title: Lithium-stimulated proliferation and alteration of phosphoinositide metabolites in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.
abstract: Lithium, which is used to treat bipolar psychiatric disorders, can stimulate proliferation of a number of cells in tissue culture. Proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, which also respond to EGF and estrogens, was stimulated by LiCl (1-5 mM) within the concentration range that is encountered during human therapy with lithium. Stimulation of growth was specific for lithium; rubidium, potassium, and sodium showed no such effect. In the presence of antiestrogen, lithium stimulated the growth of hormone-dependent breast cancer cells MCF-7, ZR-75-1, and T47D but not hormone-independent MDA-MB-231 cells or an estrogen-independent clone of MCF-7 cells. Lithium-stimulated proliferation was limited by cytotoxicity which could be moderated by added potassium chloride (5-20 mM) in the medium. Each of the mitogens lithium, 17 beta-estradiol, and EGF increased the rate of uptake of myo-inositol into MCF-7 cells. Whether normalized to inositol lipids, to protein, or to DNA, steady-state levels of inositol phosphates were elevated by each of the mitogens including lithium, which inhibits the breakdown of inositol phosphates in the phosphoinositide signaling pathway. These data indicate that therapeutic concentrations of lithium can stimulate the proliferation of human breast cancer cells by a mechanism that may involve the phosphoinositide pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia 65211, USA.
authors.forename: W V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Welshons
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Engler
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Grady
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Curran
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007294:Inositol / Q000378:metabolism; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D008934:Mitogens; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols; D007294:Inositol; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D008094:Lithium