title: Subcellular accumulation of beta-carotene and retinoids in growth-inhibited NCI-H69 small cell lung cancer cells.
abstract: Delivery of beta-carotene in tetrahydrofuran slowed the growth of NCI-H69 small cell lung cancer cells. Analysis of cells and cellular fractions revealed that beta-carotene-treated cells accumulated beta-carotene as well as some polar metabolites, primarily in the crude nuclei. Cells were grown at 1 x 10(5) cells/ml and treated with 20 microM beta-carotene. Growth monitoring up to 15 days indicated an inverse relationship between the duration of beta-carotene treatment and the rate of cell growth. Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of treated cells showed the presence of beta-carotene, retinoic acid, retinol, and retinal, with beta-carotene accounting for the major material recovered. When cellular fractions were analyzed for beta-carotene, it was found to be located primarily in the crude nuclei. These results demonstrate that treatment of small cell lung cancer cells with beta-carotene results in a reduced growth of the cells. Further investigation is required to show a direct effect of beta-carotene or its intracellular polar metabolites on these cells. Accumulation of beta-carotene in the nucleus suggests a need for evaluating the nuclear role for beta-carotene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Gerber
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012172:Retinaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014212:Tretinoin; D012172:Retinaldehyde