title: G(1) Phase growth arrest and induction of p21(Waf1/Cip1/Sdi1) in IB3-1 cells treated with 4-sodium phenylbutyrate.
abstract: 4-Sodium phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) has been used for many years in the treatment of urea cycle defects and has recently been studied as a chemotherapeutic agent for certain malignancies. 4-PBA has been shown to cause growth arrest, cellular differentiation, and apoptosis in certain malignant cells. Recently, it was shown that IB3-1 cells (a cystic fibrosis cell line, Delta508/W128X) treated with 4-PBA demonstrated a partial correction of the cystic fibrosis chloride channel defect. We were interested in evaluating the effect of 4-PBA on cell growth and cell cycle regulation in IB3-1 cells treated with 2 to 10 mM concentrations. We found that cells treated with 2 mM concentrations of 4-PBA for 96 h underwent a significant decrease in cell growth (P <.007). Using flow cytometry, we were able to demonstrate that growth arrest occurred at the G(1) phase of the cell cycle. This was detected as early as 24 h in IB3-1 cells treated with 5 mM 4-PBA (P <.03). Furthermore, the percentage of IB3-1 cells with less than a 2N DNA content increased with higher concentrations of 4-PBA, although this was not associated with an increase in apoptosis. Finally, p21(Waf1/Cip1/Sdi1) protein levels were induced in IB3-1 cells receiving 2 and 5 mM concentrations of 4-PBA as early as 24 h of exposure, suggesting that G(1) phase growth arrest in IB3-1 cells treated with 4-PBA is regulated through the p21(Waf1/Cip1/Sdi1) pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Eudowood Division of Pediatric Respiratory Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287-2533, USA. smorrow@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McGrath-Morrow
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Stahl
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D010654:Phenylbutyrates / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D010654:Phenylbutyrates; C075773:4-phenylbutyric acid