12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate-induced differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells is not accompanied by an increase in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP.

Cultured human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells could be induced to differentiate morphologically and biochemically followed by growth inhibition, by treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The cells showed a limited differentiation when treated with substances known to increase the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP. When these substances were combined with TPA, morphological differentiation and growth inhibition of the cells were potentiated. In contrast, these substances inhibited the TPA-induced increase in noradrenaline concentration and the relative activity of neuron-specific enolase. Both the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP and the cytosolic level of cyclic AMP-binding components were similar in control and TPA-treated cells. It is suggested that cyclic AMP has a limited and non-regulatory role in the initiation of differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells. The effect of cyclic AMP is probably coupled mainly to the polymerization of microtubules, thus enhancing the morphological differentiation of the cells.