Serum protease inhibitors promote anchorage-independent growth of transformed cells in serum-free medium.
The effect of three serum serine protease inhibitors on the serum-free agar growth of an SV40-transformed 3T3 cell line was investigated. Antithrombin III, alpha-2-macroglobulin and alpha-1-antitrypsin were found to potently stimulate colony growth in a semisolid medium because of their anti-proteolytic properties. These results indicate that protease inhibitors can facilitate tumor cell growth in serum-free agar cultures and suggest that the stimulatory effect of serum on the growth of certain transformed cells in agar may at least partially be due to the high levels of protease inhibitors found in serum.
Chen
J K
JK
Dept. of Physiology, Chang Gung Medical College, Kweisan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
D016475:3T3 Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed / Q000187:drug effects*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000494:pharmacology
D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D000990:Antithrombin III