title: Differential effects of sodium butyrate and dimethylsulfoxide on gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase activities in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
abstract: Sodium butyrate and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), two known chemical inducers of cell differentiation, were examined on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Both agents reduce the proliferative capacity of MCF-7 cells, as reflected by inhibition of colony formation in semisolid agar. Sodium butyrate is shown to enhance markedly the activity of two plasma membrane-bound enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. DMSO does not enhance the activity of these enzymes, but rather induces a small decrease in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity. The present results show that although both agents inhibit cell proliferation, they have a distinct effect on phenotypic expression.
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D002087:Butyrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020148:Butyric Acid; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002087:Butyrates; D020148:Butyric Acid; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide