title: Induction of metallothionein in the Reuber H-35 rat hepatoma cell.
abstract: The feasibility of using the Reuber H-35 rat hepatoma cell (RH-35 cells) as model for studying metallothionein induction was examined. The RH-35 cells were treated with Cd, a toxic metal which is known to induce metallothionein. The LC50 after a 3-h treatment was 70 microM. The value was significantly higher (P < 0.05) if the cells were pre-treated with a sublethal dose of CdCl2 (5 microM) for 2 days, indicating that pre-treatment with a low dose of Cd can protect against a subsequent higher dose of the same metal. Both the mRNA and the gene product metallothionein can be identified in the cells 2 days after treatment with 5 microM Cd. In addition to Cd, Zn and Cu were also able to induce the expression of metallothionein to various degrees. The results indicate that the MT gene is present in RH-35 cells and is responsive to treatment with various metals. Thus, this cell line can be used as a model to study metallothionein induction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D019256:Cadmium Chloride; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002712:Chlorides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D015032:Zinc / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D002712:Chlorides; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002104:Cadmium; D003300:Copper; D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc; D019256:Cadmium Chloride