Abstract:
The cellular transport of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) intermediates are
mediated mainly by sodium-dicarboxylate cotransporters (NaDCs), which can be
classified into the low-affinity (NaDC-1), high-affinity (NaDC-3) and sodium-citrate
(NaCT) transporters based on its substrate affinity. These transporters are expressed in
the epithelial cells of kidneys, intestine, liver, bronchiole alveolar, epididymis,
placenta, brain and pancreas. Since the transport pathways for these intermediates in
liver cells are not well characterized, the present study examined the transport of
succinate and citrate in the human epithelial hepatoma cell lines, Hep G2 and Huh-7
and other human epithelial cell lines, T-84, U-87 MG, HuCCA-1 and MCF-7. This
study found the expression of succinate and citrate transporters, human NaDC-3
(hNaDC-3) and hNaCT transcripts in Hep G2 and only hNaCT transcript found in
Huh-7. Hep G2 cells exhibited a higher rate of succinate compared to citrate transport,
which was sodium dependent. Citrate transport was predominant in Huh-7 cells where
approximately half of it was sodium-dependent. Comparison of the transport
properties between Hep G2, Huh-7 cells and of human retinal pigment epithelial
(HRPE) cells transfected with human sodium dicarboxylate transporters, hNaDC-1,
hNaDC-3, and hNaCT indicated that Hep G2 cells express a combination of hNaDC-3
and hNaCT, while Huh-7 cells express hNaCT and unknown sodium/citrate
transporter(s). Due to its abundance, the regulation of hNaDC-3 by PKC and PKA
were evaluated. Short period activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol 12-
myristate, 13-acetate (PMA) and α–adrenergic receptor agonist, phenylephrine (PE),
downregulated sodium-dependent succinate transport presumably via hNaDC-3. The
inhibition by PMA was partially prevented by cytochalasin D, suggesting that PKC
reduces the hNaDC-3 activity, at least in part, by increased endocytosis. In contrast,
activation of PKA by both forskolin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) had no effect
on succinate transport. This study suggested that Hep G2 cells provide a useful model
for studies of di- and tricarboxylate regulation of human liver.