Effect of sodium butyrate and other differentiation inducers on poorly differentiated human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell lines

We have studied the effects of sodium butyrate, retinoic acid, and dimethyl sulfoxide on two human ovarian carcinoma cell lines PE04 and PE01. PE04 cells, after treatment with sodium butyrate at cytostatic doses (2-3 mM for 4 days), exhibited phenotypic changes including induction of alkaline phosphatase and determinants recognized by the monoclonal antibodies 123C3 and 123A8. These effects are not simply the result of cytostasis as they were not produced by dimethyl sulfoxide or retinoic acid. Other markers are also modified by sodium butyrate including lipid, acid mucin, and glycogen. Retinoic acid modulated expression of lipid and CA125, while dimethyl sulfoxide reduced expression of CA125. Other short chain fatty acids such as propionic acid and valeric acid (in addition to butyric acid) also induced alkaline phosphatase and the determinants recognized by 123C3 and 123A8 in PE04 cells. Other differentiation inducers and cytotoxic agents studied did not induce these markers at cytostatic concentrations. The effects of sodium butyrate (and related short chain fatty acids) thus appear to be relatively specific for this cell line.     

Modulation of placental alkaline phosphatase activity and cytokeratins in human HN-1 cells by butyrate, retinoic acid, catecholamines and histamine

The effects of butyrate and retinoic acid in combination with catecholamines or histamine on the HN-1 human head and neck squamous carcinoma cell line were investigated analysing cell proliferation, placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) activity, and relative cytokeratin content. Butyrate inhibited cell proliferation in agar, whereas retinoic acid induced a small inhibitory effect. Butyrate enhanced PLAP activity in a time related manner in contrast to retinoic acid, which had no significant effect. However, retinoic acid inhibited the efficacy of butyrate to induce PLAP activity. A synergistic enhancement of PLAP activity was demonstrated after treatment of butyrate pretreated cells with catecholamines or histamine. The beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol partly inhibited the aforementioned enhancement of PLAP activity, whereas the alpha-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine further enhanced PLAP activity. Indirect labeling of keratins with a polyclonal antibody showed that cytokeratin content was enhanced by butyrate but not by retinoic acid. Further analysis of cytokeratin content using four monoclonal antibodies showed that labeling of cytokeratins (5 + 8) was increased by butyrate. PLAP activity could be modulated by a concerted action of either butyrate plus retinoic acid or butyrate plus catecholamines or histamine, indicating a possible role for PLAP in tumour cell proliferation.     

Characterization of the placental alkaline phosphatase-like (Nagao) isozyme on the surface of A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells

A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells monophenotypically express the placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP)-like enzyme shown by its catalytic and antigenic characteristics, properties which are shared by the Nagao isozyme. More specifically, it is L-leucine sensitive just as is the rare placental D-variant of PLAP and the testicular heat-stable enzyme. Collectively, these are all referred to as PLAP-like enzymes. The enzyme was localized to the surface of the plasma membrane since it was released in an active form by bromelain treatment of cells. The number of molecules per A431 cell was estimated by radioimmunoassay at 7.5 X 10(5), a value significantly higher than that observed for HeLa TCRC-1 cells (5 X 10(4) which express the S-variant of PLAP, also referred to as the Regan isozyme. The quantity of the enzyme was increased significantly (10-fold) by treating the cells with modulating agents including sodium butyrate, prednisolone, and hyperosmolar sodium chloride. The identification of a cell line such as A431 with enhanced expression in the amount of the PLAP-like enzyme and which can be further enhanced by modulating agents will facilitate studies of the differences and the similarities between this protein and other variants of PLAP. The A431 cell line now takes its place with other cell lines which are phenotypically restricted in their expression of alkaline phosphatase. Finally, the A431 cell line is also shown here to be a suitable model system for in vivo tumor studies such as immunolocalization.     

Alkaline phosphatase isozymes in human testicular germ cell tumors, their precancerous stage, and three related cell lines

The four known isozymes of the human alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were detected by isoelectric focusing in extracts of various types of germ cell tumors, three related cell lines, and their precancerous elements (atypical germ cells). In seminoma, placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and germ cell alkaline phosphatase (PLAP-like) could be separated by isoelectric focusing following isolation by immunoaffinity. The occurrence of both isozymes in seminoma could explain partial heat sensitivity and variation in electrophoretic patterns of the seminoma isozyme frequently observed upon starch gels, in comparison to the normal placental phenotype. The four ALP isozymes are produced not only in germ cell tumors, but already in precancerous tissues. Quantitative analysis showed that the amount of the four isozymes varies in parallel in the tumors tested. Maximal expression was found in seminoma. The relation between ALP gene overexpression and gene amplification by polyploidy of chromosomes 1 and 2 in these lesions is discussed. On the other hand, the ectopic expression of intestinal alkaline phosphatase and PLAP associated with overexpression of PLAP-like in tumor cells as well as in their precancerous stage indicates gene activation by some unknown mechanisms, probably a regulatory process affecting the three tissue-specific ALP genes simultaneously.     

Effect of growth and sodium butyrate on brush border membrane-associated hydrolases in human colorectal cancer cell lines

The activities of brush border membrane-associated hydrolases such as alkaline phosphatase (Alkpase), aminopeptidase, dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV (DAP-IV), sucrase, lactase, and trehalase were studied in 14 different human colorectal cancer cell lines. The effect of sodium butyrate, a known differentiating agent, and cell growth on the activities of these enzymes was also examined. All 14 cell lines exhibited brush border membrane enzyme activities, and in general, the activity of Alkpase, aminopeptidase, and DAP-IV was much higher than the disaccharidases. However, the specific enzyme activities varied among different cell lines. The induction of Alkpase activity by sodium butyrate occurred in most of the 14 cell lines (2- to 123-fold), while induction of the other enzyme activities was observed in several (1.5- to 3.5-fold). In some instances, butyrate caused a decrease in enzyme activity. There was no statistically significant correlation between the induction of Alkpase activity and that of other enzyme activities by sodium butyrate. Levels of aminopeptidase and DAP-IV activity were found to be dependent on cell density and increased 3- to 4-fold by the tenth day in most of the cell lines. Sodium butyrate altered the subcellular distribution pattern of the disaccharidases, causing a significant increase in activity associated with the soluble (cytoplasmic) fraction. Other enzymes such as Alkpase and DAP-IV continued to be predominantly associated with the membrane fraction in butyrate-treated cells. These data suggest that brush border membrane hydrolase activity and the effect of sodium butyrate may provide useful information regarding the differentiation of human colorectal cancer cells.     

Heterogeneous transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta unresponsiveness and loss of TGF-beta receptor type II expression caused by histone deacetylation in lung cancer cell lines.

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta strongly inhibits epithelial cell proliferation. Alterations of TGF-beta signaling are thought to play a role in tumorigenesis. We show in the present study that most lung cancer cell lines have lost the growth-inhibitory response to TGF-beta signal, and that those with TGF-beta unresponsiveness can be divided into two major groups, TGF-beta type II receptor (TGFbetaRII)(+)/Smad7(+) and TGFbetaRII(-)/Smad7(-), suggesting the heterogeneous mechanisms underlying the TGF-beta responsiveness. The mechanism of the loss of TGFbetaRII expression of the latter group was further studied, identifying aberrant DNA methylation of the promoter region in a limited fraction of cell lines. Interestingly, we found that the alteration of chromatin structure because of histone deacetylation may also be involved, showing a good correlation with loss of TGFbetaRII expression. This notion was supported by the findings of a restriction enzyme accessibility assay, of a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay with anti-acetyl histone antibodies, and of an in vivo induction of TGFbetaRII expression by histone deacetylase inhibitors including trichostatin A (TSA) and sodium butyrate. In vitro induction of TGFbetaRII promoter reporter activity by TSA was also detected and found to require the CCAAT box within the -127/-75 region. A positive regulatory mechanism for TGFbetaRII expression in a TGF-beta-expressing cell line was also investigated, and a TPA-responsive element (TRE)-like motif, TRE2, was detected in addition to the previously reported TRE-like motif Y element in the positive regulatory region. Alterations in two discrete proteins interacting with these two TRE-like motifs were also suspected of being involved in the loss of TGFbetaRII expression. This is the first study to demonstrate that, in addition to the TSA-responsive region and TRE2 motif in the TGFbetaRII promoter, the alteration of histone deacetylation may be involved in the loss of TGFbetaRII expression in lung cancer cell lines.     

Cytochemical comparison of immunologically characterized human leukaemia/lymphoma cell lines representing different levels of maturation

Forty-seven human leukaemia/lymphoma cell lines belonging to myelocytic, monocytic, non-T/non-B, T-, and B-lineage and representing different levels of maturation as well as fresh cells from normal and leukaemic subjects were examined for immunological markers and cytochemically for acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (pH 5.8 and 8.0), alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase (pH 5.8 and 8.0), non-specific esterase, chloroacetate esterase, chymotrypsin-like protease, deoxyribonuclease II, beta-glucuronidase, sudan black, and periodic acid Schiff's staining. Strong sudan black, nonspecific esterase, and chloroacetate esterase reaction was obtained only for myelocytic and monocytic cell lines with the reaction intensity increasing progressively in more mature cells. Focal acid phosphatase reaction like T-ALL was found in all T-ALL cell lines, whereas myeloid/monocytoid lines had semicircular distribution and B-cell lines cytoplasmic distribution of activity. Acid phosphatase activity appeared to decline with maturation along both myeloid and T-cell lineage. High activity of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase and alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase both at pH 5.8 and 8.0 and of beta-glucuronidase was found in myeloid/monocytoid lines although both B- and T-cell lines in contrast to peripheral blood B-cells also had significant esterase activity. alpha-Naphthyl butyrate esterase activity declined with increasing cell maturation along myeloid lineage. Except for weak activity in two B-cell lines alkaline phosphatase was not detected in any cell lines. Monocyte esterase activity was inhibited by sodium fluoride whereas acid phosphatase, only from hairy cell leukaemia line, was resistant to L-tartarate. Although periodic acid Schiff's staining could not distinguish myeloid, T-, B-, or non-T/non-B cell lines it gave characteristic reaction (large number of coarse granules against a clear background forming a ring around the nucleus) with erythroblastic leukaemia cell line and along myeloid series its intensity increased in more mature cells. Deoxyribonuclease II and chymotrypsin-like protease staining were not discriminatory. The results of this study show that cytochemical staining characteristics of various leukaemia/lymphoma cell lines are comparable to those of corresponding cells from patients and that the intensity and pattern of expression of these activities are related to cell type and degree of cell maturation. These studies give further credence to the use of these cell lines in cell differentiation, differential drug cytotoxicity, and many other studies.     

Production of placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and PLAP-like material by epithelial germ cell and non-germ cell tumours in vitro.

Placental and placental-like alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) levels in the culture media of 87 cell lines of neoplastic and ''normal'' origin were measured by a conventional immunosorbent enzymatic assay (IAEA) and by a new immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). The IRMA detected immunoreactive PLAP in 37 of 80 (46%) human epithelial and germ cell cultures, while the IAEA detected PLAP in only 25 (33%). Of the 52 non-germ cell tumour cultures, the IRMA detected expression in 24 (46%) and the IAEA in only 16 (31%). In 17 cases (21%) the IRMA recorded levels double that of the IAEA, while in five cultures (6%) the reverse was true. The IRMA was much more robust than the IAEA and had considerably lower inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation (3.75-8.5% vs 5.2-46%). Detection of PLAP(-like) expression by IAEA is dependent on neoplastic expression of enzymatically functional molecules and quantification assumes constant enzyme kinetics. PLAP-like material has a higher catalytic rate constant than PLAP and thus will give higher values on a stoichiometric basis in an IAEA. The higher detection rate and levels of PLAP-like material in neoplastic cultures when measured by the IRMA clearly demonstrate ectopic expression of non-enzymatic PLAP and PLAP-like genes. The incidence of PLAP(-like) expression by non-germ cell and possible germ cell tumours has been underestimated and its utility as a tumour marker should be re-examined using assays which measure antigen mass rather than phosphatase activity.     

Sodium butyrate enhances the activities of membranal enzymes and increases drug sensitivity in a cell line from ascitic fluid of an ovarian carcinoma patient

The effect of sodium butyrate was examined on the growth and phenotypic expression of a cell line derived from the ascitic fluid of an untreated patient with ovarian carcinoma. The chemical inducer of differentiation, sodium butyrate, markedly enhances the activity of the membrane-bound glycoprotein enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase. The alkaline phosphatase corresponds to placental Regan type. Sodium butyrate (1 mM) alone has only a small inhibitory effect on cell growth. However, it was shown to potentiate the anti-proliferative effect of Adriamycin^® and to render the cells sensitive to cis-platinum.     

Placental-like alkaline phosphatase. Re-evaluation of the tumor marker with exclusion of smokers

This report demonstrates that smoking is a major factor of nonspecific elevation of the tumor marker placental-like alkaline phosphatase (PLAP). In 98 healthy nonsmokers the mean of the enzyme activity was determined as 0.068 U/L (range, +/- 2 SD 0-0.144 U/L) compared to a mean of 0.378 U/L (range, +/- 2 SD 0-1.02 U/L) in 65 smokers. In view of this finding the usefulness of PLAP as a tumor marker was re-evaluated in 286 patients with various neoplasms and a negative smoking history. Of these patients, 23% and 50% had elevated values for PLAP and carcinoembryonic antigen, respectively. When compared to the range of PLAP in normal smokers only 4.1% of the patients showed elevated values. An increased incidence of elevated PLAP was found in patients with tumors of the lung, pancreas, stomach, colon/rectum, ovaries, and in 2 of 3 seminomas. It was concluded from the data that PLAP is a useful tumor marker for selected neoplasms provided its use is confined to nonsmokers.     

Levels of alkaline phosphatase isozymes in human seminoma tissue

The three human isozymes of alkaline phosphatases were quantitatively determined in normal testis and seminoma tissues. The highly selective assays were based on isozyme specific monoclonal antibodies. In the normal testis approximately 90% of the catalytic activity originates from the tissue unspecific alkaline phosphatase, and the remaining activity was due to trace expression of both intestinal (approximately 5%) and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) or PLAP-like isozyme (approximately 5%). In homogenates of seminoma tissues, highly increased levels of all three isozymes were identified. Both the tissue unspecific alkaline phosphatase and PLAP-like enzymes displayed relative increases of 10- to 100-fold and intestinal alkaline phosphatase 2- to 10-fold compared with normal testis. This finding indicates that the entire genome coding for alkaline phosphatases may be activated in seminomas. The PLAP-like enzyme from seminoma cells comprises a heterogenous population of molecules demonstrating partial heat sensitivity and microheterogeneity upon starch gel electrophoresis in contrast to the pregnancy related PLAP. These findings have implications for the different PLAP assays used in the clinical monitoring of seminoma patients.     

Biochemical and ultrastructural alterations accompany the anti-proliferative effect of butyrate on melanoma cells

The effect of sodium butyrate on mouse and human melanoma cell lines was evaluated. Sodium butyrate (0.1-2mM) is shown to reduce the clonogenic potential of several melanoma cell lines. The antiproliferative effect of sodium butyrate is accompanied by a marked increase in the activity of the plasma-membrane bound enzyme gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Sodium butyrate treated cells acquire a well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and accumulate fat droplets. The development of the endoplasmic reticulum is associated with a marked increase in the activity of the enzyme marker NADPH cytochrome c reductase. It is suggested that the phenotypic alterations induced by sodium butyrate may serve as markers for the action of this agent on melanoma cells and other tumours.     

Response of HT115, a highly invasive human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line, to sodium butyrate treatment and glucose deprivation

Sodium butyrate or glucose deprivation induce a more differentiated phenotype in many cancer cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether the induction effect of butyrate and/or glucose deprivation is dependent, in some way, on the differentiation state of individual cell lines. Sodium butyrate enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity and induced formation of an ultrastructurally more differentiated phenotype in both HT29 and HT115 cell lines. Interestingly, the more invasive HT115 cells responded more strongly to butyrate treatment. On the other hand, the differentiation effect of glucose deprivation was much less prominent in the HT115 cell line in comparison with HT29 cells. Our data confirm the influence of the malignant potential of the cells on their response to treatment with differentiation and apoptosis-inducing agents. Butyrate treatment also enhanced the adhesiveness of HT115 cells. Since E-cadherin was not found in these cells, while the level of CEACAM1 was increased, it is obvious that the CEACAM1 molecules are involved in HT115 cell-cell adhesion.