Latest Publications

@article{svobodova_2378-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin_2019,

title = {2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Disrupts Control of Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis in a Human Model of Adult Liver Progenitors.},

author = {Jana Svobodová and Jiřina Procházková and Markéta Kabátková and Martin Krkoška and Lenka Šmerdová and Helena Líbalová and Jan Topinka and Jiří Kléma and Alois Kozubík and Miroslav Machala and Jan Vondráček},

doi = {10.1093/toxsci/kfz202},

issn = {1096-0929},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-12-01},

journal = {Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology},

volume = {172},

number = {2},

pages = {368–384},

abstract = {The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation has been shown to alter proliferation, apoptosis, or differentiation of adult rat liver progenitors. Here, we investigated the impact of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-mediated AhR activation on a human model of bipotent liver progenitors, undifferentiated HepaRG cells. We used both intact undifferentiated HepaRG cells, and the cells with silenced Hippo pathway effectors, yes-associated protein 1 (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), which play key role(s) in tissue-specific progenitor cell self-renewal and expansion, such as in liver, cardiac, or respiratory progenitors. TCDD induced cell proliferation in confluent undifferentiated HepaRG cells; however, following YAP, and, in particular, double YAP/TAZ knockdown, TCDD promoted induction of apoptosis. These results suggested that, unlike in mature hepatocytes, or hepatocyte-like cells, activation of the AhR may sensitize undifferentiated HepaRG cells to apoptotic stimuli. Induction of apoptosis in cells with silenced YAP/TAZ was associated with upregulation of death ligand TRAIL, and seemed to involve both extrinsic and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways. Global gene expression analysis further suggested that TCDD significantly altered expression of constituents and/or transcriptional targets of signaling pathways participating in control of expansion or differentiation of liver progenitors, including EGFR, Wnt/β-catenin, or tumor growth factor-β signaling pathways. TCDD significantly upregulated cytosolic proapoptotic protein BMF (Bcl-2 modifying factor) in HepaRG cells, which could be linked with an enhanced sensitivity of TCDD-treated cells to apoptosis. Our results suggest that, in addition to promotion of cell proliferation and alteration of signaling pathways controlling expansion of human adult liver progenitors, AhR ligands may also sensitize human liver progenitor cells to apoptosis.},

note = {Place: United States},

keywords = {*Models, Adaptor Proteins, Apoptosis, Apoptosis/*drug effects/genetics, Aryl hydrocarbon receptor, Aryl Hydrocarbon/metabolism, Biological, Cell Line, Cell Proliferation, Cell Proliferation/*drug effects/genetics, Gene Expression/drug effects, HepaRG cells, Hippo signaling, Humans, Liver/*drug effects/pathology, Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins/*toxicity, Receptors, RNA, Signal Transducing/genetics, Signal Transduction, Small Interfering/genetics, Stem Cells/*drug effects/pathology, Trans-Activators/genetics, Transcription Factors/genetics, Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins, Transfection, YAP-Signaling Proteins},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{hyzdalova_aryl_2018,

title = {Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Dependent Metabolism Plays a Significant Role in Estrogen-Like Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Cell Proliferation.},

author = {Martina Hýžd'alová and Jakub Pivnicka and Ondrej Zapletal and Gerardo Vázquez-Gómez and Jason Matthews and Jirí Neca and Katerina Pencíková and Miroslav Machala and Jan Vondrácek},

doi = {10.1093/toxsci/kfy153},

issn = {1096-0929 1096-6080},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-10-01},

journal = {Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology},

volume = {165},

number = {2},

pages = {447–461},

abstract = {Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread environmental contaminants that interact in a complex manner with both the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and estrogen receptors (ER). Their potential endocrine-disrupting activities may depend on both inhibitory AhR-ER cross-talk and on AhR-dependent metabolic production of estrogenic PAH metabolites. Here, we analyzed the impact of AhR on estrogen-like effects of PAHs, such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), in particular, on control of cell cycle progression/cell proliferation. Using AhR knockout variant of estrogen-sensitive human breast cancer MCF-7 cells (MCF-7 AhRKO cells), we observed that the AhR-dependent control of cytochrome P450 family 1 (CYP1) expression played a major role in formation of estrogenic BaP metabolites, most notably 3-OH-BaP, which contributed to the ER-dependent induction of cell cycle progression/cell proliferation. Both BaP metabolism and the BaP-induced S-phase transition/cell proliferation were inhibited in MCF-7 AhRKO cells, whereas these cells remained sensitive towards both endogenous estrogen 17β-estradiol or hydroxylated BaP metabolites. BaP was found to increase the activity of ER-dependent luciferase reporter gene in wild-type MCF-7 cells; however, unlike its hydroxylated metabolite, BaP failed to stimulate luciferase activity in MCF-7 AhRKO cells. Similarly, estrogen-like effects of other known estrogenic PAHs, such as benz[a]anthracene or 3-methylcholanthrene, were diminished in MCF-7 AhRKO cells. Ectopic expression of human CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 enzymes partly restored both BaP metabolism and its effects on cell proliferation. Taken together, our data suggest that the AhR-dependent metabolism of PAHs contributes significantly to the impact of PAHs on cell proliferation in estrogen-sensitive cells.},

note = {Place: United States},

keywords = {Aryl Hydrocarbon/genetics/*metabolism, Cell Culture Techniques, Cell Cycle/drug effects/genetics, Cell Proliferation/*drug effects/genetics, Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1/genetics/metabolism, Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1/genetics/metabolism, Endocrine Disruptors/metabolism/*toxicity, Estrogen/genetics/metabolism, Gene Expression/drug effects, Gene Knockdown Techniques, Genes, Genetic Vectors, Humans, MCF-7 Cells, Plasmids, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/metabolism/*toxicity, Receptors, Reporter, Transfection},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{brenerova_pure_2016,

title = {Pure non-dioxin-like PCB congeners suppress induction of AhR-dependent endpoints in rat liver cells.},

author = {Petra Brenerová and Timo Hamers and Jorke H. Kamstra and Jan Vondráček and Simona Strapáčová and Patrik L. Andersson and Miroslav Machala},

doi = {10.1007/s11356-015-4819-6},

issn = {1614-7499 0944-1344},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-02-01},

journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international},

volume = {23},

number = {3},

pages = {2099–2107},

abstract = {The relative potencies of non-ortho-substituted coplanar polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners to activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and to cause the AhR-dependent toxic events are essential for their risk assessment. Since some studies suggested that abundant non-dioxin-like PCB congeners (NDL-PCBs) may alter the AhR activation by PCB mixtures and possibly cause non-additive effects, we evaluated potential suppressive effects of NDL-PCBs on AhR activation, using a series of 24 highly purified NDL-PCBs. We investigated their impact on the model AhR agonist-induced luciferase reporter gene expression in rat hepatoma cells and on induction of CYP1A1/1B1 mRNAs and deregulation of AhR-dependent cell proliferation in rat liver epithelial cells. PCBs 128, 138, and 170 significantly suppressed AhR activation (with IC50 values from 1.4 to 5.6 μM), followed by PCBs 28, 47, 52, and 180; additionally, PCBs 122, 153, and 168 showed low but still significant potency to reduce luciferase activity. Detection of CYP1A1 mRNA levels in liver epithelial cells largely confirmed these results for the most abundant NDL-PCBs, whereas the other AhR-dependent events (CYP1B1 mRNA expression, induction of cell proliferation in confluent cells) were less sensitive to NDL-PCBs, thus indicating a more complex regulation of these endpoints. The present data suggest that some NDL-PCBs could modulate overall dioxin-like effects in complex mixtures.},

note = {Place: Germany},

keywords = {Animals, Aryl hydrocarbon receptor, Aryl Hydrocarbon/genetics/*metabolism, Cell Line, Cell Proliferation/drug effects, Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1/genetics/metabolism, Cytochrome P450, Disruption of contact inhibition, DR-CALUX® assay, Epithelial Cells/cytology/drug effects/metabolism, Gene Expression/drug effects, Hepatocytes/cytology/drug effects/metabolism, Liver/*drug effects/metabolism, NDL-PCBs, Polychlorinated Biphenyls/*chemistry/*toxicity, Rats, Receptors, Relative effect potency, Signal Transduction/drug effects},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{lincova_multiple_2009,

title = {Multiple defects in negative regulation of the PKB/Akt pathway sensitise human cancer cells to the antiproliferative effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.},

author = {Eva Lincová and Ales Hampl and Zuzana Pernicová and Andrea Starsíchová and Pavel Krcmár and Miroslav Machala and Alois Kozubík and Karel Soucek},

doi = {10.1016/j.bcp.2009.05.001},

issn = {1873-2968 0006-2952},

year  = {2009},

date = {2009-09-01},

journal = {Biochemical pharmacology},

volume = {78},

number = {6},

pages = {561–572},

abstract = {Antitumorigenic effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are well established in several types of cancer disease. However, the mechanisms driving these processes are not understood in all details. In our study, we observed significant differences in sensitivity of cancer epithelial cell lines to COX-independent antiproliferative effects of NSAIDs. The prostate cancer cell line LNCaP, lacking both critical enzymes in the negative control of PKB/Akt activation, PTEN and SHIP2, was the most sensitive to these effects, as assessed by analysing the cell cycle profile and expression of cell cycle regulating proteins. We found that p53 protein and its signalling pathway is not involved in early antiproliferative action of the selected NSAID-indomethacin. RNAi provided evidence for the involvement of p21(Cip1/Waf1), but not GDF-15, in antiproliferative effects of indomethacin in LNCaP cells. Interestingly, we also found that indomethacin activated PKB/Akt and induced nuclear localisation of p21(Cip1/Waf1) and Akt2 isoform. Our results are in agreement with other studies and suggest that maintaining of the p21(Cip1/Waf1) level and its intracellular localisation might be influenced by Akt2. Knock-down of SHIP2 by RNAi in PTEN negative prostate and colon cancer cell lines resulted in higher sensitivity to antiproliferative effects of indomethacin. Our data suggest novel mechanisms of NSAIDs antiproliferative action in cancer epithelial cells, which depends on the status of negative regulation of the PKB/Akt pathway and the isoform-specific action of Akt2. Thus, unexpectedly, multiple defects in negative regulation of the PKB/Akt pathway may contribute to increased sensitivity to chemopreventive effects of these widely used drugs.},

note = {Place: England},

keywords = {Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology, Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism, Cell Cycle/*drug effects/physiology, Cell Line, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21/*biosynthesis, Enzyme Induction, Epithelial Cells/*drug effects/pathology, Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism, Gene Expression/drug effects, Growth Differentiation Factor 15/biosynthesis, Humans, Indomethacin/pharmacology, Male, Non-Steroidal/*pharmacology, Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases, Prostatic Neoplasms/*pathology, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/*metabolism, RNA Interference, Signal Transduction/drug effects/physiology, Tumor, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics/*metabolism},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{andrysik_aryl_2007,

title = {The aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent deregulation of cell cycle control induced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rat liver epithelial cells.},

author = {Zdenek Andrysík and Jan Vondrácek and Miroslav Machala and Pavel Krcmár and Lenka Svihálková-Sindlerová and Anne Kranz and Carsten Weiss and Dagmar Faust and Alois Kozubík and Cornelia Dietrich},

doi = {10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2006.10.004},

issn = {0027-5107},

year  = {2007},

date = {2007-02-01},

journal = {Mutation research},

volume = {615},

number = {1-2},

pages = {87–97},

abstract = {Disruption of cell proliferation control by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may contribute to their carcinogenicity. We investigated role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in disruption of contact inhibition in rat liver epithelial WB-F344 'stem-like' cells, induced by the weakly mutagenic benz[a]anthracene (BaA), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF) and by the strongly mutagenic benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). There were significant differences between the effects of BaA and BbF, and those of the strongly genotoxic BaP. Both BaA and BbF increased percentage of cells entering S-phase and cell numbers, associated with an increased expression of Cyclin A and Cyclin A/cdk2 complex activity. Their effects were significantly reduced in cells expressing a dominant-negative AhR mutant (dnAhR). Roscovitine, a chemical inhibitor of cdk2, abolished the induction of cell proliferation by BbF. However, neither BaA nor BbF modulated expression of the principal cdk inhibitor involved in maintenance of contact inhibition, p27(Kip1), or pRb phosphorylation. The strongly mutagenic BaP induced apoptosis, a decrease in total cell numbers and significantly higher percentage of cells entering S-phase than either BaA or BbF. Given that BaP induced high levels of Cyclin A/cdk2 activity, downregulation of p27(Kip1) and hyperphosphorylation of pRb, the accumulation of cells in S-phase was probably due to cell proliferation, although S-phase arrest due to blocked replication forks can not be excluded. Both types of effects of BaP were significantly attenuated in dnAhR cells. Transfection of WB-F344 cells with siRNA targeted against AhR decreased induction of Cyclin A induced by BbF or BaP, further supporting the role of AhR in proliferative effects of PAHs. This suggest that activation of AhR plays a significant role both in disruption of contact inhibition by weakly mutagenic PAHs and in genotoxic effects of BaP possibly leading to enhanced cell proliferation. Thus, PAHs may increase proliferative rate and the likelihood of fixation of mutations.},

note = {Place: Netherlands},

keywords = {Animals, Apoptosis/drug effects, Aryl Hydrocarbon/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*metabolism, Base Sequence, Benz(a)Anthracenes/toxicity, Benzo(a)pyrene/toxicity, Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism, Cell Cycle/*drug effects/*physiology, Cell Line, Cell Proliferation/drug effects, Cyclin A/metabolism, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2/metabolism, Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1/genetics, Epithelial Cells/cytology/drug effects/metabolism, Fluorenes/toxicity, Gene Expression/drug effects, Hepatocytes/cytology/*drug effects/*metabolism, Messenger/genetics/metabolism, Multiprotein Complexes, Mutagens/toxicity, Mutation, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/*toxicity, Rats, Receptors, RNA, Small Interfering/genetics},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}