Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41155323›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

Development and Application of a CAFLUX HepG2 Reporter Cell Line for Real-Time Monitoring of AhR-Mediated CYP1A1 Gene Expression in Response to Environmental Toxicants and Bioactive Modulators.

Huyen Thi La, Hanh Hong Hoang, Phuc Minh Thi Le, Linh Thuy Nguyen, Da Thi Nguyen, Van Hanh Nguyen, Tam Minh Thi Ha, Long Hoang Nguyen, Dat Tien Nguyen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Huyen Thi LaInstitute of Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.
Hanh Hong HoangInstitute of Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.
Phuc Minh Thi LeInstitute of Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.ORCID 0000-0001-7078-7345
Linh Thuy NguyenInstitute of Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.
Da Thi NguyenInstitute of Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.
Van Hanh NguyenFaculty of Agricultural Technology, VNU University of Engineering and Technology, 144 Xuan Thuy, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.
Tam Minh Thi HaFaculty of Early Childhood Education, HaNoi Pedagogical University 2, 32 Nguyen Van Linh, Xuan Hoa 290000, Vietnam.
Long Hoang NguyenInstitute for Advanced Study in Technology, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam.
Dat Tien NguyenCenter for High Technology Research and Development, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam.

Funding

Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology TĐTBG0.04/21-23 and CSCL08.03/24-25
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study reports the construction and validation of a CAFLUX (Chemically Activated Fluorescent Expression) HepG2 reporter cell line engineered to express a histone H2B-green fluorescent protein (H2B-GFP) fusion protein under the control of a dioxin-responsive cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) promoter. A lentiviral construct containing a synthetic promoter with multiple dioxin-responsive elements (DREs) upstream of the H2B-EGFP coding sequence was cloned into the pFUGW vector, packaged in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293FT cells, and used to transduce HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Stable clones obtained by limiting dilution were screened for GFP expression in response to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). The resulting CAFLUX HepG2 cells exhibited dose-dependent nuclear GFP fluorescence when exposed to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists, with limits of detection of approximately 0.01 pM for TCDD and 0.1 pM for benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). This reporter activity correlated with endogenous CYP1A1 mRNA expression as determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), confirming that GFP signals reflected native transcriptional responses. In functional assays, curcumin suppressed GFP expression in a concentration-dependent manner and induced apoptotic morphology at higher doses, while extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) significantly reduced both GFP fluorescence and CYP1A1 mRNA levels, suggesting an inhibitory effect on AhR-driven transcription. The CAFLUX HepG2 reporter system therefore provides a sensitive and reproducible platform for real-time, nuclear-localized monitoring of AhR-mediated gene expression. Its responsiveness to both agonists and antagonists underscores its potential utility in toxicological evaluation, drug discovery, and the investigation of EV-mediated signaling in liver cancer models.

Indexed as

Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1Environmental PollutantsReceptors, Aryl HydrocarbonBasic Helix-Loop-Helix ProteinsBenzo(a)pyreneGenes, ReporterGreen Fluorescent ProteinsHEK293 CellsHep G2 CellsHistonesHumansPolychlorinated DibenzodioxinsPromoter Regions, GeneticAHR protein, humanBasic Helix-Loop-Helix ProteinsBenzo(a)pyreneCYP1A1 protein, humanCytochrome P-450 CYP1A1Environmental PollutantsGreen Fluorescent ProteinsHistonesPolychlorinated DibenzodioxinsReceptors, Aryl HydrocarbonAhR signalingbenzo[a]pyreneCAFLUXcurcuminCYP1A1extracellular vesiclesHepG2reporter gene assayTCDDtoxicogenomics

Identifiers

PMID41155323
PMCPMC12564245

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.