Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase p110? contributes to bile salt-induced apoptosis in primary rat hepatocytes and human hepatoma cells.

ABSTRACT: Glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDC) and taurolithocholate (TLC) are hepatotoxic and cholestatic bile salts, whereas tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDC) is cytoprotective and anticholestatic. Yet they all act, in part, through phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)-dependent mechanisms ("PI3K-paradox"). Hepatocytes express three catalytic PI3K Class I isoforms (p110?/?/?), specific functions of which, in liver, are unclear. In other cell types, p110? is associated with detrimental effects. To shed light on the PI3K enigma, we determined whether hydrophobic and hydrophilic bile salts differentially activate distinct p110 isoforms in hepatocytes, and whether p110? mediates bile salt-induced hepatocyte cell death.Isoform-specific PI3K activity assays were established to determine isoform activation by bile salts in rat hepatocytes. Activation of Akt and JNK was determined by immunoblotting. Following stimulation with hydrophobic bile salts, hepatocellular apoptosis was determined morphologically after Hoechst staining and by analysis of caspase-3/-7 activity or caspase-3 cleavage. Activity or expression of PI3K p110? was inhibited pharmacologically (AS604850) or by knock-down using specific siRNA.All bile salts tested activated p110?, while p110? was activated by TUDC and GCDC. Intriguingly, only hydrophobic bile salts activated p110?. Inhibition of p110? attenuated GCDC-induced Akt- and JNK-activation, but did not alter TUDC- or cAMP-induced Akt-signaling in rat hepatocytes. Inhibition or knock-down of p110? markedly attenuated hydrophobic bile salt-induced apoptosis in rat hepatocytes and human hepatoma cell lines but did not alter Fas-, tumor necrosis factor ?- and etoposide-induced apoptosis. Depletion of Ca(++) prevented GCDC-induced toxicity in rat hepatocytes but did not affect GCDC-induced Akt- and JNK-activation.PI3K p110? is activated by hydrophobic, but not hydrophilic bile salts. Bile salt-induced hepatocyte apoptosis is partly mediated via a PI3K p110? dependent signaling pathway, potentially involving JNK.

SUBMITTER: Hohenester S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2949543 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature