[Effects of TNF on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and their modification by hyperthermia]

Firstly, using HCC cell lines, the effects of r-h TNF were investigated. The authors had already confirmed that these cell lines were derived from human HCC. Each cell line showed a different growth curve on addition of TNF to the culture medium. JHH-4 exhibited enhancement of growth under the optimum concentration of TNF. On the other hand, growth of JHH-5 and JHH-7 was inhibited by TNF. JHH-7 were more sensitive to TNF than JHH-5, however, the direct effect of TNF on JHH-7 was not potent, as 10(4) u/ml TNF could not prevent proliferation of JHH-7. Morphological examinations were also performed. Phase-contrast microscopy showed that the JHH-4 cells were enlarged and tended to pile up after the addition of TNF to the culture medium. JHH-7 cells became detached from the culture dish due to cell death. Electron microscopy showed irregular proliferation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum of JHH-4 cells and increased number of lysosomes in JHH-7 cells. Furthermore, hyperthermia exhibited an interesting reciprocal action. Proliferation of JHH-4 was inhibited by low concentrations of TNF together with 41.4 degrees C hyperthermia in contrast to the effects of TNF alone. JHH-7 became more sensitive to TNF under hyperthermia at 41.4 degrees C. On the other hand, normal human fibroblast 'HAIN-55' were not affected by TNF at 37.0 degrees C, 41.4 degrees C or 42.5 degrees C. In this paper, the authors tried to study the effects of TNF and hyperthermia on human HCC cell lines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)