Glucocorticoid and developmental regulation of amylase mRNAs in mouse liver cells

We characterized alpha-amylase expression in the hepatoma cell line Hepa 1-6 and in normal mouse liver. Both Amy-1 and Amy-2 were expressed in Hepa 1-6 and were regulated by glucocorticoids. Transcription in the hepatoma cells was initiated at the same start sites as in mouse tissues. Glucocorticoid treatment increased the abundance of Amy-1 and Amy-2 transcripts by 10 to 20-fold. This increase was detected within 4 h and was maximal by 24 h. The pattern of amylase expression in this hepatoma cell line accurately reflects amylase expression in the liver in vivo. During liver development, we observed a large increase in the abundance of Amy-1 transcripts just before birth, at a time when circulating glucocorticoids are also elevated. Adult mouse liver expressed Amy-1 and Amy-2 at levels comparable to those of fully induced hepatoma cells. Liver is thus a likely source of both amylase isozymes in mouse serum. These studies demonstrate that Amy-2 expression is not limited to the pancreas but also occurs at a low level in liver cells.