Effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on morphologic features and marker production of human cervical argyrophil small-cell carcinoma cell line.
The effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dB-cAMP) on the morphologic features and marker production of a human cervical argyrophil small-cell carcinoma (ASCC) cell line was examined. Following 1-5 days' exposure to 5 mM dB-cAMP, morphologic differentiation as defined by the expression of cytoplasmic processes (stellate cells) was observed. The number of stellate cells depended on the dose of dB-cAMP and incubation time. Shortly after removal of dB-cAMP from the culture medium, the treated cells returned to their original spherical shape. dB-cAMP caused a reduction in the growth rate of cells which recovered after removal of the agent. The morphological changes appeared not to be the result of growth inhibition by dB-cAMP, because the cells maintained in a serum-free medium did not show any change in shape. Electron microscopic study revealed the development of intracytoplasmic microtubules, microfilaments, and an increase in the number of neurosecretory granules in the treated cells. The levels of neuron-specific enolase, serotonin and gastrin in treated cells were significantly higher than those in untreated controls. These findings indicate that a reversible differentiation of cultured ASCC cells into neuroendocrine cells occurs in a growth medium containing dB-cAMP.
Shimizu
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Sawada
M
M
Tohyama
M
M
Takemura
K
K
Akedo
H
H
Ichimura
H
H
Ueda
G
G
Tanizawa
O
O
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003994:Bucladesine