Project description:Viral hepatitis and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure are common risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The incidence of HCC in individuals co-exposed to hepatitis C (HCV) or B virus and AFB1 is greater than could be explained by the additive effect, yet the mechanisms are poorly understood due to lack of an animal model. This study investigated the outcomes and mechanisms of combined exposure to HCV and AFB1. We hypothesized that HCV transgenic (HCV-Tg; expressing core, E1, E2, and p7, nucleotides 342-2771) mice will be prone to hepatocarcinogenesis when exposed to AFB1. Neonatal (7 days old) HCV-Tg or C57BL/6J wild-type mice were exposed to AFB1 (6 ug/g bw) or tricaprylin vehicle (15 ul/g bw) and male offspring were followed for up to 12 months. No liver lesions were observed in vehicle-treated wild type or HCV-Tg mice. Tumors (adenomas or carcinomas) and preneoplastic lesions (hyperplasia or foci) were observed in 22.5% (9 of 40) of AFB1-treated wild-type mice. In HCV-Tg, the incidence of tumorous or pre-tumorous lesions was significantly elevated (50%, 18 of 36), with the difference largely due to a 2.5-fold increase in the incidence of adenomas (30.5% vs 12.5%). While oxidative stress and steato-hepatisis were observed in both AFB1-treated groups, molecular changes indicative of the enhanced inflammatory response and altered lipid metabolism were more pronounced in HCV-Tg mice. In summary, HCV proteins core, E1, E2 and p7 are sufficient to reproduce the additive co-carcinogenic effect of HCV and AFB1 which is a known clinical phenomenon. HCV transgenic mice (SL-139 strain, pAlbSVPA-HCV-S, containing the structural genes core, E1, E2, and p7, nucleotides 342-2771 of HCV genotype 1b, strain N, under the control of the murine albumin promoter/enhancer) on C57BL/6J (Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME) background were previously reported in Lerat et al (Lerat et al., Gastroenterology 122, 352-365, 2002). Transgenic animals were identified after weaning as detailed in Korenaga et al (Korenaga et al., J Biol. Chem. 280, 37481-37488, 2005). Neonatal (7 days old) mice were administered a single dose of AFB1 (6 ug/g bw) or tricaprylin vehicle (15 ul/g bw) by intra-peritoneal injection. Male mice were maintained on the regular animal chow with free access to food and water for up to 12 months. All animal experiments were approved by the UNC Animal Care and Use Committee.
Project description:Viral hepatitis and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure are common risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The incidence of HCC in individuals co-exposed to hepatitis C (HCV) or B virus and AFB1 is greater than could be explained by the additive effect, yet the mechanisms are poorly understood due to lack of an animal model. This study investigated the outcomes and mechanisms of combined exposure to HCV and AFB1. We hypothesized that HCV transgenic (HCV-Tg; expressing core, E1, E2, and p7, nucleotides 342-2771) mice will be prone to hepatocarcinogenesis when exposed to AFB1. Neonatal (7 days old) HCV-Tg or C57BL/6J wild-type mice were exposed to AFB1 (6 ug/g bw) or tricaprylin vehicle (15 ul/g bw) and male offspring were followed for up to 12 months. No liver lesions were observed in vehicle-treated wild type or HCV-Tg mice. Tumors (adenomas or carcinomas) and preneoplastic lesions (hyperplasia or foci) were observed in 22.5% (9 of 40) of AFB1-treated wild-type mice. In HCV-Tg, the incidence of tumorous or pre-tumorous lesions was significantly elevated (50%, 18 of 36), with the difference largely due to a 2.5-fold increase in the incidence of adenomas (30.5% vs 12.5%). While oxidative stress and steato-hepatisis were observed in both AFB1-treated groups, molecular changes indicative of the enhanced inflammatory response and altered lipid metabolism were more pronounced in HCV-Tg mice. In summary, HCV proteins core, E1, E2 and p7 are sufficient to reproduce the additive co-carcinogenic effect of HCV and AFB1 which is a known clinical phenomenon. HCV transgenic mice (SL-139 strain, pAlbSVPA-HCV-S, containing the structural genes core, E1, E2, and p7, nucleotides 342-2771 of HCV genotype 1b, strain N, under the control of the murine albumin promoter/enhancer) on C57BL/6J (Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME) background were previously reported in Lerat et al (Lerat et al., Gastroenterology 122, 352-365, 2002). Transgenic animals were identified after weaning as detailed in Korenaga et al (Korenaga et al., J Biol. Chem. 280, 37481-37488, 2005). Neonatal (7 days old) mice were administered a single dose of AFB1 (6 ug/g bw) or tricaprylin vehicle (15 ul/g bw) by intra-peritoneal injection. Male mice were maintained on the regular animal chow with free access to food and water for up to 12 months. All animal experiments were approved by the UNC Animal Care and Use Committee. There were 20 liver samples used for microarray analysis (12 month time point). All samples were run in one batch. There are 4 groups: WT/Control (4 samples - all biological replicates, i.e., different animals); WT/AFB1 (6 samples); HCV/Control (4 samples); HCV/AFB1 (6 samples). This was a 2 color design with a common reference mRNA. No dye swaps or replicate arrays were included.
Project description:The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the major risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, transgenic mice which express the whole HCV polyprotein (HCV-Tg) do not develop HCC. Whereas chronic HCV infection causes inflammation in patients, in HCV-Tg mice, the host immune reaction against viral proteins is lacking. We aimed to test the role of HCV proteins in HCC development on the background of chronic inflammation in vivo. We crossed the HCV-Tg mice which do not produce HCC with the Mdr2-knockout (Mdr2-KO) mice which develop inflammation-associated HCC, to generate Mdr2-KO/HCV-Tg mice. We studied the effect of the HCV transgene on tumor incidence, hepatocyte mitosis and apoptosis, and on gene expression in the liver of produced mice.
Project description:The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the major risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, transgenic mice which express the whole HCV polyprotein (HCV-Tg) do not develop HCC. Whereas chronic HCV infection causes inflammation in patients, in HCV-Tg mice, the host immune reaction against viral proteins is lacking. We aimed to test the role of HCV proteins in HCC development on the background of chronic inflammation in vivo. We crossed the HCV-Tg mice which do not produce HCC with the Mdr2-knockout (Mdr2-KO) mice which develop inflammation-associated HCC, to generate Mdr2-KO/HCV-Tg mice. We studied the effect of the HCV transgene on tumor incidence, hepatocyte mitosis and apoptosis, and on gene expression in the liver of produced mice.
Project description:Comparison of gene expression profiles induced by the mycotoxin, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), in primary human hepatocytes and HepaRG cells. Initial mechanisms involved in the complex multistep process leading to malignant transformation by chemicals remain largely unknown. We have analysed changes in gene expression profiles in primary human hepatocytes and differentiated human hepatoma HepaRG cells after a 24 h treatment with 0.05 or 0.25µM aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent genotoxic hepatocarcinogen.
Project description:The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the major risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, transgenic mice which express the whole HCV polyprotein (HCV-Tg) do not develop HCC. Whereas chronic HCV infection causes inflammation in patients, in HCV-Tg mice, the host immune reaction against viral proteins is lacking. We aimed to test the role of HCV proteins in HCC development on the background of chronic inflammation in vivo. We crossed the HCV-Tg mice which do not produce HCC with the Mdr2-knockout (Mdr2-KO) mice which develop inflammation-associated HCC, to generate Mdr2-KO/HCV-Tg mice. We studied the effect of the HCV transgene on tumor incidence, hepatocyte mitosis and apoptosis, and on gene expression in the liver of produced mice. This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Project description:Comparison of gene expression profiles induced by the mycotoxin, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), in primary human hepatocytes and HepaRG cells. Initial mechanisms involved in the complex multistep process leading to malignant transformation by chemicals remain largely unknown. We have analysed changes in gene expression profiles in primary human hepatocytes and differentiated human hepatoma HepaRG cells after a 24 h treatment with 0.05 or 0.25µM aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent genotoxic hepatocarcinogen. Three independent biological replicates of HepaRG cell cultures and two pools of three primary human hepatocyte cultures each, were investigated. Cells were treated with 0.05 or 0.25µM AFB1 for 24 h.
Project description:Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. AFB1 targeted gene expression profiles were determined in human primary trophoblast cells, isolated from full term placentae after delivery, and exposed to 1 µM AFB1 for 72 hours. Gene expression profiling conducted with human HT-12 expression beadchips
Project description:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection leads to the development of hepatic diseases, as well as extrahepatic disorders such as B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL). To reveal the molecular signalling pathways responsible for HCV-associated B-NHL development, we utilised transgenic (Tg) mice that express the full-length HCV genome specifically in B cells and develop non-Hodgkin type B-cell lymphomas (BCLs). The gene expression profiles in B cells from BCL-developing HCV-Tg mice, from BCL-non-developing HCV-Tg mice, and from BCL-non-developing HCV-negative mice were analysed by genome-wide microarray. In BCLs from HCV-Tg mice, the expression of various genes was modified, and for some genes, expression was influenced by the gender of the animals. Markedly modified genes such as Fos, C3, LTbetaR, A20, NF-kappaB and miR-26b in BCLs were further characterised using specific assays. We propose that activation of both canonical and alternative NF-kappaB signalling pathways and down-regulation of miR-26b contribute to the development of HCV-associated B-NHL.
Project description:Susceptibility to the hepatocarcinogen Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) varies among species and with age. Mice are refractory to carcinogenic and toxic effects of AFB1; however, B6C3F1 mice show transient sensitivity if dosed shortly after birth. We compared age-related differences in gene expression and transcriptional responses to AFB1 in livers of newborn (4-day-old) and adult mice. Keywords: Transcriptional response to a carcinogen