title: Consequences of aberrant ornithine decarboxylase regulation in rat hepatoma cells.
abstract: DH23A cells, an alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO)-resistant variant of rat hepatoma tissue culture cells (HTC), contain high levels of very stable ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). In the absence of DFMO, the high ODC activity results in a large accumulation of endogenous putrescine. Concomitant with the putrescine increase is a period of cytostasis and a subsequent loss of viable cells. In contrast, HTC cells with a moderate polyamine content can be maintained in exponential growth. This suggests that a moderate polyamine concentration is necessary for both optimal cell growth and survival. The cytotoxicity observed in the DH23A cells is apparently not due to byproducts of polyamine oxidation or alterations in steady state intracellular pH or free [Ca2+]. It is possible to mimic the effects of high levels of stable ODC by treatment of cells with exogenous putrescine in the presence of DFMO. This suggests that overaccumulation of putrescine is the causative agent in the observed cytotoxicity, although the mechanism is unclear. These data support the hypothesis that downregulation of ODC may be necessary to prevent accumulation of cytotoxic concentrations of the polyamines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85724.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Tome
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Fiser
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Gerner
mesh_terms: D006631:Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing); D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011073:Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism; D011700:Putrescine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D011073:Polyamines; D006631:Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing); D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase; D002118:Calcium; D011700:Putrescine