Expression of genes coding for antioxidant enzymes and heat shock proteins is altered in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

The expression of genes for heat shock proteins in the HSP70 family and genes for antioxidant enzymes was studied in rat hepatocytes cultured in either L-15 or Williams E media on a collagen matrix for up to 48 hours. The mRNA transcripts for the heat shock proteins hsp70, hsc70, and grp78 were induced dramatically when hepatocytes were cultured in L-15, and to a lesser extent when cultured in Williams E. The increase in hsp70 and hsc70 mRNA levels in the cultured hepatocytes was correlated with an increase in the nuclear transcription of these two genes and the binding activity of the heat shock transcription factor to the heat shock element. Culturing rat hepatocytes in either L-15 or Williams E resulted in a decrease in the levels of the mRNA transcripts for catalase and glutathione peroxidase and the activities of these two enzymes. However, the expression of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase, i.e., the level of the mRNA transcript or the enzymatic activity, did not change appreciably when hepatocytes were cultured for up to 48 hours. The decline in catalase and glutathione peroxidase expression in the cultured hepatocytes was correlated with a decrease in the GSH/GSSG ratio and an increase in lipid peroxidation. These data show that the expression of several genes involved in cellular protection change when hepatocytes are placed in primary cultures. Therefore, one must be careful in extrapolating from primary cultures to the liver in vivo, especially when studying processes that might be affected by heat shock proteins or antioxidant enzymes.