Figure 1
Toxicity of B[a]P in differentiated HepaRG cells is favored by steatosis and ethanol co-exposure. (a) Phase contrast microscopy of non-steatotic cells (−FA) and steatotic cells (+FA) after 2 and 16 days of incubation with a mixture of stearic acid and oleic acid. (b) Cellular triglyceride content in non-steatotic (−FA) and steatotic (+FA) cells after 16 days of FA overload. (c) mRNA levels of APOA4 in non-steatotic (−FA) and steatotic (+FA) cells after 16 days of FA overload. (d) Cell viability determined by the MTT test in non-steatotic (−FA) and steatotic (+FA) cells exposed for 14 days to 0, 25 and 50 mM ethanol and a large range of B[a]P concentrations. (e) Corresponding B[a]P EC10 values in non-steatotic (-FA) and steatotic (+FA) cells exposed to 0, 25 and 50 mM ethanol. (f,g) Cell viability assessed by cellular ATP levels and corresponding B[a]P EC10 in non-steatotic (−FA) and steatotic (+FA) cells exposed for 14 days to 0, 25 and 50 mM ethanol and a large range of B[a]P concentrations. Results are means ± SEM for at least three independent cultures. (b,c) #Significantly different from non-steatotic (−FA) cells. (e,g) #Significantly different from non-steatotic cells; *Significantly different from non-steatotic HepaRG cells treated by the same concentration of ethanol; aSignificantly different from steatotic HepaRG cells not treated by ethanol.
