Effect of tumor-conditioned medium on intercellular communication and proliferation of Balb/c 3T3 cells

• Published in: Cancer letters 2000-04, Vol.151 (1), p.57-61
• Main Authors: TOTH, L, PASTI, G, SARVARY, A, BALAZS, M, ADANY, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3T3 Cells; Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Balb/c 3T3 cells; Biological and medical sciences; Bromodeoxyuridine; Cell Communication - physiology; Cell cycle, cell proliferation; Cell Division - physiology; Cell physiology; Cell proliferation; Colonic Neoplasms; Culture Media, Conditioned; Fluorescent Dyes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gap Junctions - physiology; Humans; Intercellular communication; Isoquinolines; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Molecular and cellular biology; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor-conditioned medium; WiDr cells
• ISSN: 0304-3835; 1872-7980
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3835(99)00403-6

The possible role of tumor cell-derived factors in the regulation of gap junctional intercellular communication and proliferation of fibroblasts was studied in a model system of Balb/c 3T3 cells growing in tumor conditioned medium by Lucifer Yellow CH dye-transfer and BrdU incorporation assays. Six to 24 h incubation of Balb/c 3T3 cells in a medium conditioned by WiDr adenocarcinoma cells enhanced the gap junctional communication between the cells by 25–40% as revealed by intercellular transfer of a fluorescent dye Lucifer Yellow CH. Simultaneously the cell proliferation rates were examined and found to be reduced by 23% at 24 h treatment. Since adenocarcinoma cells are known to secrete different growth factor-like polypeptides into their conditioned medium, we suppose that tumors that produce these molecules might alter their host environment through the enhancement of cell-cell communication thereby facilitating the exchange of modulatory factors.