Inhibition of intercellular communication by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and dioxin-like PCBs in mouse hepatoma cells (Hepa1c1c7): involvement of the Ah receptor.
The effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) and the coplanar 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (3,3',4,4'-TCB) and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (3,3',4,4',5,5'-HCB) on intercellular communication (IC) were determined in order to investigate the in vitro tumor promoting potency of these compounds. 2,3,7,8-TCDD and the two coplanar PCBs tested caused a rapid (2 hr) and a sustained inhibition (48 hr) of IC in the mouse hepatoma cell line (Hepa1c1c7) to 20 and 50% of the unexposed control, respectively. Inhibition of IC was dose dependent with an EC50 range of about 50-100 pM for 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 2-5 nM for 3,3',4,4'-TCB, and 10-15 nM for 3,3',4,4',5,5'-HCB, respectively. A comparison of the IC inhibitory effects of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and PCBs with a well-known aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated response, the induction of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity, in the same cells revealed EROD induction by 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 3,3',4,4'-TCB, and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-HCB with EC50 ranges of 100-200 pM, 20-70 nM, and 5-10 nM, respectively. The time course of IC inhibition was paralleled by EROD induction, although the time of onset of the response was earlier for IC (1 hr) than for EROD (2.5 hr). A role of the AhR in the inhibition of IC by 2,3,7,8-TCDD and PCBs was demonstrated by the lack of inhibition in AhR-defective Hepa1c1c7 cells. Transient inhibition of IC was observed in the mutant cells only at early time points (within 2 hr of exposure). These results and the observation that alpha-naphtoflavone (an AhR antagonist) greatly reduced the 2,3,7,8-TCDD-dependent sustained inhibition of IC strongly support a role of the AhR in the sustained inhibition of IC by these compounds. Furthermore, these data suggest that the mouse Hepa1c1c7 cells may be a good model in which to study in vitro tumor promoting capacity of dioxins, PCBs, and related compounds.
De Haan
L H
LH
Department of Toxicology, Agricultural University Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Simons
J W
JW
Bos
A T
AT
Aarts
J M
JM
Denison
M S
MS
Brouwer
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects*; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D002273:Carcinogens; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; C027309:3,4,5,3',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl; C028451:3,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl