Dimethyl sulphoxide induces a reduced growth rate, altered cell morphology and increased epidermal-growth-factor binding in Hep G2 cells.

Culture of Hep G2 cells in medium containing 2% (v/v) dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) resulted in a slowing of growth and a marked change in morphological appearance. By day 6, cultures containing DMSO had one-third the number of cells compared with parallel control cultures. Measurement of 125I-epidermal-growth-factor (EGF) binding to DMSO-treated cells revealed a striking time-dependent elevation in specific EGF binding to their cell surface. Increased binding was detectable within 24 h of the start of DMSO treatment, reaching, by 6 days, levels almost 25 times greater than those for control cells. Addition of EGF to DMSO-treated cells caused a rapid down-regulation of the EGF receptor, but did not alter their proliferation rate. Slowing of growth by other means, such as serum starvation, growth to confluence or culture in the presence of sodium butyrate, did not affect 125I-EGF binding, indicating a specific effect of DMSO on these cells.