Comparison of the expression and activity of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase 2 between primary cultured hepatocytes and hepatoma cells in rats

OBJECTIVE: To compare the expression and activity of phosphatidyl-ethanolamine N-methyltransferase 2 (PEMT(2)) between the primary cultured hepatocytes and CBRH7919 hepatoma cells in rats. METHODS: The expression and activity of PEMT(2) were demonstrated by immunochemistry, Western immunoblotting and [(3)H-CH(3)] SAM incorporation. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to investigate the DNA content of the cells. RESULTS: PEMT(2) expression and activity were higher in the primary cultured hepatocytes than in hepatoma cells. Cell cycle analysis showed that the proportion of the hepatocytes was higher in G(1) phase and lower in S phase in the primary cultured hepatocytes than hepatoma cell lines. CONCLUSION: There is an intimate relationship between the expression of PEMT(2) and the proliferation of hepatocytes.