Moshier JA, Mutchnick MG, Dosescu J, Holtz TK, Akkary S, Mahakala K, Merline JR, Naylor PH. Thymosin-alpha 1, but not interferon-alpha, specifically inhibits anchorage-independent growth of hepatitis B viral transfected HepG2 cells.
J Hepatol 1996;
25:814-20. [PMID:
9007707 DOI:
10.1016/s0168-8278(96)80283-2]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Thymosin-alpha 1 is a biological response modifier that has been used clinically, alone and in combination with interferon-alpha for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B viral infection. Both immunomodulatory and immediate intracellular mechanisms have been postulated to explain the effect of these two agents on HBV-infected hepatocytes.
METHODS
In this study, hepatitis B transfected HepG2 hepatoblastoma cells (HepG2-Nu2), derived from 2.2.15 cells, were used as an in vitro model to determine the efficacy of thymosin-alpha 1 and interferon-alpha, individually and combined, as proliferation inhibitors of HBV-infected cells. For comparison, parental HepG2 cells and an SV40-transfected HepG2 cell line (HepG2P9T2) were also evaluated.
RESULTS
In a clonogenic soft agar assay, thymosin-alpha 1 inhibited the anchorage-independent growth of the HepG2-Nu2 cells by 40% compared with untreated controls, but did not inhibit parental HepG2 or HepG2P9T2 clonal growth. The response was dose dependent over concentrations spanning three log units. In comparison, 10000 units/ml of interferon-alpha inhibited parental HepG2, HepG2-N4Z and HepG2P9T2 by 33%, 41% and 87%, respectively. The combination of thymosin-alpha 1 and interferon-alpha consistently inhibited HepG2-Nu2 clonal growth more effectively than either treatment alone, reaching maximum inhibition levels of 51%.
CONCLUSIONS
Thymosin-alpha 1 specifically inhibits the tumorigenic growth of HBV-transfected HepG2 cells in contrast to the general inhibition displayed by interferon-alpha. This panel of cell lines may be an important resource for dissecting the mechanism by which thymosin, alone or in combination with other drugs, influences HBV-infected hepatocytes and/or HBV-associated carcinoma.
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