Growth inhibition of anaplastic glioma cells by nerve growth factor.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) inhibited cellular DNA synthesis of rat T9 anaplastic glioma cells in a dose-dependent manner in the range of 0.5-5 micrograms/ml. Oxidation of 2 to 3 tryptophan residues of NGF, which had been known to destroy biological and immunological activity, greatly diminished its inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis. The inhibition was also abolished by anti-NGF IgG. Flow cytometric analyses and immunocytochemical assays of DNA synthesis using bromodeoxyuridine incorporation at various times during cell exposure to NGF revealed that the growth inhibition was attributable to gradual accumulation of growth-arrested cells at the G1 phase. Synthesis of nuclear regulatory proteins JUN and p53 was inhibited preferentially and progressively by NGF as inhibition of DNA synthesis increased.