Reference SummaryChristensen JG, Carcinogenesis 1999 Aug;20(8):1583-90

Title

Altered bcl-2 family expression during non-genotoxic hepatocarcinogenesis in mice.

Authors

Christensen JG; Romach EH; Healy LN; Gonzales AJ; Anderson SP; Malarkey DE; Corton JC; Fox TR; Cattley RC; Goldsworthy TL

Journal

Carcinogenesis

Volume

20

Issue

8

Year

1999

Pages

1583-90

Abstract

Dysregulation of apoptosis is an important component of multistage hepatocarcinogenesis. Members of the bcl-2 protein family are important in the regulation of apoptosis and their expression is altered in several cancers. The objectives of the present study were to determine whether the expression of members of the bcl-2 protein family are altered in mouse liver during acute treatment with non-genotoxic carcinogens and throughout non-genotoxic hepatocarcinogenesis. Acute treatment of B6C3F1 mice with phenobarbital resulted in increased levels of bcl-2 and decreased levels of bax protein, while acute treatment with WY-14,643 resulted in increased bcl-2 and BAG-1 protein in the liver. Following chronic treatment, altered hepatic foci and adenomas were classified as: small-cell, heterogeneous basophilic lesions (spontaneous or tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-induced); large-cell, homogeneous basophilic lesions (WY-14,643-induced); acidophilic lesions (phenobarbital- or chlordane-induced). Of the small-cell heterogeneous basophilic lesions, 86% of foci (31/36) and 85% of adenomas (35/41) exhibited increased bcl-2 protein levels compared with surrounding normal hepatocytes, whereas only 12.5% of foci (4/36) and 12% of adenomas (5/41) exhibited increased bcl-X(L) levels. Of the large-cell, homogenous, basophilic lesions, 100% of foci (3/3) and 90% of adenomas (9/10) expressed bcl-2 protein, whereas 100% of foci (3/3) and 80% of adenomas (8/10) exhibited increased bcl-X(L) protein levels compared with surrounding normal hepatocytes. Of the acidophilic lesions, the majority of foci (28/32, 88%) and adenomas (47/50, 94%) expressed increased bcl-X(L), whereas increased bcl-2 was observed in only 12.5% of acidophilic preneoplastic foci (4/32) and 14% of acidophilic adenomas (7/50). Of the carcinomas analyzed, 81% expressed increased bcl-2 (54/67), 78% expressed increased bcl-X(L) (52/67) and 69% expressed increased levels of both bcl-2 and bcl-X(L) (46/67). Collectively, only 8% of preneoplastic foci, 3% of adenomas and 1.5% of carcinomas did not express either bcl-2 or bcl-X(L). These results suggest that regulation of apoptotic proteins is altered during non-genotoxic carcinogenesis in mouse liver. Furthermore, there were both chemical- and lesion-specific aspects of expression of apoptotic proteins during hepatocarcinogenesis in mice.

Links

J:57412 – MGI References
10426811 – National Library of Medicine/PubMed

Models

Strain Model Name Treatment Agent(s) Organ Affected Frequency Model Details
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver foci Liver

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver foci
  • 2,3,7,8-tetrachorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)
Liver

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver foci
  • phenobarbital (PB)
Liver

observed

129/Sv Liver foci
  • WY-14,643
Liver

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver hepatocellular adenoma Liver

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver hepatocellular adenoma
  • 2,3,7,8-tetrachorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)
Liver

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver hepatocellular adenoma
  • phenobarbital (PB)
Liver

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver hepatocellular adenoma
  • chlordane
Liver

observed

129/Sv Liver hepatocellular adenoma
  • WY-14,643
Liver

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver hepatocellular carcinoma Liver

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver hepatocellular carcinoma
  • 2,3,7,8-tetrachorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)
Liver

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver hepatocellular carcinoma
  • phenobarbital (PB)
Liver

observed

(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver hepatocellular carcinoma
  • chlordane
Liver

observed

129/Sv Liver hepatocellular carcinoma
  • WY-14,643
Liver

observed