title: Differential effects of ferritin, calcium, zinc, and gallic acid on in vitro proliferation of human glioblastoma cells and normal astrocytes.
abstract: In vitro, when using low concentrations of ferritin (ng/ml) or CaCl2 (micrograms/ml), multiplication of a human, 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU)-resistant glioblastoma cell line (U251) is enhanced 1.5 to 2 times more actively than multiplication of a normal astrocyte line (CRL 1656). Ferritin and Ca2+ ions exhibit a marked effect on DNA isolated from these cells: glioblastoma DNA relaxation is strongly increased (as evidenced by increased 260 nm ultraviolet absorbance), being from 5 to 6 times that of astrocyte DNA, which remains only slightly affected. Under identical experimental conditions, Zn2+ and gallium ions selectively inhibit glioblastoma cell multiplication but at the same concentrations do not inhibit astrocyte multiplication. Ultraviolet absorbance measurements demonstrate that both of these agents condense relaxed glioblastoma DNA in vitro. Zn2+ or gallium ions added to culture medium containing stimulatory concentrations of ferritin or Ca2+ ions selectively and strongly inhibit enhancement of glioblastoma cell multiplication by these mitogens while not affecting normal multiplication of astrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Centre Oncologique et Biologique de Recherche Appliquée, St. Prim, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beljanski
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crochet
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects*; D005293:Ferritins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D008934:Mitogens; D005707:Gallic Acid; D005293:Ferritins; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium