title: Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity could be responsible for resistance or sensitivity to IFN-gamma-induced apoptosis in several human hepatoma cell lines.
abstract: Response to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-induced apoptosis of human hepatoma cell lines (HHCLs) is variable. We analyzed this different behavior in Hep3B, Chang-liver, HepG2, and HuH7 cells. We studied (1) IFN-gamma-induced apoptosis, (2) protein expression of Stat1, (3) binding of nuclear proteins to IFN-gamma activated sequence (GAS), (4) mRNA and expression of proteins acting in apoptosis, and (5) HuH7 sensitivity after inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) siRNA transfection. IFN-gamma induced apoptosis in Hep3B and Chang-liver cells only. In all HHCLs, Stat1 protein increased. Binding of proteins and transactivation activity of GAS increased much more in HuH7. In all HHCLs, caspase activity and apoptotic proteins were not implicated in resistance or sensitivity. iNOS mRNA and protein expression increased in HuH7, disappeared in Hep3B, and remained unchanged in Chang-liver and HepG2. We compared the role of iNOS in Hep3B and HuH7. The iNOS inhibitor, L-NAME, sensitized HuH7 to IFN-gamma, Hep3B/HuH7 coculture partially inhibited Hep3B apoptosis, and HuH7 transfection with iNOS siRNA induced a 50% inhibition of iNOS protein and cell apoptosis. GAS activity and overexpression of iNOS in HuH7, but not in the other HHCLs, suggest that this enzyme could play an important role in the resistance of HuH7 to IFN-gamma-induced apoptosis, perhaps by the antiapoptotic action of NO.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U773, Centre de Recherche Biologique CRB3, Equipe 5, U.F.R. de Médecine Denis Diderot, site Xavier Bichat (Université Paris 7-Denis Diderot), France.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vadrot
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Legrand
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nello
authors.forename: Annie-France
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Bringuier
authors.forename: Raymonde
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guillot
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feldmann
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008981:Molsidomine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C002385:linsidomine; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008981:Molsidomine; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester