentate iron chelator CP20 (deferiprone), mediated through the chelation of intracellular iron, were compared in rat hepatoma cell line FAO and human hepatoma cell line HUH7. RESULTS: In FAO cell cultures, we have shown that ICL670 decreased cell viability and DNA replication and induced apoptosis more efficiently than an iron-binding equivalent concentration of CP20. Moreover, ICL670 decreased significantly the number of the cells in G(2)-M phase. In the HUH7 cell cultures, ICL670 and a four-time higher iron-binding equivalent concentration of CP20, decreased cell viability and DNA replication in the same range. CP20 increased the number of the cells in G(2)-M phase. However, ICL670 inhibited polyamine biosynthesis by decreasing ornithine decarboxylase mRNA level; in contrast, CP20 increased polyamine biosynthesis, particularly putrescine level, by stimulating spermidine-spermine N(1)-acetyl transferase activity that could activate the polyamine retro-conversion pathway. By mass spectrometry, we observed that ICL670 cellular uptake was six times higher than CP20. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ICL670 has a powerful antitumoural effect and blocks cell proliferation in neoplastic cells by a pathway different from that of CP20 and may constitute a potential adjuvant drug for anticancer therapy.

Modulation of alpha-fetoprotein, albumin and transferrin gene expression by cellular interactions and dexamethasone in cocultures of fetal rat hepatocytes.

Fetal hepatocytes were cultured alone or in association with primitive biliary cells (RLEC) in the presence or absence of dexamethasone. Cell-cell contacts were established 3 h or five days after hepatocyte seeding and their effects on hepatocyte growth and functional activities were evaluated in the presence or absence of dexamethasone. Establishment of cellular interactions with RLEC in coculture decreased hepatocyte growth, while it stimulated production of alpha-fetoprotein, albumin and transferrin. Addition of dexamethasone to coculture inhibited alpha-fetoprotein secretion and maintained the synthesis rate of albumin and transferrin together with an additional inhibition of DNA synthesis. The levels of mRNAs corresponding to the three proteins were also measured. We observed that the levels of alpha-fetoprotein, albumin and transferrin secretion in cocultures maintained in the presence or absence of dexamethasone were well correlated with the relative amounts of their corresponding mRNAs. Consequently, it may be assumed that the primitive mechanism involved in the increased functional activity of fetal hepatocytes in coculture is of pretranslational origin. Furthermore, the present data provide evidence that heterotypic interactions and dexamethasone act as distinct modulators of growth and maturation of fetal rat hepatocytes.

EPR study of antioxidant activity of the iron chelators pyoverdin and hydroxypyrid-4-one in iron-loaded hepatocyte culture: comparison with that of desferrioxamine.

Iron supplementation of hepatocyte culture induced the production of lipid-derived radicals as shown by spin-trapping with alpha-(4-pyridyl 1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (POBN). The EPR signal corresponding to POBN/lipid-derived radicals (aN = 15.6 G aH = 2.6 G) was concentration dependent on iron (Fe-NTA) added to the culture medium (50, 100, 200 microM). It was also incubation time dependent (0 to 24 h). The EPR signal could be used as a marker for iron-induced lipid peroxidation. The antioxidant activity of two iron chelators, pyoverdin (Pa) and hydroxypyrid-4-one derivative (CP20) was compared with that of desferrioxamine (DFO) on iron-loaded hepatocyte culture. These compounds (100 microM) were tested either in pretreatment or simultaneously with Fe-NTA (100 microM). In each procedure, the EPR signal obtained from the cells supplemented with iron was substantially reduced in the presence of either DFO or CP20 but not with Pa. Moreover, the DFO and CP20 but not Pa showed protective effect on the leakage of the intracellular enzyme lactate dehydrogenase into the culture medium. The present study described a specific spin-trapping technique in conjunction with EPR spectroscopy that is able to demonstrate the cytoprotective effect of iron chelators, as shown by the elimination of lipid-derived radicals in iron-loaded hepatocyte culture.

Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of the iron chelators pyoverdin and hydroxypyrid-4-ones in iron-loaded hepatocyte cultures: comparison of their mechanism of protection with that of desferrioxamine.

The protective effect on iron-supplemented hepatocyte cultures of three iron chelators, pyoverdin Pa and hydroxypyrid-4-one derivatives CP20 and CP22, was compared to that of the widely known desferrioxamine B (Desferal:DFO), on the basis of two criteria: (a) their effectiveness in inhibiting free malondialdehyde (MDA) production as an index of iron-induced lipid peroxidation; and (b) their ability to reduce intracellular enzyme leakage. In view of these two markers of iron toxicity, the protective effect of these chelators was classified as follows: DFO > CP20 > or = CP22 > Pa. The mechanism of cellular protection was elucidated by investigating both the iron-chelating activity and the free radical scavenging property of these agents. As concerns the iron chelation, DFO and Pa exerted the same rank order as for cytoprotection (DFO > Pa). The free radical scavenging property toward hydroxyl radical .OH and peroxyl radical ROO. was investigated in a cell-free experimental model. The two siderophores, DFO and Pa, appeared to have a lower antiradical activity toward .OH than hydroxypyrid-4-one CP22. This .OH scavenging activity was classified as follows: CP22 >> Pa > DFO. Moreover, the chelators exhibited for the quenching of ROO. the same order of effectiveness as that observed for cellular protection: DFO > CP20 > or = CP22 > Pa. These data indicate that, in addition to the iron-chelating activity which represents the most important property for determining the protection capacity of these iron chelators, their free radical scavenging ability also must be taken into account. This direct demonstration of a strong association between the free radical scavenging activity and the protective effect of iron chelators further increases the prospects for the development and clinical applications of new oral chelating drugs.

Antioxidant and iron-chelating activities of the flavonoids catechin, quercetin and diosmetin on iron-loaded rat hepatocyte cultures.

The cytoprotective effect of three flavonoids, catechin, quercetin and diosmetin, was investigated on iron-loaded hepatocyte cultures, considering two parameters: the prevention of iron-increased lipid peroxidation and the inhibition of intracellular enzyme release. These two criteria of cytoprotection allowed the calculation of mean inhibitory concentrations (IC50) which revealed that the effectiveness of these flavonoids could be classified as follows: catechin > quercetin > diosmetin. These IC50 values have been related to structural characteristics of the flavonoids tested. Moreover, the investigation of the capacity of these flavonoids to remove iron from iron-loaded hepatocytes revealed a good relationship between this iron-chelating ability and the cytoprotective effect. The cytoprotective activity of catechin, quercetin and diosmetin could thus be ascribed to their widely known antiradical property but also to their iron-chelating effectiveness. These findings increase further the prospects for the development and clinical application of these potent antioxidants.

Inhibition of iron overload toxicity in rat hepatocyte cultures by pyoverdin Pf, the siderophore of Pseudomonas fluorescens.

The effect of the pyoverdin Pf (an iron chelating agent isolated and purified from Pseudomonas fluorescens CCM 2798) was studied on iron overloaded rat hepatocyte cultures. Iron overload was obtained by addition of 5-80 microM ferric nitrilotriacetate to the culture medium. Twenty-four hours after iron treatment, a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase in the culture medium was observed. This corresponded to intracellular decrease in the activity of these two enzymes and correlated with a decrease in albumin secretion and an increase in total free malondialdehyde production. The iron toxicity was inhibited by desferrioxamine B. Pyoverdin Pf added to the hepatocyte cultures served as an effective agent to prevent iron toxicity induced in overload. The observed effect of the pyoverdin Pf was as potent as that of desferrioxamine B.

Kinetic evaluation of free malondialdehyde and enzyme leakage as indices of iron damage in rat hepatocyte cultures. Involvement of free radicals.

The present study relates to the effect of ferric iron supplementation on lipid peroxidation of adult rat hepatocyte pure cultures. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated by free malondialdehyde (MDA) using size exclusion chromatography (HPLC) as a specific and sensitive method. The ferric iron used under its complexed form with nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) exhibited a prooxidant activity corresponding to an increase of free MDA recovery in the cells and in the culture medium. This enhancement of lipid peroxidation in the hepatocyte cultures supplemented with ferric iron was correlated with an intracellular enzyme leakage (lactate dehydrogenase and transaminase), suggesting that lipid peroxidation and enzyme release represented good parameters for cytotoxicity evaluation. The toxic effect of Fe-NTA on hepatocyte cultures was a function of the incubation time (from 0 to 48 hr) and of the concentration of ferric iron loading (i.e. 5, 20 and 100 microM). The mechanism by which Fe-NTA induced cellular damage involved free radical production, as increasing amounts of free radical scavengers corresponded to diminishing rates of both total free MDA and enzyme release. However, this reducing capacity varied from one scavenger to another, where they exhibited preferentially a decrease in lipid peroxidation or in enzyme leakage. This suggested a dissociation between the two parameters of cytotoxicity considered. Lipid peroxidation corresponding to alterations of both inner membranes and the plasma membrane, whereas enzyme release mainly corresponded to the damage of plasma membrane. Subsequently, some scavengers (superoxide dismutase, mannitol, alpha tocopherol, beta carotene) presented an intracellular activity, as they reduced mostly lipid peroxidation. Other ones (catalase, dimethylpyrroline N-oxide, thiourea) seemed essentially efficient in protecting the external plasma membrane, as shown an important decrease in enzyme leakage.

Simultaneous measurements of conjugated dienes and free malondialdehyde, used as a micromethod for the evaluation of lipid peroxidation in rat hepatocyte cultures.

Membrane lipid peroxidation in rat hepatocyte cultures was induced by a 5-h incubation with either ethanol (50 mM) or the chelate iron-nitrilotriacetic acid (Fe-NTA) (100 microM). To test the oxidative stress, two indices were measured simultaneously on the same sample: extracellular free malondialdehyde (MDA) measured by HPLC with a size exclusion column, and conjugated dienes (CD) determined by second derivative spectroscopy. With ethanol, both CD and MDA gave nearly the same values of lipid peroxidation, about 135% of the control value. With Fe-NTA, both indices indicated a higher lipid peroxidation, but the MDA and CD values were different. Iron lipid peroxidation evaluated by free MDA and CD was, 290 and 230%, respectively, of the control. This discrepancy could be ascribed to an increased decomposition of hydroperoxides by iron. In addition, the ratio of cis,trans and trans,trans conjugated dienes, which reflects the cellular redox status, remained unchanged after 5 h of lipid peroxidation induced either by ethanol or iron.

Cytoprotection and iron mobilization in rat hepatocyte cultures by a new synthetic dihydroxamate chelator.

The cytoprotection and iron mobilization effect of a new dihydroxamate chelator 1,1 bis [(11-N-hydroxy)-2,5,11-triaza-1,6,10-trioxo dodecanyl] ethane or KD was studied in primary rat hepatocyte cultures exposed to iron-citrate. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and malondialdehyde (MDA) production were measured as indexes of cytotoxicity. Cell viability was evaluated using the [3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl) 2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] (MTT) reduction test. To demonstrate that this chelator was able to decrease iron uptake or increase iron release from the hepatocytes, labelled cells were obtained by maintaining the cultures in the presence of 0.02 microM 55Fe-citrate. The efficacy of KD was compared to desferrioxamine B (DFO) at stoechiometry concentrations. After 24 h of exposure to 50 microM of iron-citrate, a significant release of LDH and MDA was observed. Cell viability was also significantly decreased. When 100 microM of KD were added at the same time as iron, LDH and MDA release was decreased and cell viability was improved. In the presence of the same chelator concentration, a net decrease of iron uptake by the cells was observed as attested by the low intracellular 55Fe level. Moreover, in the 55Fe loaded hepatocytes, the chelator increased the iron extracellular level indicating its iron release effect from the cells. In all tested experimental conditions, the efficacy of 100 microM of the dihydroxamate chelator KD was close to that of 50 microM of the trihydroxamate chelator DFO. In conclusion, KD is effective at a level comparable to DFO in protecting rat hepatocytes against the toxic effect of iron-citrate by decreasing the uptake of the metal and increasing its release from the cells. This synthetic compound appears to have some potential therapeutical interest and the results obtained encourage the synthesis of new hydroxamate ligands.

Inhibition of iron toxicity in rat hepatocyte culture by natural phenolic compounds.

Iron supplementation of adult rat hepatocyte culture induced a cytotoxic effect as shown by an increase of lipid peroxidation. The antioxidant activity of some natural phenolic compounds from olive oil (caffeic acid, oleuropein, tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol) has been investigated on this iron-loaded hepatocyte culture model. These compounds greatly reduced malondialdehyde production which was used as a marker for iron-induced lipid peroxidation. This reduction was concentration-dependent of phenolic compound (in the range of 20-100 mum). Moreover, it was not significantly different from one tested compound to another. To clarify the antioxidant mechanism of these compounds, their free radical scavenging activity has been tested in a cell-free experimental model using spin trapping-electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The four tested compounds were able to scavenge hydroxyl and lipid radicals. They exhibited various efficiency towards hydroxyl radical whereas they presented the same order of reactivity towards lipid radicals. Moreover, only caffeic acid and oleuropein could scavenge Superoxide anion. Therefore, the reactivity of the phenolic compounds towards these reactive oxygen species provided an insight into their antioxidant activity in iron-loaded hepatocyte culture. These compounds could probably interfere with the chain-propagating steps of the lipid peroxidation induced by iron in hepatocytes, which resulted in an inhibition of toxicity.

Inhibition of iron toxicity in rat hepatocyte cultures by pyoverdin Pa A, the peptidic fluorescent siderophore of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The effect of pyoverdin Pa A (an iron chelator isolated and purified from Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15692) was studied in rat hepatocyte cultures overloaded with iron. Iron overload was achieved by adding 80 mum-ferric nitrilotriacetate to the culture medium. One day after iron treatment, significant increases in aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase in the culture medium were measured; under similar conditions, albumin and transferrin secretions were decreased. Pyoverdin Pa A (100 mum in the medium) appeared to be as effective as desferrioxamine B (100 mum) in the protection of hepatocytes, cultured for 1 day in the presence of 80 mum-ferric nitrilotriacetate, against the toxic effects of iron overload. In rat hepatocytes cultured for 1 day in the presence of 1 mum Fe(55), pyoverdin Pa A or desferrioxamine B in the medium decreased iron uptake by the cells. When hepatocytes were cultured for 1 day in the presence of 1 mum-Fe(55) and then for a further day in the presence of 100 mum-Pa A or desferrioxamine but not iron, both chelators decreased the intracellular iron level and increased the concentration of the metal in the culture medium.

Increase in cellular pool of low-molecular-weight iron during ethanol metabolism in rat hepatocyte cultures. Relationship with lipid peroxidation.

Ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation was studied in primary rat hepatocyte cultures supplemented with ethanol at the concentration of 50 mM. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by two indices: (1) conjugated dienes by second-derivative UV spectroscopy in lipid extract of hepatocytes (intracellular content), and (2) free malondialdehyde (MDA) by HPLC-UV detection and quantitation for the incubation medium (extracellular content). In cultures supplemented with ethanol, free MDA increased significantly in culture media, whereas no elevation of conjugated diene level was observed in the corresponding hepatocytes. The cellular pool of low-mol-wt (LMW) iron was also evaluated in the hepatocytes using an electron spin resonance procedure. An early increase of intracellular LMW iron (< or = 1 hr) was observed in ethanol-supplemented cultures; it was inhibited by 4-methylpyrazole, an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, whereas alpha-tocopherol, which prevented lipid peroxidation, did not inhibit the increase of LMW iron. Therefore, the LMW iron elevation was the result of ethanol metabolism and was not secondarily induced by lipid hydroperoxides. Thus, ethanol caused lipid peroxidation in rat hepatocytes as shown by the increase of free MDA, although no conjugated diene elevation was detected. During ethanol metabolism, an increase in cellular LMW iron was observed that could enhance conjugated diene degradation.

Iron load increases ferritin synthesis and secretion in adult human hepatocyte cultures.

In order to determine if iron load was able to stimulate specifically ferritin synthesis and secretion in adult human hepatocytes, primary cultures were submitted to increasing concentrations of ferric iron. The following results were obtained: 1. iron incorporation within the hepatocytes increased as a function of culture time and reached a high level after 48 h of treatment; 2. a dose-dependent significant stimulation of ferritin synthesis and secretion was observed when the medium iron concentration increased from 1 to 40 mumols.1(-1); 3. transferrin and albumin secretions were unaffected. The present data demonstrate that, in adult human primary cultures, iron load increases ferritin synthesis and secretion in a specific manner.

Influence of ornithine on albumin synthesis by fetal and neonatal hepatocytes maintained in culture.

Fetal rat as well as fetal and neonatal human hepatocytes were cultured in an arginine-free medium with or without L-ornithine. This amino acid was found greatly to improve cell survival of both rat and human parenchymal cells and to favour their proliferation. In addition, L-ornithine appeared to modulate the expression of various functions and particularly to increase albumin secretion. Since a correlated increase of the corresponding mRNA was observed, it may be postulated that L-ornithine acts at a pre-translational level.

Effect of ornithine on transferrin secretion of rat and human hepatocyte cultures.

Fetal rat or neonatal human hepatocytes and a human hepatoma cell line were cultured in an arginine-free medium, supplemented or not with L-ornithine. This amino-acid improved survival of hepatocytes and strongly enhanced their transferrin secretion. Moreover, this increase observed in transferrin production was well correlated with a higher corresponding mRNA level. Thus, it may be postulated that the mechanism involved in the increased transferrin secretion by L-ornithine is of pretranslational origin.

EPR determination of low molecular weight iron content applied to whole rat hepatocytes.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) has been described as suitable for the evaluation of low molecular weight (LMW) iron in liver homogenates after chelation by desferrioxamine. LMW iron is a highly toxic iron species incriminated in free radical production. The first aim of the study was to evaluate the conditions of EPR application for LMW iron content determination in whole rat hepatocytes. For this purpose, LMW iron was simultaneously quantified by EPR and by atomic absorption spectrometry, EPR determination of LMW iron needed a preincubation of hepatocyte cultures with the iron chelator for at least on hr. Deferiprone as LMW iron chelator was revealed to be more suited than desferrioxamine. Secondly, we showed the applicability of this methods for evaluating the prooxidant status during an oxidative stress. As an example, oxidative stress induced by ethanol in hepatocytes was studied during inflammatory circumstances, well-known to lead to nitric oxide production. In hepatocyte cultures supplemented with ethanol, an evaluation of LMW iron content was observed in cells. But when nitric oxide donors or a supplementation constituted of lipopolysaccharide and gamma-interferon, able to induce nitric oxide synthase, were added, LMW iron content decreased. Thus EPR determination of LMW iron content in whole hepatocytes could give some insight about the mechanism of induction or inhibition of a oxidative stress.

Alcohol induction of ferritin expression in a human hepatoblastoma cell line (HEP G2).

Hyperferritinemia, an unclear mechanism, is frequently observed in chronic alcoholics. The aim of this work was to study the effect of alcohol on ferritin expression in a human hepatoblastoma cell line, HepG2. This cell line proved to be sensitive to alcohol, since alcohol increased gamma-GT activity both in cells and media. The most striking result was the increase of ferritin in cells and media by alcohol. Moreover, this effect was specific, since it contrasted with a decrease in total protein synthesis and secretion, a decrease in transferrin excretion and a lack of effect on orosomucoid. In our model, alcohol was able to induce, in a specific manner, ferritin expression.

Modulation of albumin secretion by ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate in adult rat hepatocyte cultures and a human hepatoma cell line (HepG2).

Cocultured adult rat hepatocytes and a human hepatoma cell line (HepG2) were maintained in an arginine-free medium with or without ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate. This drug increased greatly hepatocyte albumin secretion in both culture models. L-Ornithine was the component accounting for these effects since similar data were obtained by using this sole amino acid. Moreover, we observed that L-ornithine stimulation of albumin production was via polyamine synthesis. Since a correlated increase in albumin mRNA was observed, it may be postulated that ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate acts at a pretranslational level.

Prolonged maintenance of active cytochrome P-450 in adult rat hepatocytes co-cultured with another liver cell type.

The cytochrome P-450 content promptly fell in adult rat hepatocytes cultured in conventional conditions whereas no obvious change was detected over a 10-day period when these cells were co-cultured with another rat liver epithelial cell type. A concomitant maintenance of the amino-pyrine N-demethylase activity and a high aflatoxin B1-induced cytotoxicity was observed, and addition of phenobarbital to the culture medium produced about a 2-fold increase in cytochrome P-450 level. These results indicate that when placed in co-culture, adult hepatocytes remain differentiated for several days and suggest that such a co-culture system is an appropriate model for pharmacotoxicological studies.

Iron induction of ferritin synthesis and secretion in human hepatoma cell (Hep G2) cultures.

In order to determine if iron was able to stimulate specifically ferritin synthesis and secretion in transformed human hepatocytes in culture, human hepatoma cell (HepG2) cultures were submitted to increasing doses of ferric nitrilotriacetate. Iron uptake by the cells was demonstrated by incorporation of 59 Fe and the staining method of Perls. The following results were obtained: 1. iron incorporation within the hepatocytes increased as a function of culture time; 2. during the first 24 h of treatment, ferritin synthesis increased progressively, in parallel to the iron uptake; 3. a dose-dependent significant stimulation of ferritin synthesis and secretion were observed when the medium iron concentration increased from 5 to 20 mumol/l; 4. albumin, transthyretin and transferrin secretions were unaffected. These data demonstrated that, in our hepatocyte culture model, iron load increased the expression of ferritin in a highly specific manner.