Hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells as a model for investigating the effects of low concentrations of herbicide on cell structure and function

Liver represents a suitable model for monitoringthe eVects of a diet, due to its key role in controlling thewhole metabolism. Although no direct evidence has beenreported so far that genetically modiWed (GM) food mayaVect health, previous studies on hepatocytes from youngfemale mice fed on GM soybean demonstrated nuclearmodiWcations involving transcription and splicing pathways.In this study, the eVects of this diet were studied onliver of old female mice in order to elucidate possible interferencewith ageing. The morpho-functional characteristicsof the liver of 24-month-old mice, fed from weaning oncontrol or GM soybean, were investigated by combining aproteomic approach with ultrastructural, morphometricaland immunoelectron microscopical analyses. Several proteinsbelonging to hepatocyte metabolism, stress response,calcium signalling and mitochondria were diVerentiallyexpressed in GM-fed mice, indicating a more markedexpression of senescence markers in comparison to controls.Moreover, hepatocytes of GM-fed mice showed mitochondrialand nuclear modiWcations indicative of reducedmetabolic rate. This study demonstrates that GM soybeanintake can inXuence some liver features during ageing and,although the mechanisms remain unknown, underlines theimportance to investigate the long-term consequences ofGM-diets and the potential synergistic eVects with ageing,xenobiotics and/or stress conditions.