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Effects of serum and serum-derived factors on the growth and production of α-fetoprotein and albumin by human hepatoma cell lines

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Abstract

A serum-free culture system of human hepatoma cell lines (HuH-6 and HuH-7) was used to investigate the activity of bovine serum (BS) and of serum-derived factors on the growth and production of α-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin. At higher concentrations, dialyzed BS was inhibitory to the growth of HuH-6 and caused reduction of the level of AFP production by the cells. AFP and albumin levels in HuH-6 and HuH-7 were reduced or unchanged by fetuin, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and transferin (TF), although no cytotoxicity was shown by any of them. Commercial preparations of platelet-derived growth factor exhibited cytotoxicity to HuH-6 and HuH-7 and induced a decrease of AFP and albumin levels in a dose-dependent manner. Transforming growth factor (TGF-β) exhibited no cytotoxicity to HuH-6. AFP levels in HuH-6 were unchanged with 1000 pg/ml TGF-β, but albumin levels were decreased. TGF-7β at a concentration of 1000 pg/ml was cytotoxic to HuH-7 and AFP levels were a little increased. Albumin levels, however, were unchanged. Following exposure to cycloheximide, AFP and albumin levels in HuH-6 were inhibited.

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Abbreviations

AFP:

α-fetoprotein

BS:

bovine serum

BSA:

bovine serum albumin

EDTA:

ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid

ELISA:

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

HBSS:

Hank's balanced salt solution

PBS:

phosphate buffered saline

PDGF:

platelet-derived growth factor

TF:

transferrin

TGF-\:

transforming growth factor beta

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pathology Cancer Institute, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama, Japan

    Takayoshi Tokiwa, Yasunori Kusaka, Atsushi Muraoka & Jiro Sato

Authors
  1. Takayoshi Tokiwa
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  2. Yasunori Kusaka
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  3. Atsushi Muraoka
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  4. Jiro Sato
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Tokiwa, T., Kusaka, Y., Muraoka, A. et al. Effects of serum and serum-derived factors on the growth and production of α-fetoprotein and albumin by human hepatoma cell lines. Cell Biol Toxicol 5, 207–216 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00122654

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00122654

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