Neoplastic transformation of rat liver epithelial cells is enhanced by non-transferrin-bound iron

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Iron overload is associated with liver toxicity, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma in humans. While most iron circulates in blood as transferrin-bound iron, non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) also becomes elevated and contribute...

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Main Authors: Messner Donald J, Kowdley Kris V
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2008-02-01
Series:BMC Gastroenterology
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-230X/8/2
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author Messner Donald J
Kowdley Kris V
author_facet Messner Donald J
Kowdley Kris V
author_sort Messner Donald J
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Iron overload is associated with liver toxicity, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma in humans. While most iron circulates in blood as transferrin-bound iron, non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) also becomes elevated and contributes to toxicity in the setting of iron overload. The mechanism for iron-related carcinogenesis is not well understood, in part due to a shortage of suitable experimental models. The primary aim of this study was to investigate NTBI-related hepatic carcinogenesis using T51B rat liver epithelial cells, a non-neoplastic cell line previously developed for carcinogenicity and tumor promotion studies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>T51B cells were loaded with iron by repeated addition of ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) to the culture medium. Iron internalization was documented by chemical assay, ferritin induction, and loss of calcein fluorescence. Proliferative effects were determined by cell count, toxicity was determined by MTT assay, and neoplastic transformation was assessed by measuring colony formation in soft agar. Cyclin levels were measured by western blot.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>T51B cells readily internalized NTBI given as FAC. Within 1 week of treatment at 200 μM, there were significant but well-tolerated toxic effects including a decrease in cell proliferation (30% decrease, p < 0.01). FAC alone induced little or no colony formation in soft agar. In contrast, FAC addition to cells previously initiated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) resulted in a concentration dependent increase in colony formation. This was first detected at 12 weeks of FAC treatment and increased at longer times. At 16 weeks, colony formation increased more than 10 fold in cells treated with 200 μM FAC (p < 0.001). The iron chelator desferoxamine reduced both iron uptake and colony formation. Cells cultured with 200 μM FAC showed decreased cyclin D1, decreased cyclin A, and increased cyclin B1.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results establish NTBI as a tumor promoter in T51B rat liver epithelial cells. Changes in cyclin proteins suggest cell cycle disregulation contributes to tumor promotion by NTBI in this liver cell model.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-32b351c5f8fe48cb9fdd78d5ea3ff7812022-12-21T23:37:21ZengBMCBMC Gastroenterology1471-230X2008-02-0181210.1186/1471-230X-8-2Neoplastic transformation of rat liver epithelial cells is enhanced by non-transferrin-bound ironMessner Donald JKowdley Kris V<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Iron overload is associated with liver toxicity, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma in humans. While most iron circulates in blood as transferrin-bound iron, non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) also becomes elevated and contributes to toxicity in the setting of iron overload. The mechanism for iron-related carcinogenesis is not well understood, in part due to a shortage of suitable experimental models. The primary aim of this study was to investigate NTBI-related hepatic carcinogenesis using T51B rat liver epithelial cells, a non-neoplastic cell line previously developed for carcinogenicity and tumor promotion studies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>T51B cells were loaded with iron by repeated addition of ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) to the culture medium. Iron internalization was documented by chemical assay, ferritin induction, and loss of calcein fluorescence. Proliferative effects were determined by cell count, toxicity was determined by MTT assay, and neoplastic transformation was assessed by measuring colony formation in soft agar. Cyclin levels were measured by western blot.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>T51B cells readily internalized NTBI given as FAC. Within 1 week of treatment at 200 μM, there were significant but well-tolerated toxic effects including a decrease in cell proliferation (30% decrease, p < 0.01). FAC alone induced little or no colony formation in soft agar. In contrast, FAC addition to cells previously initiated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) resulted in a concentration dependent increase in colony formation. This was first detected at 12 weeks of FAC treatment and increased at longer times. At 16 weeks, colony formation increased more than 10 fold in cells treated with 200 μM FAC (p < 0.001). The iron chelator desferoxamine reduced both iron uptake and colony formation. Cells cultured with 200 μM FAC showed decreased cyclin D1, decreased cyclin A, and increased cyclin B1.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results establish NTBI as a tumor promoter in T51B rat liver epithelial cells. Changes in cyclin proteins suggest cell cycle disregulation contributes to tumor promotion by NTBI in this liver cell model.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-230X/8/2
spellingShingle Messner Donald J
Kowdley Kris V
Neoplastic transformation of rat liver epithelial cells is enhanced by non-transferrin-bound iron
BMC Gastroenterology
title Neoplastic transformation of rat liver epithelial cells is enhanced by non-transferrin-bound iron
title_full Neoplastic transformation of rat liver epithelial cells is enhanced by non-transferrin-bound iron
title_fullStr Neoplastic transformation of rat liver epithelial cells is enhanced by non-transferrin-bound iron
title_full_unstemmed Neoplastic transformation of rat liver epithelial cells is enhanced by non-transferrin-bound iron
title_short Neoplastic transformation of rat liver epithelial cells is enhanced by non-transferrin-bound iron
title_sort neoplastic transformation of rat liver epithelial cells is enhanced by non transferrin bound iron
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-230X/8/2
work_keys_str_mv AT messnerdonaldj neoplastictransformationofratliverepithelialcellsisenhancedbynontransferrinboundiron
AT kowdleykrisv neoplastictransformationofratliverepithelialcellsisenhancedbynontransferrinboundiron