title: Dichloroacetic acid induction of peroxisome proliferation in cultured hepatocytes.
abstract: Trichloroethylene is a widespread industrial solvent and one of the most common environmental contaminants. Trichloroethylene causes hepatocarcinoma in the B6C3F1 mouse in a dose-dependent manner. Trichloroethylene's hepatocarcinogenicity is thought to be mediated through its metabolites trichloroacetate and dichloroacetate. Although the mechanism of action is not well understood, hepatic tumors are thought to arise as a result of excessive peroxisome-dependent active oxygen production or secondary to enhanced cell replication. The peroxisome proliferative activity of trichloroacetate has been replicated in cultured rodent hepatocytes, while that of dichloroacetate has not been demonstrated. The present experiments were designed to characterize the peroxisome proliferative response to dichloroacetate in hepatocyte cultures from male B6C3F1 mice and male Long Evans rats. The cultured hepatocytes were treated after attachment with 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, or 4.0 mM dichloroacetate for 72 hours. Peroxisome proliferation was assessed by measuring palmitoyl-CoA oxidation and by immunoquantitation of peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme. Palmitoyl CoA oxidation increased in a concentration-dependent manner, with maximal induction of 5.5- and 5-fold in mouse and rat hepatocytes, respectively, after treatment with 2.0 mM dichloroacetate. Peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme protein levels also increased in a concentration-dependent manner in both rat and mouse hepatocytes in response to dichloroacetate exposure. These results indicate that the peroxisomal response observed in vivo in response to dichloroacetate administration can be reproduced in primary cultures of rat and mouse hepatocytes treated with dichloroacetate. Further studies using this model system will help elucidate mechanisms of dichloroacetate-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Everhart
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Kurtz
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McMillan
mesh_terms: D015094:3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003999:Dichloroacetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004746:Enoyl-CoA Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D007535:Isomerases; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008830:Microbodies / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010171:Palmitoyl Coenzyme A / Q000378:metabolism; D063994:Peroxisomal Bifunctional Enzyme; D020025:Peroxisome Proliferators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans
chemical_list: D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D020025:Peroxisome Proliferators; D010171:Palmitoyl Coenzyme A; D003999:Dichloroacetic Acid; D015094:3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases; C576254:Ehhadh protein, mouse; D004746:Enoyl-CoA Hydratase; D063994:Peroxisomal Bifunctional Enzyme; D007535:Isomerases