title: In vitro activation of distinct molecular and cellular phenotypes after induction of differentiation in a human neuroblastoma cell line.
abstract: In this report we provide evidence for the activation of distinct differentiation pathways during treatment of the neuroblastoma cell line SMS-KCNR with 1 mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) and/or 5 microM retinoic acid (RA). Our results show that the adrenal gland specific gene pG2 is induced only during dbcAMP treatment, while RA induces a neuronal phenotype and expression of all neural related genes while decreasing the expression of many chromaffin related genes. Furthermore dbcAMP does not affect the DNA content distribution of SMS-KCNR [G1 = 61.8 +/- 4.1% (SD); S = 20.3 +/- 6.3%; G2-M = 18 +/- 5.4%] despite morphological and molecular signs of cellular differentiation. Conversely, RA arrests cell growth causing a decrease in cells in the growth fraction (S + G2 + M = 15.6 +/- 6.1%) and an increase in cells in G1 (G1 = 84.3 +/- 5%). Using cyclic AMP and RA in combination, we found that RA inhibited expression of adrenal gland specific gene pG2 and induced a neuronal phenotype. Since dbcAMP does not cause a significant G1 block in SMS-KCNR cells we propose that this agent may be able to induce SMS-KCNR only to an intermediate stage of chromaffin differentiation in which cells retain their proliferative potential.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Genetics Section, NIH-National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaetano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Thiele
mesh_terms: D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D016161:Genes, Retinoblastoma / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D016196:S Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D014212:Tretinoin; D003994:Bucladesine