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Within the EuroMix project, we have previously developed an adverse outcome pathway (AOP)-based in vitro assay toolbox to investigate the combined effects of liver steatosis-inducing compounds in human HepaRG hepatocarcinoma cells. In this study, we applied the toolbox to further investigate mixture effects of combinations, featuring either similarly acting or dissimilarly acting substances. The valproic acid structural analogs 2-propylheptanoic acid (PHP) and 2-propylhexanoic acid (PHX) were chosen for establishing mixtures of similarly acting substances, while a combination with the pesticidal active substance clothianidin (CTD) was chosen for establishing mixtures of dissimilarly acting compounds. We first determined relative potency factors (RPFs) for each compound based on triglyceride accumulation results. Thereafter, equipotent mixtures were tested for nuclear receptor activation in transfected HepG2 cells, while gene expression and triglyceride accumulation were investigated in HepaRG cells, following the proposed AOP for liver steatosis. Dose addition was observed for all combinations and endpoints tested, indicating the validity of the additivity assumption also in the case of the tested mixtures of dissimilarly acting substances. Gene expression results indicate that the existing steatosis AOP can still be refined with respect to the early key event (KE) of gene expression, in order to reflect the diversity of molecular mechanisms underlying the adverse outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Organophosphorus insecticides are well known to induce hepatotoxicity. One among this is chlorpyrifos (CPF), which is an insecticide inducing various toxicities including in liver. Objective: This investigation focused on CPF-induced oxidative damage in rat hepatocytes primary culture and the protective effect of Cactus cladode aqueous extract. Materials and Methods: Hepatocytes were treated with CPF (50, 75, and 150 μM) and cactus aqueous extract. On treatment for 48 h, mortality within these cells was determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide test, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured by H2DCFDA test. Furthermore, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and CYP1A1/2 levels were determined using western blot analysis. Annexin V and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole analysis was run to determine the level of cell death and cytoprotection exerted by CPF and extracts, respectively. Results: The results showed that CPF increases the levels of H2O2 and HSP70 and induces CYP1A1/2 and mortality within these cells. In the other side of this study, the co-treatment of these cells with CPF and Cactus cladode aqueous extract showed a recovery of these parameters. It also has been found that the Cactus cladode aqueous extract has the potential to do cytoprotective effect by preventing necrosis induced by CPF. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings suggest that the toxicity exerted by CPF in hepatocytes are involved with the generation of ROS and the regulation of well-controlled programmed cell death, which could be well protected by the Cactus cladode extract pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea is an interesting source of antioxidants capable of counteracting the oxidative stress implicated in liver diseases. We investigated the impact of antioxidant molecules provided by a mixture of teas' leaves (green, oolong, pu-erh) after different infusion durations in the prevention of oxidative stress in isolated rat hepatocytes, by comparison with pure epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the main representative of tea catechins. Dried aqueous tea extracts (ATE) obtained after 5, 15 and 30 min infusion time were characterized for total polyphenols (gallic acid equivalent), catechins, gallic acid and caffeine (HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS) contents, and for scavenging ability against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical. Hepatoprotection was evaluated through hepatocyte viability tests using tert-butyl hydroperoxide as a stress inducer, (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, neutral red uptake, real-time cellular impedance) and mitochondrial function tests. We showed that a 5-min incubation time is sufficient for an optimal bioaccessibility of tea compounds with the highest antioxidative ability, which decreases for longer durations. A 4-h pretreatment of cells with ATE significantly prevented cell death by regulating reactive oxygen species production and maintaining mitochondrial integrity. Pure EGCG, at doses similar in ATE (5–12 μM), was inefficient, suggesting a plausible synergy of several water-soluble tea compounds to explain the ATE beneficial effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

French consumers are exposed to mixtures of pesticide residues in part through food consumption. As a xenosensor, the pregnane X receptor (hPXR) is activated by numerous pesticides, the combined effect of which is currently unknown. We examined the activation of hPXR by seven pesticide mixtures most likely found in the French diet and their individual components. The mixture's effect was estimated using the concentration addition (CA) model. PXR transactivation was measured by monitoring luciferase activity in hPXR/HepG2 cells and CYP3A4 expression in human hepatocytes. The three mixtures with the highest potency were evaluated using the CA model, at equimolar concentrations and at their relative proportion in the diet. The seven mixtures significantly activated hPXR and induced the expression of CYP3A4 in human hepatocytes. Of the 14 pesticides which constitute the three most active mixtures, four were found to be strong hPXR agonists, four medium, and six weak. Depending on the mixture and pesticide proportions, additive, greater than additive or less than additive effects between compounds were demonstrated. Predictions of the combined effects were obtained with both real-life and equimolar proportions at low concentrations. Pesticides act mostly additively to activate hPXR, when present in a mixture. Modulation of hPXR activation and its target genes induction may represent a risk factor contributing to exacerbate the physiological response of the hPXR signaling pathways and to explain some adverse effects in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Chronic exposure to low doses of pesticides present in the environment is increasingly suspected to cause major health issues to humans. Toxicological evaluations become more complex when the exposure concerns chemical combinations. Atrazine, chlorpyrifos, and endosulfan are pesticides used worldwide in agriculture and are therefore currently found at residual levels in food and the environment, even in countries in which they are now banned. Our study aimed to use Real-Time Cell Impedance Analyzer to investigate changes in phenotypical status of primary human hepatocytes and differentiated HepaRG cells induced by short and chronic exposures to these three chemicals. In contrast to the traditionally used endpoint cytotoxicity test, this technology allows kinetic measurements in real-time throughout the entire experiment. Our data show significantly higher cytotoxic effects of mixtures as compared to individual pesticides and a greater susceptibility of human hepatocytes as compared to HepaRG to short-term exposure (24 h). Repeated exposure over 2 weeks to endosulfan and endosulfan-containing mixture induced HepaRG cell death in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Of the typical genes involved in metabolism and cell-response to xenobiotics, we found an exposure time- and condition-dependent deregulation of the expression of CYP3A4 and UGT1A in HepaRG cells exposed to low doses of pesticides and mixtures. Our data demonstrate the usefulness of real-time cell monitoring in long-term toxicological evaluations of co-exposure to xenobiotics. In addition, they support but at the same time highlight certain limitations in the use of HepaRG cells as the gold standard liver cell model in toxicity studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an integral process in the progression of many epithelial tumors. It involves a coordinated series of events, leading to the loss of epithelial features and the acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype, resulting in invasion and metastasis. The EMT of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells is thought to be a key event in intrahepatic dissemination and distal metastasis. In this study, we used 12-O-tet-radecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to dissect the signaling pathways involved in the EMT of HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells. The spectacular change in phenotype induced by TPA, leading to a pronounced spindle-shaped fibroblast-like cell morphology, required ERK1/2 activation. This ERK1/2-dependent EMT process was characterized by a loss of E-cadherin function, modification of the cytoskeleton, the acquisition of mesenchymal markers and profound changes to extracellular matrix composition and mobility. Snail was essential for E-cadherin repression, but was not sufficient for full commitment of the TPA-triggered EMT. We found that TPA triggered the formation of a complex between Snail and β-catenin that activated the Wnt pathway. This study thus provides the first evidence for the existence of a complex network governed by the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, converging on the coregulation of Snail and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and responsible for the onset and the progression of EMT in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol F (BPF) is present in the environment and as a contaminant of food. Humans may, therefore, be exposed to BPF, and an assessment of this risk is required. BPF has been shown to have genotoxic and endocrine-disruptor properties in a human hepatoma cell line (HepG2), which is a model system for studies of xenobiotic toxicity. In this study, we investigated the ability of HepG2 cells to biotransform BPF, because metabolism may affect the observed effects of BPF, and we compared this metabolic capacity with that of human hepatocytes. Cells were incubated for 24 hours with [3H]-BPF. The culture medium was then concentrated and its metabolites were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography and identified by mass spectrometry. BPF was largely metabolized into the corresponding sulfate by the HepG2 cell line. BPF was metabolized into both sulfate and glucuronide by human hepatocytes, but with differences between individuals. The metabolism of BPF in both HepG2 cells and human hepatocytes suggests the existence of a detoxification pathway. Thus, these two cell models differ in metabolic capacity. It is, therefore, very important, when assessing the toxic effects of substances in vitro, to determine, in parallel, the biotransformation capacities of the model used to extrapolate in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Bile acids damage the liver, essentially by inducing hepatocyte apoptosis. Clinical studies have shown that several activators of the pregnane X receptor (PXR) may induce the remission of cholestasis. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in this beneficial effect remain unclear. We analysed the effect of an activator of PXR, clotrimazole (CLO), on the apoptosis induced by bile acids in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. Methods: Rat hepatocytes were isolated by collagenase perfusion of the liver. Then, cells were pretreated with CLO for 24 h, after which they were exposed to deoxycholic and glycochenodeoxycholic acids (DCA, GCDCA). Apoptosis and necrosis were monitored morphologically and biochemically using cytotoxicity assays, phase-contrast microscopy, Annexin V/propidium iodide staining and evaluations of lactate dehydrogenase release. The activation of caspases and the proteolysis of their substrates were analysed by enzyme assays and Western blot. The signal transductions involved in the protective effect of the PXR activation were analysed by assessing the phosphorylation status of kinases belonging to the ERK, Akt and p38 pathways and by analysing pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. Results: CLO protected rat hepatocytes against DCA- and GCDCA-induced apoptosis, preventing morphological aspects of this process (membrane blebbing, nuclear and chromatin condensation and DNA breakdown). This effect was attributable, at least partly, to caspases inhibition, Bcl-xL induction, the activation of ERK and Akt signalling and p38 inhibition. Conclusion: This study provides the description of the cytoprotective effect of PXR activation against bile acid-induced apoptosis and highlights molecular pathways that could be targeted in the treatment of cholestasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endosulfan is an organochlorine insecticide described as a potential carcinogen in humans. This insecticide was recently reported to alter the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathways and is suspected to affect cell growth and differentiation in human keratinocytes. This study was designed to assess the mitogenic, apoptogenic, and genotoxic effects of endosulfan on the HaCaT cell line. We first found that 25 µM endosulfan led to persistent extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 phosphorylation with an accumulation of the phosphorylated form in the nucleus, probably caused by MAP kinase phosphatase (MKP) inhibition. As previously described under sustained ERK1/2 activation, cell growth was decreased: delayed confluency and 35% decrease of BrdU incorporation was demonstrated in endosulfan-treated keratinocytes. In addition, endosulfan has been shown to generate transient reactive oxygen species (ROS), and blocking this oxidative stress by N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) strongly prevented both persistent nuclear ERK1/2 phosphorylation and cell growth decrease. Additional experiments demonstrated that unchanged endosulfan rather than its metabolites has mutagenic effects (Ames positive without S9) and increased DNA strand breaks (Comet assay) in HaCaT cells, via a ROS-dependent mechanism. Therefore, to assess the putative pro-apoptotic response of damaged cells, caspases 3/7 activity and poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP) cleavage were measured. The results clearly indicated that endosulfan inhibited both spontaneous and staurosporine-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these findings strongly support that endosulfan induces ROS generation leading to sustained ERK1/2 phosphorylation and decrease in cell growth. Moreover, endosulfan was found to inhibit apoptosis and this could contribute to mutant cell survival and therefore have possible carcinogenic effects. J. Cell. Physiol. 213: 177–186, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organochlorine pesticides (OCs) are reported as potential carcinogens in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of four OCs (dieldrin, endosulfan, heptachlor, and lindane) on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades and more specifically to identify the mechanism underlying OC-induced ERK1/2 activation. Organochlorine pesticides increased phosphorylated Raf, MEK1/2, ERK1/2, and c-Jun in human HaCaT cells, but they had no effect on p38 MAPK activation. Moreover, blockade of Raf, MEK1/2, or PKC activation with geldanamycin, U0126, or calphostin C inhibited ERK1/2 phosphorylation, demonstrating a PKC–Raf–MEK1/2 pathway. We also showed that these insecticides induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Pre-treatment with the antioxidant molecule N-acetyl cysteine sharply decreased the level of phospho-ERK1/2 and had no effect on Raf and MEK1/2 activation, suggesting a Raf-independent mechanism. This study indicates that OCs strongly activate the ERK1/2 pathway, and it identifies a critical role of ROS in OC-induced ERK activation, probably by stabilizing its phosphorylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vivo distribution of the neonicotinoid insecticide, imidacloprid, was followed during 72 h in six biological compartments of Apis mellifera L: head, thorax, abdomen, haemolymph, midgut and rectum. Honeybees were treated orally with 100 µg of 14C-imidacloprid per kg of bee, a dose close to the median lethal dose. Elimination half-life of total radioactivity in honeybee was 25 h. Haemolymph was the compartment with the lowest and rectum that with the highest level of total radioactivity during the whole study, with a maximum 24 h after treatment. Elimination half-life of imidacloprid in whole honeybee was 5 h. Imidacloprid was readily distributed and metabolised only by Phase I enzymes into five metabolites: 4/5-hydroxy-imidacloprid, 4,5-dihydroxy-imidacloprid, 6-chloronicotinic acid, and olefin and urea derivatives. The guanidine derivative was not detected. The urea derivative and 6-chloronicotinic acid were the main metabolites and appeared particularly in midgut and rectum. The olefin derivative and 4/5-hydroxy-imidacloprid preferentially occurred in head, thorax and abdomen, which are nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-rich tissues. Moreover, they presented a peak value around 4 h after imidacloprid ingestion. These results explain the prolongation of imidacloprid action in bees, and particularly the differences between rapid intoxication symptoms and late mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Induction of both CYP1A1 and metallothioneins (MTs) in fish liver is increasingly being used in ecotoxicological studies. The interaction of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb) with the CYP1A induction response and MT levels was studied in trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocyte cultures. Cells were exposed to 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) or to increasing heavy metal concentrations or to a mixture of both (3-MC and one heavy metal). Metal cytotoxicity was assessed by the neutral red test. Ranking of toxicity was Cd(II) < Cu(II) < Zn(II) < Pb(II) (EC50: 45, 222, 873, and 945 µM, respectively). CYP1A1 expression was monitored by ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity as well as by Western and Northern blots. As expected, 3-MC induced EROD activity in a time- and dose-dependent manner (maximal induction 5 times that of the control at 0.5 µM and after a 72-h exposure period). These data were confirmed by Western blot (intense band of 55-60 KDa) and Northern blot analyses. Induction caused by 0.5 µM 3-MC was reduced to less than 50% of control by the concomitant exposure to Cd, Cu, Pb, or Zn (EC50: from 1 µM for Cd(II) to 18 µM for Pb(II)). The MTs were significantly induced in hepatocytes exposed to heavy metals for 24 h. In the presence of 3-MC (0.5 µM), MT levels were significantly lower than those found in cells treated with metals alone at 24 h only. Our results lead to the conclusion that heavy metals significantly affect CYP expression and that a CYP1A1 inducer (3-MC) can modulate the induction of MTs. These data have to be taken into consideration in biomarker monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinetics of distribution and elimination in rats of the antitumor drug navelbine and of two of its analogues, Na-formyl navelbine and deacetyl navelbine amide, have been studied by radioimmunoassay and compared with the kinetics obtained with vinblastine and vincristine. Fitting to two-exponential curves was used to derive pharmacokinetic parameters. Clearance was found to parallel toxicity for all drugs: it increases from 0.19 1 h-1 kg-1 for vincristine to 0.41 for Na-formyl navelbine, 1.4 for vinblastine, 2.3 for navelbine, and 2.6 for deacetyl navelbine amide. Terminal half-lives were longer for the Na-formyl-substituted alkaloids (around 13 h) than for the others (8-10 h). We have also studied navelbine kinetics in cancer patients entered in recent navelbine clinical trials and found that navelbine pharmacokinetics are characterized by fast and extensive distribution, high clearance (0.92 +/- 0.27 1 h-1 kg-1), and a relatively long terminal half-life (31.2 +/- 4.4 h). Relationships between chemical structure, pharmacokinetic properties, and toxicity or therapeutic efficiency within the Vinca alkaloid series are discussed, together with the relevance of animal models such as the rat in the screening of new antitumor drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human pregnane X receptor (hPXR) is activated by a large set of endogenous and exogenous compounds and plays a critical role in the control of detoxifying enzymes and transporters regulating liver and gastrointestinal drug metabolism and clearance. hPXR is also involved in both the development of multidrug resistance and enhanced cancer cells aggressiveness. Moreover, its unintentional activation by pharmaceutical drugs can mediate drug–drug interactions and cause severe adverse events. In that context, the potential of the anticancer BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib suspected to activate hPXR and the human constitutive androstane receptor (hCAR) has not been thoroughly investigated yet. Using different reporter cellular assays, we demonstrate that dabrafenib can activate hPXR as efficiently as its reference agonist SR12813, whereas it does not activate mouse or zebrafish PXR nor hCAR. We also showed that dabrafenib binds to recombinant hPXR, induces the expression of hPXR responsive genes in colon LS174T-hPXR cancer cells and human hepatocytes and finally increases the proliferation in LS174T-hPXR cells. Our study reveals that by using a panel of different cellular techniques it is possible to improve the assessment of hPXR agonist activity for new developed drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]