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Biomedical subjects

F R Simon

Publications and source records attributed to F R Simon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Black patients with chronic hepatitis C have a lower sustained viral response rate than non-Blacks with genotype 1, but the same with genotypes 2/3, and this is not explained by more frequent dose reductions of interferon and ribavirin*.

In previous hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment studies, Black patients not only had a lower sustained viral response (SVR) rate to interferon and ribavirin (RBV) than non-Black patients but also a higher frequency of HCV genotype 1 (GT-1) infection. The aim of this community-based study was to determine whether Black patients have a lower SVR rate independent of genotype. We prospectively enrolled 785 patients (24.8% Black, 71.5% White, 3.7% others) who received interferon alpha-2b 3 MU three times weekly + RBV 1000-1200 mg/day for 24 weeks (GT-2/3) or 48 weeks (GT-1). Black patients were more commonly infected with GT-1 (86.8%vs 64.8%, P < 0.001) and less frequently had an SVR compared with non-Black patients (8.4%vs 21.6%, P < 0.001). Within GT-1, Black patients had a lower SVR rate than non-Black patients (6.1%vs 14.1%, P = 0.004) but not within GT-2/3 (50.0%vs 36.5%, P = 0.47). Black patients had lower baseline haemoglobin levels (14.8 vs 15.3 g/dL, P < 0.001) and neutrophil counts (2900 vs 4100/mm(3), P < 0.001) and required more frequent dose reductions of RBV (29.8%vs 18.5%, P < 0.001) and interferon (4.7%vs 1.6%, P = 0.012). However, dose reductions were not associated with lower SVR rates while early treatment discontinuations were (2.9%vs 25.7%, P < 0.001). Independent predictors of SVR were GT-1 [odds ratio (OR) 0.33; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20-0.55; P < 0.001], Black race (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.22-0.93; P = 0.030), and advanced fibrosis, stages 3 + 4 (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.31-0.92; P = 0.023). In conclusion, Black patients infected with HCV GT-1 (but not GT-2/3) have a lower SVR rate than non-Black patients. This is not explained by their lower baseline haemoglobin levels and neutrophil counts that lead to higher rates of ribavirin and interferon dose reductions.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed2001

Effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha activation on leukotriene B4 metabolism in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent mediator of inflammation that recruits granulocytes to the site of injury during the inflammatory response. The biological activity of LTB4 is terminated by its metabolism into inactive metabolites. Recent studies have suggested that LTB4 may have additional activity as an endogenous ligand for the transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). Based on the data presented, a model was proposed in which LTB4 acts in a negative feedback manner by inducing the transcription of genes involved its own metabolism. In the present study the effect of PPARalpha activation on LTB4 metabolism was directly investigated. Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were treated with LTB4 or the PPARalpha agonist WY-14,643, and LTB4 metabolism was assessed by measuring levels of LTB4 and the formation of LTB4 metabolites. In addition, the effect of PPARalpha activation on levels of acyl-CoA oxidase mRNA and expression of CYP4F proteins, which are specific omega-hydroxylases for LTB4, was determined. Treatment of hepatocytes with WY-14,643, but not LTB4, was found to increase acyl-CoA oxidase mRNA and enhance expression of rat hepatic CYP4F proteins and CYP4A1. Neither WY-14,643 nor LTB4 caused an increase of the basal levels of LTB4 metabolism, and no novel metabolites were observed. These results do not support the hypothesis that a pathway of negative feedback regulation of LTB4 metabolism involving PPARalpha exists in hepatocytes, because activation of PPARalpha by LTB4 or other PPARalpha agonists did not correlate with an increase in LTB4 metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Structural and functional characterization of liver cell-specific activity of the human sodium/taurocholate cotransporter.

Bile salts are rapidly removed from the circulation by the liver-specific sodium/taurocholate cotransporter (SLC10A1). To understand factors controlling its liver-specific expression, we isolated human SLC10A1 from a YAC chromosomal clone. SLC10A1 spans approximately 23 kb distributed over five exons. The major transcription start site is at 299 bp, and a minor start site is at 395 bp from the translational start site. A 1.2-kb portion of the 5' flanking region was sequenced and shown to contain a number of liver-enriched elements, but no TATA box. Using secreted alkaline phosphatase reporter constructs liver-specific expression was examined. Transient transfection demonstrated that SLC10A1 promoter expression was selectively expressed eightfold in FAO and rat hepatocytes, while deletion mutants demonstrated liver-specific expression in a region extending from -5 to +198 bp, which contained putative sites for C/EBP and HNF3. Mutations of the C/EBP site resulted in loss of 77% of transcriptional activity. Cotransfection of C/EBP, but not other putative liver-enriched binding factors, increased SLC10A1 promoter activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated specific protein-DNA interactions that involved C/EBPalpha and beta. These studies demonstrate that the TATA-less human SLC10A1 promoter exhibits liver-specific activity and its regulatory elements contain binding sites for C/EBP, which contributes specifically to its transcriptional regulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Estrogens in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether estrogen production and excretion are impaired in gravidas with intrahepatic cholestasis. METHODS: Plasma and urine samples were collected from 13 women from the United States and Chile at 35-38 weeks' gestation with mild (n = 9) or severe (n = 4) intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Urinary and plasma steroid levels from women with cholestasis were compared with levels from 27 normal pregnant women within the same gestational age range. Urinary concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), estetrol, progesterone, and 16-hydroxy-pregnenolone were measured by gas chromatography mass spectrometry, and plasma concentrations of DHEA sulfate, progesterone, unconjugated E1, unconjugated E2, unconjugated E3, sulfated E3 derivatives, glucuronidated E3 derivatives, and total E3 were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Compared with normal pregnant women, women with cholestasis had significantly lower plasma levels of estrogens and DHEA sulfate, the precursor to placental estrogen production synthesized by the fetal adrenal gland (Hotelling-Lawley trace = 0.81; F4,19 = 3.9; P = .02). The mean plasma DHEA sulfate, unconjugated E2, unconjugated E3, and total E3 concentrations were 0.271, 10.21, 9.80, and 99.53 ng/mL, respectively, in women with cholestasis compared with 0.802, 18.98, 16.28, and 145.07 ng/mL for controls. CONCLUSION: Fetal adrenal production of DHEA sulfate, and in response, downstream placental production of estrogens, was compromised by intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Characterization of the mechanisms involved in the gender differences in hepatic taurocholate uptake.

Gender differences in the hepatic transport of organic anions is well established. Although uptake of many organic anions is greater in females, sodium-dependent taurocholate uptake is greater in hepatocytes from male rats. We examined the hypothesis that endogenous estrogens alter the number of sinusoidal bile acid transporters and/or decrease membrane lipid fluidity. The initial sodium-dependent uptake of [3H]taurocholate was 75% greater in hepatocytes from males than from either intact or oophorectomized females rats. Taurocholate maximal uptake was increased twofold (P < 0.03) without a significant change in the Michaelis-Menten constant. Sinusoidal membrane fractions were isolated from male and female rat livers with equal specific activities and enrichments of Na+-K+-ATPase. Males had a significant (P < 0.05) increase in cholesterol esters and phosphatidylethanolamine-to-phosphatidylcholine ratio. Fluorescence polarization indicated decreased lipid fluidity in females. In females, expression of the sodium-dependent taurocholate peptide (Ntcp) and mRNA were selectively decreased to 46 +/- 9 and 54 +/- 4% (P < 0.01), respectively, and the organic anion transporter peptide (Oatp) and Na+-K+-ATPase alpha-subunit were not significantly different. Nuclear run-on analysis indicated a 47% (P < 0.05) decrease in Ntcp transcription, without a significant change in Oatp. In conclusion, these studies demonstrated that decreased sodium-dependent bile salt uptake in female hepatocytes was due to decreased membrane lipid fluidity and a selective decrease in Ntcp.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A high-sucrose diet alters the lipid composition and fluidity of liver sinusoidal membranes.

Impaired insulin suppression of hepatic glucose production and accumulation of hepatic triglycerides occur after 1 week on a high-sucrose diet. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether changes in structural lipids, fatty acid composition and/or fluidity occur after 1 week on a high-sucrose diet, and therefore might contribute to the sucrose-induced impairment in hepatic glucose metabolism. Male Wistar rats (n=28) were fed a purified high starch (68% of energy) diet for a 2-week baseline period. Fourteen animals were then switched to a high sucrose (68% of energy) diet for 1 (n=7) or 5 (n=7) weeks. Analyses were performed on liver sinusoidal membranes (due to this membrane's involvement in nutrient transport) from overnight fasted rats. The degree of saturation of sinusoidal membrane phospholipids and liver triglyceride fatty acids was significantly greater in sucrose vs. starch at 1 and 5 weeks. This resulted in significantly lower sinusoidal membrane fluidity at 1 and 5 weeks in the sucrose group. In contrast, hepatic sinusoidal membrane cholesterol content (0.60+/-0.05 vs. 0.42+/-0.04 micromol/mg protein) and the cholesterol to phospholipid molar ratio (0.66+/-0.04 vs. 0.50+/-0.03) were significantly greater in sucrose vs. starch animals at 5 weeks only. Minimal differences were observed in individual phospholipid species between groups. These data suggest that changes in fatty acid composition and fluidity may contribute to the development of sucrose-induced hepatic insulin resistance.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Mechanisms of alcohol impairment of recovery from mechanically denuded areas made within cultured rat hepatocytes.

The effect of ethanol on the ability of a denuded hepatocyte cell surface to recover is unknown. We therefore determined the effect of ethanol on the rate of renewal of mechanical wounds made in near-confluent monolayers of primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. We found that ethanol exerted a dose-dependent effect to impair rat hepatocyte recovery and that at least 12 hours of exposure to ethanol was required to induce this impairment. The effect of ethanol to impair recovery of denuded areas of epithelium was not seen in two established renal tubular epithelial cell lines. Ethanol impairment of rat hepatocyte recovery could be blocked by an alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor (4-methyl pyrazole) and potentiated by an inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase (pargyline). The effect of ethanol to inhibit rat hepatocyte recovery of denuded areas was not associated with any change in hepatocyte cell surface expression of the beta1 integrin subunit as determined by flow cytometry. These results suggest that acetaldehyde is responsible for ethanol inhibition of hepatocyte recovery from mechanical injury and that this impairment occurs independent of cell surface expression of the beta1 integrin subunit.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Increased hepatic Na,K-ATPase activity during hepatic regeneration is associated with induction of the beta1-subunit and expression on the bile canalicular domain.

Cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating the activity of the sodium pump or Na,K-ATPase during proliferation of hepatocytes following 70% liver resection have not been defined. Na,K-ATPase may be regulated by synthesis of its alpha- and beta-subunits, by sorting to either the sinusoidal or apical plasma membrane domains, or by increasing membrane lipid fluidity. This study investigated the time course of changes during hepatic regeneration for Na, K-ATPase activity, lipid composition and fluidity, and protein content of liver plasma membrane subfractions. As early as 4 h after hepatic resection, Na,K-ATPase activity was increased selectively in the bile canalicular fraction. It reached a new steady state at 12 h and remained elevated for 2 days. Although hepatic regeneration was associated with a reduced cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio and increased fluidity, measured with two different probes, these changes in lipid metabolism were in the sinusoidal membrane domain. The Na,K-ATPase beta1-subunit, but not the alpha1-subunit, was increased selectively at the bile canalicular surface as shown by immunoblotting of liver plasma membrane subfractions and the morphological demonstration at both the light and electron microscopic levels. Furthermore, cycloheximide blocked the rise in beta1-subunit mRNA levels. Since the time course for beta1-subunit accumulation was similar to that for activation of Na,K-ATPase activity, this change implicated the beta1-subunit in activating sodium pump activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of oxo and chain-shortened leukotriene B4 metabolites. Leukotriene B4 metabolism in Ito cells.

Analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) of derivatized metabolites formed following incubation of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) incubation with Ito cells extends previous knowledge concerning fragmentation mechanisms for derivatized hydroxy-substituted unsaturated fatty acids. LTB4 was metabolized by rat Ito cells, a hepatic perisinusoidal stellate cell, by the delta 10- and delta 14-reductase pathways, resulting in the formation of 10,11-dihydro-LTB4 and 10,11,14,15-tetrahydro-LTB4. Formation of the intermediate metabolites, 12-oxo-10,11-dihydro-LTB4 and 12-oxo-10,11,14,15-tetrahydro-LTB4, was also observed. GC/electron impact (EI) MS analysis of the 12-oxo metabolites, derivatized as the pentafluorobenzyl ester/ trimethylsilyl ether compounds, resulted in unique fragmentations indicative of the oxo substituent and double bond positions. Further metabolism of 10,11-dihydro-LTB4 and 10,11,14,15-tetrahydro-LTB4 by carboxy terminus beta-oxidation resulted in chain-shortened monohydroxy metabolites. Possible intermediates in this metabolism, which resulted in loss of the original C-5 hydroxy substituent from LTB4, were identified as 2,4,6-conjugated triene-containing C-18 metabolites. The absence of a double bond allylic to the trimethylsiloxy ether in derivatized 10,11,14,15-tetrahydro LTB4 metabolites strikingly reduced the abundance of alpha-cleavage ions observed in the EI mass spectra of these compounds, thus suggesting the importance of formation of an allylic stabilized radical in such alpha-cleavage reactions. Lacking a favorable alpha-cleavage reaction, GC/EIMS analysis of 10-hydroxy-2,4,6-octadecatrienoic acid resulted in the formation of m/z 91, which may arise via cyclization of the conjugated triene moiety. In addition, GC/MS analysis of derivatized metabolites containing the 2,4,6 conjugated triene moiety resulted in a unique fragment ion in the electron capture ionization mass spectra that also may arise via cyclization of the conjugated triene with formation of m/z 121.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Mechanisms of recovery from mechanical injury of cultured rat hepatocytes.

The mechanism(s) whereby hepatocytes restore denuded areas remains unknown. We therefore studied the recovery of denuded areas made in monolayers of primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. Minimal recovery occurred in cells plated on plastic. Plating on Matrigel produced modest recovery (25% at 24 h), whereas plating on a type I collagen substrate resulted in > 70% recovery at 24 h. The rate of recovery on collagen could be attenuated by a monoclonal antibody directed against the extracellular domain of the beta 1-integrin subunit. Monoclonal antibodies directed against CD44 (the hyaluron receptor) and E-cadherin did not influence the rate of recovery. Recovery could be stimulated, in a dose-dependent fashion, by epidermal and hepatocyte growth factors. The effects of epidermal and hepatocyte growth factors to promote recovery occurred in the absence of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine uptake, suggesting a proliferation-independent mechanism. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 inhibited recovery. Exposure to selected cytokines (interleukins 1 and 2), an adenine nucleotide [adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)], adenosine, pertussis toxin, and selected agents that bind to fibronectin and other matrix component adhesive sites (heparin and the RGD peptide) did not influence the rate of recovery of hepatocytes. However, the peptide DGEA, which can bind to collagen adhesive sites, attenuated recovery. These studies demonstrate that primary cultures of rat hepatocytes require a particular type of extracellular matrix to renew denuded areas and that the beta 1-integrin subunit may be involved in this recovery process. Hepatocyte recovery of denuded areas can be modulated by growth factors in both a stimulatory (epidermal and hepatocyte growth factors) and an inhibitory (transforming growth factor-beta 1) fashion.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Ethinyl estradiol cholestasis involves alterations in expression of liver sinusoidal transporters.

The mechanisms involved in ethinyl estradiol-induced cholestasis are controversial. Basal bile flow was reduced by ethinyl estradiol administration, with a half time (t1/2) of 12.5 +/- 0.6 h. In contrast, initial taurocholate uptake was not significantly reduced until 3 days to 59% of control and to 13 and 10% of control at 5 and 7 days, respectively. The t1/2 was 4.3 +/- 0.1 days. These physiological changes were correlated with measurement of protein mass and steady-state mRNA for Na(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase), Na(+)-dependent taurocholate transporter, organic anion transporters, and membrane lipid fluidity. Ethinyl estradiol significantly decreased Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and membrane fluidity. However, neither Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit nor beta-subunit mass was altered by ethinyl estradiol administration. In contrast, protein content of the Na(+)-dependent taurocholate transporter was significantly reduced to 21% of control (P < 0.001) at 5 days. The Na(+)-dependent taurocholate transporter was identified in sinusoidal membrane fractions as a doublet with a molecular size estimated to be 51 and 56 kDa. Although both bands were reduced with ethinyl estradiol treatment, the 56-kDa band was decreased more rapidly and to a greater extent than the 51-kDa band. The estimated t1/2 of 4.8 +/- 0.6 days for the doublet was similar to that for Na(+)-dependent taurocholate uptake. The organic anion transporter protein mass was similarly reduced with time of ethinyl estradiol administration to 21% of control (P < 0.01) at 5 days. Ethinyl estradiol also rapidly decreased the steady-state mRNA levels of Na(+)-dependent and organic anion transporters to approximately 50% and 15% of control at 5 days, respectively. These studies indicate early generalized abnormalities of the sinusoidal membrane lipid fluidity, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity, and bile acid transport protein content.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Rat hepatoma L35 cells, a liver-differentiated cell line, display resistance to bile acid repression of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase.

A stable hepatoma cell line (L35 cells) showing an activation of the cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase gene (CYP7) that had been silent in the parental hepatoma cell line (H35 cells) was used to examine the influence of bile acids on its gene expression and activity. L35 cells were found to concentrate taurocholate from the culture medium, without any significant effect on the expression of 7 alpha-hydroxylase. At physiologic levels (up to 100 microM), CYP7 mRNA expression was not repressed by any bile acid. At supra-physiologic levels (1 mM), the more hydrophobic dihydroxy bile acids, taurodeoxycholate and taurochenodeoxycholate, decreased CYP7 mRNA without decreasing the relative abundance of beta-actin mRNA. Similar results were obtained by culturing cells with sodium dodecylsulfate (50 microM). The medium of L35 cells treated with either taurochenodeoxycholate (1 mM), taurodeoxycholate (1 mM), or sodium dodecylsulfate (50 microM) contained significantly greater activities of two cytosolic enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase and phosphoglucose isomerase, indicating a cytotoxic response. Activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters decreased the expression of 7 alpha-hydroxylase mRNA without evidence of cytotoxicity; therefore, the inability of L35 cells to show bile acid repression cannot be ascribed to a lack of an effect by this secondary messenger system. In addition, insulin decreased and dexamethasone increased 7 alpha-hydroxylase mRNA without increasing the release of the cytoplasmic enzyme markers. The combined data suggest that L35 cells are resistant to repression of CYP7 gene expression by bile acids, but display physiologic expression to hormones and protein kinase C activation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Mechanisms of acetaldehyde-mediated growth inhibition: delayed cell cycle progression and induction of apoptosis.

Chronic ethanol exposure has been associated with pleiotropic effects on cellular function in vivo and in vitro, including inhibition of growth. To date, it has been difficult to dissociate the primary effects of ethanol from the effects of ethanol metabolism, generation of acetaldehyde, and reducing equivalents. We have previously described the development of a Chinese hamster ovary cell line, A-10, which expresses a transfected murine-liver alcohol dehydrogenase. Cultures of these cells accumulate acetaldehyde due to the low level of aldehyde dehydrogenase. One noticeable effect of chronic acetaldehyde exposure, but not ethanol exposure, is the inhibition of cell growth. This study focuses on the mechanisms that underlie this growth inhibition. Our studies with the A-10 cell on the rates of [3H]thymidine incorporation and flow cytometry of asynchronous cultures indicated that acetaldehyde did not lead to arrest of the cell cycle in the G1 phase as has been found in other models of ethanol exposure. Rather, we observed a generalized delay in cell cycle progression. However, the slower cell cycle did not account exclusively for the slower rates of cell accumulation. Chronic exposure to acetaldehyde also increased the rate of cell death. The increased rate of cell death was both cumulative and dose-dependent. The dead cells accumulated in the medium and were apoptotic. Apoptosis was confirmed using morphological criteria and quantitation of DNA fragmentation. These data lend additional support to the idea that chronic acetaldehyde exposure can affect the mechanisms that regulate cell division and the apoptotic program.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1995

Hepatic Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase enzyme activity correlates with polarized beta-subunit expression.

We have examined underlying causes for observations made in hepatocytes in which catalytic subunits of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase are found both in bile canalicular (apical) and sinusoidal (basolateral) membrane domains, whereas functional activity is associated preferentially with sinusoidal membrane sites. In a series of parallel studies, we determined by both light and electron microscopy that Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunits were localized to both membrane domains of hepatocytes. With the use of purified liver plasma membrane subfractions, ouabain inhibition curves demonstrated similar inhibition constants (inhibition constant 10(-5) M), and immunoblots using alpha 1-, alpha 2-, and alpha 3-polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies demonstrated antigenic sites predominantly for alpha 1 in both membrane fractions. Also, Northern blot hybridization analysis revealed only the alpha 1-isoform in hepatocytes. In contrast to the bipolar distribution of the alpha 1-subunit, the beta-subunit was identified only at the sinusoidal surface using fluorescence labeling with a monoclonal antibody. The beta 1-isoform was demonstrated by Northern blot analysis and was present predominantly at the sinusoidal domain by immunoblotting with polyclonal antibodies. In addition to the bipolar distribution of alpha 1, immunoblotting of liver plasma membrane subfractions demonstrated a symmetrical distribution of fodrin, ankyrin, actin, and E-cadherin at both domains. These results suggest that functionally competent alpha/beta-complexes form at the sinusoidal domain, whereas only alpha 1-subunits are present at the apical pole.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Acetaldehyde exposure causes growth inhibition in a Chinese hamster ovary cell line that expresses alcohol dehydrogenase.

Chronic ethanol exposure causes many pathophysiological changes in cellular function due to ethanol itself and/or the effects of its metabolism (i.e., generation of acetaldehyde and redox equivalents). However, the role of each of these effects remains controversial. To address these questions, we have developed a cell line that expresses alcohol dehydrogenase. This cell line permits separate examination of the effects of ethanol and its metabolite acetaldehyde on cell function. An expression vector for the mouse liver alcohol dehydrogenase was constructed and transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells. Cells expressing alcohol dehydrogenase were identified by screening with allyl alcohol, which is metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase to the toxic aldehyde acrolein. A number of cell lines were identified that expressed alcohol dehydrogenase. A-10 cells were selected for further study because of their high sensitivity to allyl alcohol, suggesting a high level of alcohol dehydrogenase expression. These cells expressed a mRNA that hybridizes with the alcohol dehydrogenase cDNA and had an alcohol dehydrogenase activity comparable to murine liver. When cultures of these cells were exposed to ethanol, acetaldehyde was detected in both the medium and cells. The acetaldehyde concentration in the medium remained constant for at least 1 week in culture and was a function of the added ethanol concentration. Chronic exposure of A-10 cells to ethanol resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in the number of cells that accumulated over 7 days. Ethanol-treated cells remained viable, and growth inhibition was reversible. Growth inhibition was blocked by the alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor 4-methylpyrazole, suggesting that acetaldehyde and not ethanol was responsible for growth inhibition in these cells.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1993

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: an estrogen-related disease.

In the recent years new avenues have been opened in the treatment of ICP, a complex disorder that seems to represent a maladaptation of some young and otherwise healthy women, to estrogens or other sex hormones. New drugs have been shown capable of providing promising therapeutic effects either on pruritus, the main distressing symptoms of cholestasis (such as epomediol, silymarin) or both on pruritus and some biochemical abnormalities (such as UDCA). Future clinical and experimental studies should provide better insight into the pathogenesis of cholestasis, the mechanisms of bile formation and secretion, and the metabolism of estrogens and other sex hormones and their alteration relationship to cholestasis, a disorder that is highly prevalent in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Distribution of adenylate cyclase and GTP-binding proteins in hepatic plasma membranes.

Hepatic membrane subfractions prepared from control rats demonstrated forskolin (FSK)-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in the basolateral (sinusoidal) but not apical (canalicular) plasma membrane. After bile duct ligation (BDL) for 12 or 24 h, there was an increase in FSK-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in the apical membrane (54.2 +/- 3.9 pmol.mg-1 x min-1). The mechanism for this increase was explored further. ATP hydrolysis was found to be much higher in the apical than the basolateral membrane. Increasing the ATP levels in the assay enhanced apical membrane adenylate cyclase activity (10.5 +/- 0.2 pmol.mg-l.min-1); however, total adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity was not altered after BDL. Extraction of the apical membrane with bile acids or other detergents resulted in a two- to threefold increase in adenylate cyclase activity (30.6 +/- 3.6 pmol.mg-1 x min-1; detergent C12E8) This suggested that bile duct ligation was acting via the detergent-like action of bile acids to uncover latent adenylate cyclase activity on apical membranes. Further studies demonstrated that both BDL and detergent extraction also enhanced toxin-directed ADP-ribosylation of Gs alpha (cholera toxin) and Gi alpha (pertussis toxin) in the apical but not the basolateral membrane. After BDL, Gi alpha was found to be twofold greater in the apical membrane than the basolateral membrane. Immunoblotting using specific G protein antibodies further confirmed that apical membranes from control rats had a higher concentration of Gi1, 2 alpha and beta and slightly elevated levels of Gi3 alpha and Gs alpha compared with the basolateral membrane. The results demonstrate that adenylate cyclase and heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins are present on the apical membrane, but measurement of their functional activity requires detergent permeabilization of apical membrane vesicles and is limited by the presence of high ATPase activity.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗