In vitro production of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) by Hep G2 hepatoblastoma cells
Mezzasoma, L.; Biondi, R.; Benedetti, C.; Floridi, C.; Ciurnelli, R.; Falcinelli, F.; Onorato, M.; Scaringi, L.; Marconi, P.; Rossi, R.
Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents 7(4): 126-132
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0393-974X PMID: 8023700 Document Number: 422080
This study shows that the human hepatoblastoma cell line Hep G2 constitutively expressed a high level of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) mRNA in the characteristic major 3.8 and minor 1.8 Kb forms. DNA analysis of the LIF gene from Hep G2 revealed no rearrangements. Production and secretion of significant concentrations of LIF were demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) in culture supernatants of Hep G2 cells. The highest LIF concentration in culture was found at 48-h (250 pg/ml). LIF produced by Hep G2 cells was biologically active since cell-free culture supernatants were able to induce in vitro differentiation of the MI murine myeloid leukemia cell line. On the contrary, no LIF mRNA expression was detected in normal liver cells by PCR analysis. Our results suggest that LIF acts on normal parenchymal hepatocytes through a paracrine mechanism and on Hep G2 cells by an autocrine action. Furthermore they indicate that the Hep G2 cell line could be an useful model for studying the LIF autocrine mechanism in hepatomas.