Low concentration of Cr(VI) inhibited proliferation and self-renewal of hepatic stem/progenitor cells by suppressing Wnt signaling activity

Jin Lifang, Zhu Congcong, Shen

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of low concentration of Cr(VI) on proliferation and self-renewal of hepatic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) and their possible mechanism of action. WB-F344 cells, a rat-derived multipotent HSPCs line, were cultured with various doses of Cr(VI) for 24 hours or 30 days. The results showed that low concentration of Cr(VI) inhibited proliferation and self-renewal of WB-F344 cells, in which cell colony formation efficiency and colony diameter were significantly decreased in a concentration dependent manner. Microarray and qPCR results revealed that the expression of several genes belonging to Wnt signaling were downregulated. Consistent with gene expression analysis, treatment of WB-F344 cells with Cr(VI) resulted in reduction of transcriptional activator b-catenin, together with its translocation from nucleus into cytoplasm. Our finding suggested that low concentration Cr(VI) inhibited proliferation and self-renewal activity of WB-F344 cells by suppressing Wnt signaling activity.