Hexamethylene bisacetamide induces morphologic changes and increased synthesis of procollagen in cell line from glioblastoma multiforme.

Addition to hexamethylene bisacetamide (diacetyldiaminohexane) to cultures of a malignant mesenchymal cell line derived from a human glioblastoma multiforme induces morphological changes and stimulates the synthesis of procollagen. The morphological changes include cell elongation, an increase of extracellular material with staining properties of collagen by light microscopy, and an increase in extracellular 220-A fibrils by electron microscopy. The rate of procollagen synthesis increased as much as 20-fold, and the ratio of type I:type III procollagen changed, with type I becoming the predominant form. The change in type I:type III ratio is similar to that seen in the maturation of normal fetal to adult connective tissue.