Effects of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate upon glycoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen synthesis and release by human colon cancer cells.

The role of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in the regulation of the synthesis and release of glycoproteins and of carcinoembryonic antigen by colon cancer cells was studied using LS174T cells in vitro. Adenylate cyclase and cAMP phosphodiesterase activities were assessed by measuring cellular cAMP in response to forskolin and cholera toxin (adenylate cyclase activators) and to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor). Each agent increased cAMP levels significantly. Dibutyryl-cAMP (1 mM) stimulated glycoprotein synthesis and release when [3H]fucose was used as a precursor. The synthesis and release of carcinoembryonic antigen, a membrane-associated glycoprotein antigen, was also significantly increased by these test agents. A close dose-response relationship existed for forskolin and for cholera toxin between cAMP generation and carcinoembryonic antigen release. cAMP may play a role in regulating the synthesis and release of glycoprotein antigens by colon cancer cells.