leukotriene-b4 and Liver-Neoplasms

Arachidonic acid 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), an enzyme that synthesizes leukotrienes (LTs), is involved in cancer development including proliferation, invasion, metastasis and drug resistance. However, the functional role of 5-LOX in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be elucidated. In this study, we analyzed the contribution of 5-LOX in HCC progression and investigated the potential of targeted therapy. Analysis of 86 resected HCC specimens and the clinical data of 362 cases of liver cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma dataset, showed that 5-LOX expression was associated with postoperative survival. The cancer proliferative and stem cell potential were correlated with the levels of 5-LOX in CD163(+) tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). In an HCC mouse model, CD163(+) TAMs expressed 5-LOX and produced LTB4 and LTC/D/E4; the 5-LOX inhibitor, zileuton, suppressed HCC progression. LTB4 and LTC/D/E4 promoted cancer proliferation and stem cell capacity via phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and stem cell-associated genes. Taken together, we identified a novel mechanism of HCC progression in which CD163(+) TAMs express 5-LOX and produce LTB4 and LTC/D/E4, thereby enhancing the proliferative and stem cell potential of HCC cells. Furthermore, inhibition of 5-LOX activity regulates HCC progression, suggesting it has potential as a new therapeutic target.

Topics: Animals; Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Leukotriene B4; Liver Neoplasms; Mice; Tumor-Associated Macrophages

Macrophages in lungs can be classified into two subpopulations, alveolar macrophages (AMs) and interstitial macrophages (IMs), which reside in the alveolar and interstitial spaces, respectively. Accumulating evidence indicates the involvement of IMs in lung metastasis, but the roles of AMs in lung metastasis still remain elusive. An i.v. injection of a mouse hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line, BNL, caused lung metastasis foci with infiltration of AMs and IMs. Comprehensive determination of arachidonic acid metabolite levels revealed increases in leukotrienes and PGs in lungs in this metastasis model. A 5-lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitor but not a cyclooxygenase inhibitor reduced the numbers of metastatic foci, particularly those of a larger size. A major 5-LOX metabolite, LTB

Topics: Animals; Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase; Arachidonic Acid; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Humans; Leukotriene B4; Leukotrienes; Liver Neoplasms; Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Macrophages; Macrophages, Alveolar; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C

The issue that lipid metabolism enzyme and its metabolites regulate transcription factors in cancer cell is not fully understood. In this study, we first report that the lipid metabolism enzyme 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and its metabolite leukotriene B4 (LTB4) are capable of activating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in hepatoma cells. We found that the treatment of MK886 (an inhibitor of 5-LOX) or knockdown of 5-LOX was able to downregulate the expression of NF-κB p65 at the mRNA level and decreased the phosphorylation level of inhibitor κBα (IκBα) in the cytoplasm of hepatoma HepG2 or H7402 cells, which resulted in the decrease of the level of nuclear NF-κB p65. These were confirmed by immunofluorescence staining in HepG2 cell. Moreover, the above treatments were able to decrease the transcriptional activity of NF-κB in the cells. The LTB4, one of metabolites of 5-LOX, is responsible for 5-LOX-activated NF-κB in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, we conclude that the lipid metabolism enzyme 5-LOX and its metabolite LTB4 are capable of activating transcription factor NF-κB in hepatoma cells. Our finding provides new insight into the significance of lipid metabolism in activation of transcription factors in cancer.

Topics: Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Line, Tumor; Cytoplasm; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; I-kappa B Kinase; Indoles; Leukotriene B4; Lipid Metabolism; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Liver Neoplasms; NF-kappa B; Transcription Factor RelA; Transcription, Genetic

CYP4F1 was discovered by Chen and Hardwick (Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 300, 18-23, 1993) as a new CYP4 cytochrome P450 (P450) preferentially expressed in rat hepatomas. However, the catalytic function of this P450 remained poorly defined. We have purified recombinant CYP4F1 protein to a specific content of 12 nmol of P450/mg of protein from transfected yeast cells by chromatography of solubilized microsomes on an amino-n-hexyl Sepharose 4B column, followed by sequential HPLC on a DEAE column and two hydroxylapatite columns. The purified P450 was homogeneous as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an apparent molecular weight of 53 kDa. The enzyme catalyzed the omega-hydroxylation of leukotriene B(4) with a K(m) of 134 microM and a V(max) of 6.5 nmol/min/nmol of P450 in the presence of rabbit hepatic NADPH-P450 reductase and cytochrome b(5). In addition, 6-trans-LTB(4), lipoxin A(4), prostaglandin A(1), and several hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) were also omega-hydroxylated. Of several eicosanoids examined, 8-HETE was the most efficient substrate, with a K(m) of 18.6 microM and a V(max) of 15.8 nmol/min/nmol of P450. In contrast, no activity was detected toward lipoxin B(4), laurate, palmitate, arachidonate, and benzphetamine. The results suggest that CYP4F1 participates in the hepatic inactivation of several bioactive eicosanoids.

Topics: Animals; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Cytochrome P450 Family 4; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; Hydroxylation; Leukotriene B4; Lipoxins; Liver; Liver Neoplasms; Mixed Function Oxygenases; Neoplasm Proteins; Rats; Recombinant Proteins; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Substrate Specificity

Incubation of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) with Hep G2 cells (a human-derived hepatoma cell line) resulted in the production of several metabolites indicative of alternative pathways of LTB4 metabolism not previously observed in normal hepatocytes. The major extracellular LTB4-derived metabolites were structurally identified using mass spectrometry and ancillary techniques including electrospray ionization. The major metabolite was 10-hydroxy-4,6,8,12-octadecatetraenoic acid (10-HOTE), an unexpected metabolite which lost the hydroxy group at carbon 5 from the parent LTB4. Two other major metabolites were 3(R)-hydroxy-LTB4 and 3(S)-hydroxy-LTB4. The formation of these three metabolites revealed that beta-oxidation from the carboxyl terminus can be a significant metabolic pathway for degradation of this hydroxy unsaturated fatty acid. The normal hepatocyte LTB4-derived metabolite, 20-carboxy-LTB4, was observed as only a minor product. The metabolic profile for Hep G2 cells suggests that the efficient cytochrome P-450 pathway involved in omega-oxidation in typical hepatocytes is absent in these cells. Several minor metabolites were also identified which included dihydro products resulting from metabolism by a 12-hydroxydehydrogenase/delta 10-reductase pathway. The formation of the major metabolite reveals the operation of steps in beta-oxidation of hydroxy, unsaturated fatty acids not anticipated by previously identified steps of fatty acid beta-oxidation.

Topics: Biotransformation; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Line; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Hydroxylation; Leukotriene B4; Liver Neoplasms; Mass Spectrometry; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The uptake of tritiated cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTC4, LTD4, LTE4) and LTB4 was investigated in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes and different hepatoma cell lines under initial-rate conditions. Leukotriene uptake by hepatocytes was independent of an Na+ gradient and a K+ diffusion potential across the hepatocyte membranes as established in experiments with isolated hepatocytes and plasma membrane vesicles. Kinetic experiments with isolated hepatocytes indicated a low-Km system and a non-saturable system for the uptake of cysteinyl leukotrienes as well as LTB4 under the conditions used. AS-30D hepatoma cells and human Hep G2 hepatoma cells were deficient in the uptake of cysteinyl leukotrienes, but showed significant accumulation of LTB4. Moreover, only LTB4 was metabolized in Hep G2 hepatoma cells. Competition studies on the uptake of LTE4 and LTB4 (10 nM each) indicated inhibition by the organic anions bromosulfophthalein, S-decyl glutathione, 4,4'-diisothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonate, probenecid, docosanedioate, and hexadecanedioate (100 microM each), but not by taurocholate, the amphiphilic cations verapamil and N-propyl ajmaline, and the neutral glycoside ouabain. Cholate and the glycoside digitoxin were inhibitors of LTB4 uptake only. Bromosulfophthalein, the strongest inhibitor of leukotriene uptake by hepatocytes, did not inhibit LTB4 uptake by Hep G2 hepatoma cells under the same experimental conditions. Leukotriene-binding proteins were analyzed by comparative photoaffinity labeling of human hepatocytes and Hep G2 hepatoma cells using [3H]LTE4 and [3H]LTB4 as the photolabile ligands. Predominant leukotriene-binding proteins with apparent molecular masses in the ranges of 48-58 kDa and 38-40 kDa were labeled by both leukotrienes in the particulate and in the cytosolic fraction of hepatocytes, respectively. In contrast, no labeling was obtained with [3H]LTE4 in Hep G2 cells. With [3H]LTB4 a protein with a molecular mass of about 48 kDa was predominantly labeled in the particulate fraction of the hepatoma cells, whereas in the cytosolic fraction a labeled protein in the range of 40 kDa was detected. Our results provide evidence for the existence of distinct uptake systems for cysteinyl leukotrienes and LTB4 at the sinusoidal membrane of hepatocytes; however, some of the inhibitors tested interfere with both transport systems. Only LTB4, but not cysteinyl leukotrienes, is taken up and metabolized by the transformed hepatoma cells.

Topics: Affinity Labels; Animals; Binding, Competitive; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Humans; Kinetics; Leukotriene B4; Leukotriene E4; Leukotrienes; Liver; Liver Neoplasms; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental; Photochemistry; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; SRS-A; Sulfobromophthalein; Tritium; Tumor Cells, Cultured

This study resulted from the finding that cancer extract-induced leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) depends on release of arachidonic acid metabolites of which leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a chemoattractant. Leukotrienes, the chemotactic fragment of the fifth component of complement (C5a des arg), N-formyl-L-methionylyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (FMLP), platelet-activating factor (PAF), and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) increased the nonadherence of human leukocytes to glass with bell-shaped dose-response curves. For maximum nonadherence, the optimum concentration was about 2 X 10(-11) M LTB4, 10(-9) M C5a des arg, 2 X 10(-8) M FMLP, 2 X 10(-9) M PAF, and 2 X 10(-8) M PMA. Of the adherent leukocytes, 29% became nonadherent. Higher concentrations of leukotriene E4, FMLP, PAF, and PMA induced leukocyte hyperadhesiveness. Chemoattractant-induced LAI was antagonized by inhibitors of glycolysis, oxidative metabolism, electron transport, microfilaments, and microtubules, whereas the same concentration of inhibitors did not alter the adherence of leukocytes to glass in control tubes. T-cells, neutrophils, and mononuclear cells showed LAI to LTB4, C5a des arg, and FMLP. Moreover, no additive effect was observed when leukocytes exposed to a first chemoattractant at its optimum concentration were exposed to a second. A competitive inhibitor of leukotriene slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis, FPL 55712, blocked in a dose-response fashion LTB4-, C5a des arg-, and FMLP-triggered LAI. Eicosatetraenoic acid and nordihydroguaiaretic acid, cyclo-oxygenase-lipoxygenase pathway inhibitors, also markedly antagonized LTB4-, C5a des arg-, and FMLP-triggered LAI. Indomethacin (10(-5) M), piroxicam (10(-6) M), and aspirin, cyclooxygenase antagonists, negated LTB4-, C5a des arg-, and FMLP-induced LAI. Prostaglandins E2, E1, and F2 and prostacyclin did not trigger LAI. However, selective thromboxane synthetase antagonists completely negated chemoattractant-triggered LAI. Our studies indicated that chemoattractants stimulated leukocytes to produce thromboxanes, which increased leukocyte nonadherence.

Topics: Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone; Cell Adhesion; Chemotactic Factors; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Complement C5; Complement C5a, des-Arginine; Humans; Leukocyte Adherence Inhibition Test; Leukocytes; Leukotriene B4; Liver Neoplasms; N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; Platelet Activating Factor; SRS-A; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate