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Metabolic properties of isolated rat liver cell preparations enriched in epithelial cells other than hepatocytes
Author(s) -
Ledda G. M.,
Sells M. A.,
Yokoyama S.,
Lombardi B.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910310217
Subject(s) - aflatoxin , parenchyma , biology , hepatocyte , demethylase , carcinogen , hyperplasia , bile duct , medicine , cytotoxic t cell , cell , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , chemistry , in vitro , epigenetics , botany , food science , gene
A selected fraction of non‐parenchymal cells was prepared from the liver of untreated rats, of rats 11‐13 days after ligation of the common bile duct, and of rats fed for 4‐5 weeks a choline devoid diet containing DL‐ethionine. The cell fraction isolated from these livers consisted of one type of mesenchymal cells (Kupffer cells), and of increasing proportions of γ‐glutamyltranspeptidase‐positive non‐parenchymal epithelial cells (bile ductule/oval cells). The activities of aminopyrine N‐demethylase and of aniline hydroxylase were determined in the three cell fractions, and were found to be less than 10% of the same enzyme activities of purified hepatocytes isolated from untreated rats. Primary cultures of untreated rat hepatocytes, and of the non‐parenchymal cell fraction prepared from the liver of untreated and treated rats, were exposed to aflatoxin B 1 . Less than 0.5% of the hepatocytes from untreated rats survived a 48 h exposure to a concentration of 10 −6 m aflatoxin B 1 . On the other hand, 75% or more of the non‐parenchymal cells survived a 48 h exposure to a concentration of aflatoxin B 1 /cell two and a half times as great. It is concluded that non‐parenchymal epithelial cells of rat liver have low activities of aminopyrine N‐demethylase and of aniline hydroxylase in comparison to hepatocytes, and, in contrast to hepatocytes, are highly resistant to the cytotoxic action of aflatoxin B 1 . Preneoplastic and neoplastic hepatocytes are known to possess similar properties. Thus, the findings reported herein are consonant with the views that non‐parenchymal epithelial cells of rat liver may be alternate target cells, initiated by chemical carcinogens inducing hepatocellular carcinomas, and that the initiated cells may be progenitors of neoplastic hepatocytes.