Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol 13, Issue 3 298-303, Copyright © 1994 by American College of Nutrition

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Modification of the expression of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-induced differentiated functions in neuroblastoma cells by beta-carotene and D-alpha-tocopheryl succinate

K. N. Prasad, S. Kentroti, J. Edwards-Prasad, A. Vernadakis, M. Imam, E. Carvalho and S. Kumar
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262-0276.

OBJECTIVE: The role of beta-carotene and vitamin E in modifying the effect of cell differentiating agent has not been studied. This study has investigated the effects of beta-carotene and d-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (alpha-TS) on adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) induced differentiated functions in murine neuroblastoma cells (NBP2) in culture. METHODS: Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), a stimulator of adenylate cyclase, and 4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxy-benzyl)-2-imidazolidinone (R020-1724), an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, were used to induce differentiation in NB cells. RESULTS: Both beta-carotene and alpha-TS markedly enhanced the level of morphologic differentiation (neurite formation) induced by both PGE1 and R020-1724. However, beta-carotene and alpha-TS by themselves were ineffective. These vitamins increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity. However, beta-carotene did not significantly affect PGE1- and R020-1724-stimulated rise in TH activity. alpha-TS at a higher concentration inhibited PGE1- and R020-1724-stimulated increase in TH activity. None of the above treatments affected basal choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity. beta-carotene and alpha-TS caused a transient increase in cAMP level, and they also enhanced the effect of PGE1 and R020-1724 on cAMP level in a transient manner. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that beta-carotene and alpha-TS modify the effects of cAMP stimulating agents on differentiation of NB cells in culture.

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