Glucose Metabolic Flux of Four Liver (Hepatoma) Cell Lines

Objective To analyze glucose metabolic flux and related gene expression of human normal liver cells (HL-7702) ,hepatoma cell lines with different metastasis degree (SMMC-7721,HCCLM3) and hepatic portal vein tumor thrombus cell line CSQT2.

Methods Stable isotope ¹³C labeled glucose and glutamine were used as the nutrient source. Label assay and enzymes activity assay were employed to analyze glucose metabolic activity and flux of the four cell lines.

Results MTT and Transwell assay confirmed the proliferation and migration abilities were increased successively in HL-7702,SMMC-7721,HCCLM3 and CSQT2 cells. Label assay and enzyme activity assay showed that metabolic activity in glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle(TCA cycle) was successively increased in the four cells,mainly reflected by the increase of glucose consumption and lactate production,as well as metabolic flux and ratio of glucose metabolism in hepatoma cell lines compared with normal liver cells,and reached the highest level in CSQT2 cell line.

Conclusion  The metabolic pathway of glycolysis and TCA cycle is activated as malignant and metastasis degrees are increased in liver cancer cell lines. Metabolic flux analysis may help to diagnose the development and metastasis of liver cancer.