Comparison of the effects of bile acids on cell viability and DNA synthesis by rat hepatocytes in primary culture

Bile acid-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis by the regenerating rat liver in the absence of other manifestation of impairment in liver cell viability has been reported. Because in experiments carried out on in vivo models bile acids are rapidly taken up and secreted into bile, it is difficult to establish steady concentrations to which the hepatocytes are exposed. Thus, in this work, a dose-response study was carried out to investigate the in vitro cytotoxic effect of major unconjugated and tauro- (T) or glyco- (G) conjugated bile acids and to compare this as regards their ability to inhibit DNA synthesis. Viability of hepatocytes in primary culture was measured by Neutral red uptake and formazan formation after 6 h exposure of cells to bile acids. The rate of DNA synthesis was determined by radiolabeled thymidine incorporation into DNA. Incubation of hepatocytes with different bile acid species - cholic acid (CA), deoxycholic acid (DCA), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), in the range of 10-1000 mu M - revealed that toxicity was stronger for the unconjugated forms of CDCA and DCA than for CA and UDCA. Conjugation markedly reduced the effects of bile acids on cell viability. By contrast, the ability to inhibit radiolabeled thymidine incorporation into DNA was only slightly lower for taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA) and glycodeoxycholic acid (GDCA) than for DCA. When the effect of these bile acids on DNA synthesis and cell viability was compared, a clear dissociation was observed. Radiolabeled thymidine incorporation into DNA was significantly decreased (-50%) at TDCA concentrations at which cell viability was not affected. Lack of a cause-effect relationship between both processes was further supported by the fact that well-known hepatoprotective compounds, such as tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) and S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) failed to prevent the effect of bile acids on DNA synthesis. In summary, our results indicate that bile acid-induced reduction of DNA synthesis does not require previous decreases in hepatocyte viability. This suggests the existence of a high sensitivity to bile acids of cellular mechanisms that may affect the rate of DNA repair and/or proliferation, which is of particular interest regarding the role of bile acids in the etiology of certain types of cancer. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.