AIM:To explore the possibility that PDX-1 gene is reactivated as a consequence of molecular events that occur during liver regeneration. METHODS:Rat hepatocytes were maintained in DMEM- F12,10%fetal bovine serum(FBS),...AIM:To explore the possibility that PDX-1 gene is reactivated as a consequence of molecular events that occur during liver regeneration. METHODS:Rat hepatocytes were maintained in DMEM- F12,10%fetal bovine serum(FBS),penicillin/streptomycin and geneticin when applicable.Rat insulinoma RIN 1046-38 cells were maintained in M-199-10%FBS and penicillin/streptomycin.The final concentration of glucose was 11.1 mmol/L.During regeneration,lateral and medial liver lobes of adult male Wistar rats were surgically removed,with up 70%loss of liver mass.In methylation experiments,5-aza-deoxycytidine(5-aza-dC)was used.Primer3 software was used for poly- merase chain reaction(PCR).Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR)was performed using SYBR Green technol- ogy;primers were designed by Beacon Designer 6 software.Western blotting and SDS-PAGE were performed according to standard procedures.Antibodies were purchased from commercial suppliers.RESULTS:We explored the possibility that liver regeneration could trigger PDX-1 expression,and hence insulin production.Twenty-four hours after surgical liver removal,regeneration was active as demonstrated by the increased proliferating cell nuclear antigen;however, all the other checked genes(involved in insulin gene expression):PC-1,Ngn3,NeuroD1,Btc,PDX-1 and Ins-1, were not related to the molecular events caused by this process.The only marker detected in regenerating liver was E47:a transcription factor of the the basic helixloop-helix family known to be expressed ubiquitously in mammalian cells.In the rat pancreas,almost all of the tested genes were expressed as shown by RT-PCR, except for Ngn3,which was silenced 2 d after birth. Therefore,the molecular events in liver regeneration are not sufficient to promote PDX-1 expression.DNA methylation is a known mechanism to achieve stable re- pression of gene expression in mammals:Hxk 2 gene is silenced through this mechanism in normal hepatocytes. The administration of 5-aza-dC to cultured cells is in fact able to upregulate Hxk 2 mRNA.We investigated whether PDX-1 silencing in liver cells could be exerted through methylation of CpG islands in both the promoter and the gene coding regions.The results show that the drug increased the expression level of the Hxk 2 control gene but failed to rescue the expression of PDX-1,thus DNA demethylation is not sufficient to override repression of the PDX-1 gene.展开更多
基金Supported by Grants from the Italian Ministry of Education(MIUR)traveling Grants by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs(to Risuleo G)
文摘AIM:To explore the possibility that PDX-1 gene is reactivated as a consequence of molecular events that occur during liver regeneration. METHODS:Rat hepatocytes were maintained in DMEM- F12,10%fetal bovine serum(FBS),penicillin/streptomycin and geneticin when applicable.Rat insulinoma RIN 1046-38 cells were maintained in M-199-10%FBS and penicillin/streptomycin.The final concentration of glucose was 11.1 mmol/L.During regeneration,lateral and medial liver lobes of adult male Wistar rats were surgically removed,with up 70%loss of liver mass.In methylation experiments,5-aza-deoxycytidine(5-aza-dC)was used.Primer3 software was used for poly- merase chain reaction(PCR).Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR)was performed using SYBR Green technol- ogy;primers were designed by Beacon Designer 6 software.Western blotting and SDS-PAGE were performed according to standard procedures.Antibodies were purchased from commercial suppliers.RESULTS:We explored the possibility that liver regeneration could trigger PDX-1 expression,and hence insulin production.Twenty-four hours after surgical liver removal,regeneration was active as demonstrated by the increased proliferating cell nuclear antigen;however, all the other checked genes(involved in insulin gene expression):PC-1,Ngn3,NeuroD1,Btc,PDX-1 and Ins-1, were not related to the molecular events caused by this process.The only marker detected in regenerating liver was E47:a transcription factor of the the basic helixloop-helix family known to be expressed ubiquitously in mammalian cells.In the rat pancreas,almost all of the tested genes were expressed as shown by RT-PCR, except for Ngn3,which was silenced 2 d after birth. Therefore,the molecular events in liver regeneration are not sufficient to promote PDX-1 expression.DNA methylation is a known mechanism to achieve stable re- pression of gene expression in mammals:Hxk 2 gene is silenced through this mechanism in normal hepatocytes. The administration of 5-aza-dC to cultured cells is in fact able to upregulate Hxk 2 mRNA.We investigated whether PDX-1 silencing in liver cells could be exerted through methylation of CpG islands in both the promoter and the gene coding regions.The results show that the drug increased the expression level of the Hxk 2 control gene but failed to rescue the expression of PDX-1,thus DNA demethylation is not sufficient to override repression of the PDX-1 gene.
