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Butyric acid suppression of the in vitro neoplastic state of Syrian hamster cells

Nature volume 271, pages 262–265 (1978)Cite this article

Abstract

BUTYRIC acid has been shown to induce morphological and biochemical differentiation in a variety of cells in culture1–8. Although the mechanism of action of this short chain fatty acid remains to be understood, changes induced toy butyric acid have included: (1) growth inhibition and morphological alterations in HeLa cells, Chinese hamster ovary cells, and neuroblastoma cells2–4; (2) increases in tyrosine hydroxylase activity and adenylate cyclase activity in neuroblastoma cells1,5; (3) induction of erythroid differentiation in erythroleukaemic cells6; and (4) induction of functional β-adrenergic receptors in HeLa cells7,8. We reasoned that the induction of these differentiated functions might be associated with a concomitant suppression of neoiplastic properties. Therefore, we have investigated the effects of butyric acid on the aberrant morphology, anchorage-independent growth, and enhanced fibrinolytic activity of a highly tumorigenic Syrian hamster fibroblast cell line, BP6T (refs 9, 10). We have found that butyric acid causes reversible, specific suppression of each of these altered in vitro properties frequently associated with neoplasia. This system could be of value for the investigation of the mechanism of the cellular control of the neoplastic state.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and the Division of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205

    JOHN LEAVITT, J. CARL BARRETT, BRIAN D. CRAWFORD & PAUL O. P. TS'O

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  1. JOHN LEAVITT
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  3. BRIAN D. CRAWFORD
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  4. PAUL O. P. TS'O
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LEAVITT, J., BARRETT, J., CRAWFORD, B. et al. Butyric acid suppression of the in vitro neoplastic state of Syrian hamster cells. Nature 271, 262–265 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/271262a0

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