Chemical control of growth and morphological characteristics of anaplastic glioma cells.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) and glia maturation factor (GMF) reverse some of the transformed characteristics of T9 glioma cells (Marushige et al., Cancer Res 47: 4109-4115, 1987). As an attempt to define the mechanisms of such actions, various chemical agents which modulate second messenger systems were examined for their effects on growth and morphological characteristics of these cells. Administration of bromo-cAMP, forskolin and methylisobutylxanthine retarded cell growth and induced formation of long, branching processes which were similar to those induced by GMF. Perturbation of Ca2(+)-mediated processes by a Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin, and by calmodulin antagonists, chlorpromazine and W-7, on the other hand, arrested cell growth, and caused clustering of cells, spreading of the cytoplasm and development of lamellipodium-like protrusions which were reminiscent of the effects of NGF. Administration of bromo-cAMP in combination with chlorpromazine, W-7 or ionomycin prevented spreading of the cytoplasm and produced compact cell bodies with well-developed processes. The results of this study demonstrate that modulation of specific second messenger systems by chemical agents are capable of simulating selective morphological changes inducible by NGF and GMF.