Oxidative stress and apoptosis are the key factors that limit the hypothermic preservation time of donor hearts to within 4-6 h. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) inhibitor RGFP966 could protect against cardiac injury induced by prolonged hypothermic preservation. Rat hearts were hypothermically preserved in Celsior solution with or without RGFP966 for 12 h followed by 60 min of reperfusion. Hemodynamic parameters during reperfusion were evaluated. The expression and phosphorylation levels of mammalian STE20-like kinase-1 (Mst1) and Yes-associated protein (YAP) were determined by western blotting. Cell apoptosis was measured by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. Addition of RGFP966 in Celsior solution significantly inhibited cardiac dysfunction induced by hypothermic preservation. RGFP966 inhibited the hypothermic preservation-induced increase of the phosphorylated (p)-Mst1/Mst1 and p-YAP/YAP ratios, prevented a reduction in total YAP protein expression, and increased the nuclear YAP protein level. Verteporfin (VP), a small molecular inhibitor of YAP-transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) interaction, partially abolished the protective effect of RGFP966 on cardiac function, and reduced lactate dehydrogenase activity and malondialdehyde content. RGFP966 increased superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase gene and protein expression, which was abolished by VP. RGFP966 inhibited hypothermic preservation-induced overexpression of B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X (Bax) and cleaved caspase-3, increased Bcl-2 mRNA and protein expression, and reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of RGFP966 were cancelled by VP. The results suggest that supplementation of Celsior solution with RGFP966 attenuated prolonged hypothermic preservation-induced cardiac dysfunction. The mechanism may involve inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis via inactivation of the YAP pathway.
Acrylamides/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Cryopreservation ; Disaccharides/pharmacology* ; Electrolytes/pharmacology* ; Glutamates/pharmacology* ; Glutathione/pharmacology* ; Heart/physiology* ; Heart Transplantation/methods* ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Histidine/pharmacology* ; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors/pharmacology* ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Male ; Mannitol/pharmacology* ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Phenylenediamines/pharmacology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; YAP-Signaling Proteins

Oval cells have a potential to differentiate into a variety of cell lineages including hepatocytes and biliary epithelia. Several models have been established to activate the oval cells by incorporating a variety of toxins and carcinogens, alone or combined with surgical treatment. Those models are obviously not suitable for the study on human hepatic oval cells. It is necessary to establish a new and efficient model to study the human hepatic oval cells. In this study, the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were used to induce differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells into hepatic oval cells. We first confirmed that hepatic oval cells derived from ES cells, which are bipotential, do exist during the course of mouse ES cells' differentiation into hepatic parenchymal cells. RT-PCR and transmission electron microscopy were applied in this study. The ratio of Sca-1+/CD34+ cells sorted by FACS in the induction group was increased from day 4 and reached the maximum on the day 8, whereas that in the control group remained at a low level. The differentiation ratio of Sca-1+/CD34+ cells in the induction group was significantly higher than that in the control group. About 92.48% of the sorted Sca-1+/CD34+ cells on the day 8 were A6 positive. Highly purified A6+/Sca-1+/CD34+ hepatic oval cells derived from ES cells could be obtained by FACS. The differentiation ratio of hepatic oval cells in the induction group (up to 4.46%) was significantly higher than that in the control group. The number of hepatic oval cells could be increased significantly by HGF and EGF. The study also examined the ultrastructures of ES-derived hepatic oval cells' membrane surface by atomic force microscopy. The ES-derived hepatic oval cells cultured and sorted by our protocols may be available for the future clinical application.
Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antigens, Ly ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Line ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; drug effects ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Liver ; cytology ; metabolism ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Time Factors

BACKGROUNDColon cancer is one of the major malignancies worldwide and it still remains resistant to much of the currently available chemotherapy. Downregulation of HGF/c-Met signaling pathway is an emerging therapy for cancer treatment.

METHODSIn this study, the inhibitory effects of c-Met phosphorylation were observed with SU11274 on different colon cancer cell lines in vitro.

RESULTSThe results revealed the significant inhibitory effects of SU11274 on cell proliferation and cell survival, in a time and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of SU11274 on different subgroups of colon cancer cells via the HGF/c-Met signaling pathway were implicated in this study.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested the possible selective therapeutic effects of c-Met inhibitor on colon cancer.

Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Colonic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Indoles ; pharmacology ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore practical protocols for cloning bone marrow-derived hepatic stem cells in vitro.

METHODSThe cell fraction rich in CD117(+) cells and CD184(+) cells was separated from fresh bone marrow by density gradient centrifugation and cultured for 0, 7 and 14 days in high-glucose DMEM supplemented with or without 10% autologous serum or in serum-free high-glucose DMEM. All the media were supplemented with different concentrations of hepatocyte growth promoting factors (HGPF), thrombopoietin (TPO) and interleukin-3 (IL-3). The quantitative changes of CD117(+) cells and CD184(+) cells were measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe optimal effect for cell cloning was achieved with high-glucose DMEM with 10% autologous serum group supplemented with 40 microg/ml HGPF, 50 ng/ml TPO, and 10 ng/ml IL-3. At day 7 of cell culture in this media, the quantity of CD117(+) cells and CD184(+) cells increased by 6.55 and 6.20 folds, and by 11.62 and 20.57 folds at day 14, respectively.

CONCLUSIONIt is practical for cloning bone marrow-derived hepatic stem cells in high-glucose DMEM with 10% autologous serum supplemented with 40 microg/ml HGPF, 50 ng/ml TPO, and 10 ng/ml IL-3.

Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Clone Cells ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; physiology ; Humans ; Liver ; cytology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Thrombopoietin ; pharmacology

Tumor cells are known to produce larger amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than normal cells. Although numerous reports have indicated the importance of ROS in urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) production, the precise mechanisms remain controversial. In our study, we investigated the effect of ROS on uPA generation in human hepatoma cells, HepG2 and Hep 3B. We determined the effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the regulation of ROS, which resulted in suppression of ROS production, as measured with the fluorescent probe, 2'-7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate. The role of HGF in modulating ROS production, particularly that regulated by Rac-1, was determined. HGF suppressed the increment in Rac-1-regulated ROS in both cell lines. Treatment with 200 microM of H2O2 showed a 1.6-2.1 fold increment in HGF, but a little increment occurred at 500 microM of H2O2. It looks no dose dependent manner. Combined treatment with H2O2 and HGF, resulted in a slightly increased production of HGF compared to no treatment (control). Also, H2O2 upregulated uPA expression in both hepatoma cell lines. To identify the downstream pathways regulated by ROS, we treated cells with PD 98059, an MEK inhibitor, and SB 203580, a p38 inhibitor, after treatment with H2O2, and showed negative control between ERK and p38 kinase activities for uPA regulation. We found that HGF modulate Rac-1-regulated ROS production through activation of Akt and ROS regulates uPA production via MAP kinase, which provides a novel clue to clarify the mechanism underlying hepatoma progression.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor/pharmacology/*physiology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology ; Imidazoles/pharmacology ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors/*metabolism ; Pyridines/pharmacology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator/*biosynthesis ; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein/metabolism

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) pretreatment could protect multiple cell types from apoptosis induced by various damages including oxidative stress. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of HGF on rat cortical neurons against apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in culture, and then to explore whether HGF could influence the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Primary rat cortical neurons were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured in serum free medium containing 2% B27 and Neurobasal-A. To mimic the oxidative stress damage, cortical neurons were exposed to 100 mumol/L H2O2 for 4 h. To explore the effects of HGF on the neurons subjected to H2O2 injury, cells were pretreated with HGF 15, 30, 60 ng/mL for 24 h, respectively, and then exposed to 100 mumol/L H2O2 for 4 h. The cell viability was measured by MTT colorimetric assay and cell injury was evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage rate. Apoptotic cells were detected by Hoechst 33258 staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI double labeled flow cytometry. The caspase-3 activity was assessed by colorimetry. The alteration of transmembrane potential of mitochondria was determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The expression of cytochrome C protein was measured by Western blot analysis. The results showed that H2O2 treatment significantly decreased the cell viability, increased LDH leakage rate and the percentage of apoptotic cells. Pretreatment of HGF at different concentrations (15-60 ng/mL) could remarkably increase the cell viability of neurons. Compared with that of H2O2 group (53.4%+/-7.4%), the cell viabilities of neurons treated with 15, 30, and 60 ng/mL HGF significantly increased to (69.3+/-6.4)%, (77.5+/-6.1)% and (82.9+/-9.3)% (P<0.05), respectively. HGF preincubation also evidently decreased the LDH leakage rate in cortical neurons damaged by H2O2. The results of Hoechst staining revealed that HGF pretreatment could significantly reduce the apoptotic rate of neurons. The apoptotic rate of H2O2 group was (62.8+/-7.1)%, while that of HGF groups decreased significantly to (34.8+/-8.4)%, (23.5+/-3.2)% and (18.6+/-4.5)% (P<0.05), respectively. The data from caspase-3 activity assay indicated that HGF preconditioning could also remarkably decrease the caspase-3 activity of neurons. In addition, in the presence of various concentrations of HGF, the decrease of transmembrane potential of mitochondria in neurons caused by H2O2 injury could be reversed. Moreover, as detected by Western blot analysis, HGF downregulated the expression of cytochrome C protein in neurons. These results suggest that HGF has a protective effect on rat cortical neurons against apoptosis induced by H2O2, which might be related to the inhibition of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and the suppression of the caspase-3 activity.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain ; cytology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDVascular endothelial growth factor plays a key role in human colorectal carcinoma invasion and metastasis. However, the regulation mechanism remains unknown. Recent studies have shown that several cytokines can regulate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in tumor cells. In this study, we investigated whether hepatocyte growth factor can regulate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in colorectal carcinoma cells.

METHODSHepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in human serum were measured by ELISA. The mRNA level of vascular endothelial growth factor was analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR. Western blot assay was performed to evaluate levels of c-Met and several other proteins involved in the MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways in colorectal carcinoma cells.

RESULTSSerum hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor were significantly increased in colorectal carcinoma subjects. In vitro extraneous hepatocyte growth factor markedly increased protein and mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in colorectal carcinoma cells. Hepatocyte growth factor induced phosphorylation of c-Met, ERK1/2 and AKT in a dose-dependent manner. Specific inhibitors on MEK and PI3K inhibited the hepatocyte growth factor-induced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in colorectal carcinoma cells.

CONCLUSIONThis present study indicates that hepatocyte growth factor upregulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in colorectal carcinoma cells via the MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

Butadienes ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromones ; pharmacology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; blood ; pharmacology ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; physiology ; Morpholines ; pharmacology ; Nitriles ; pharmacology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of tacrolimus on murine hair follicle cycle.

METHODHematoxylin-eosin dyeing and reverse transcription-polymerase chain raction techniques were used.

RESULTSFive days after depilation, the hair follicles in both the tacrolimus group and the minoxidil group was in anagen V, while that in the vaseline group was in anagen III. vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were detected in back skin in both the tacrolimus group and the minoxidil group, but not in the vaseline group.

CONCLUSIONTacrolimus can promote the growth of hair by stimulating the hair follicle to enter anagen V in mice, which may be explained by the effects of VEGF and HGF.

Animals ; Hair Follicle ; drug effects ; physiology ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Minoxidil ; pharmacology ; Skin ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tacrolimus ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on adriamycin-induced apoptosis of gastric cancer cells in vitro.

METHODSAn eukaryotic expression plasmid (pIRES2-EGFP) containing HGF (pIRES2-EGFP-HGF) was constructed. Human gastric cancer cell line MKN-45 cells were transfected in vitro with pIRES2-EGFP containing HGF or not. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to determine the target gene expression. Function of HGF was determined by MDCK cell scattering assay. Cell viability was tested by MTT assay. Apoptosis was evaluated by DNA fragmentation assay as well as flow cytometry using PI staining.

RESULTSThe HGF transfected MKN45 cells could stably express HGF mRNA, and secrete HGF protein to the cell culture median which was detected to exhibit normal function. The cell inhibition rate induced by adriamycin in HGF-transfected cells was decreased as compared to that of parental and mock transfected cells. When treated with adriamycin at 0.1 microg/ml, the parental and mock transfected cells present typical apoptotic ladder on DNA electrophoresis while HGF transfected cell did not. The apoptotic rate was decreased in HGF transfected cells as compared with that of parental and mock transfected cells.

CONCLUSIONHGF gene transfection may suppress adriamycin-induced apoptosis of gastric cancer cells.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; DNA Fragmentation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Humans ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transfection

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of the human cord blood adult stem cells (ASCs) to differentiate into hepatocytes in vitro induced by combined stimulation with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), stem cell factor (SCF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The adult stem cells were obtained through density gradient centrifugation and magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS). The adult stem cells were cultured in DMEM with HGF (10 ng/ml)+SCF (10 ng/ml)+LIF (10 ng/ml) in induced group I. In induced group II the enriched cells were cultured in DMEM with SCF (10 ng/ml)+LIF (10 ng/ml) and the undifferentiated cells acted as the control group without the factors. The morphology of cells was observed by the inverted phase contrast microscopy; the expression of albumin (Alb), human hepatocyte cytokeratin (CK18) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were detected by immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR assay in the 21-day culture. Alb secreted by hepatocytes in the medium was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) at day 7, 14, 21, 23 and 25. The results showed that the shapes of ASCs changed and their sizes and number increased in the course of culture in group I. After being induced for three weeks, the cells turned round and resembled hepatocyte-like cells. The mRNA for Alb could be detected by RT-PCR in the differentiated adult stem cells in group I, and the mRNA for AFP was poorly detected by RT-PCR at day 21. Alb and CK18 were positive through immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry at day 21, compared with group II and the control group. In group I, Alb in the medium significantly increased, compared with control group, and reached the highest level at day 21, then decreased at day 23. It is concluded that under some definite inducing conditions, human cord blood adult stem cells can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells and HGF plays a critical role during the course.
Adult Stem Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Leukemia Inhibitory Factor ; pharmacology