THE HEP G2 CELL-LINE AS A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO ISOLATED HEPATOCYTES IN CYTO-TOXICITY STUDIES

The hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride (CC14) was evaluated in vitro in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes and in the human hepatoma cell line, Hep G2. Toxicity was assessed by the leakage of cytosolic enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase) and cell viability (trypan blue exclusion). The established human cells were less sensitive to CCl4-induced injury; higher doses of the toxic agent and longer incubation times were necessary to elicit cell damage. Micromolar concentrations of prostaglandin E2 significantly decreased enzyme leakage in both Hep G2 cells and rat hepatocytes challenged with CC14; a stable derivative of prostacyclin (ZK 36374) was ineffective. These results suggest that human hepatoma Hep G2 cells may represent a valid alternative to isolated rat hepatocytes for an initial approach to the in vitro evaluation of cell toxicity.