EFFECT OF ADENOSINE 3', 5'-MONOPHOSPHATE ON GROWTH AND SEVERAL FUNCTIONS OF CULTURED MASTOCYTOMA P-815 CELLS

Growth-inhibited mouse mastocytoma P-815 cells at stationary phase contained more histamine, serotonin and adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP), and higher activities of histidine decarboxylase and adenylate cyclase than the cells during exponential growth. The elevation of endogenous cAMP levels induced by several growth-inhibiting agents such as N6, O2'-dibutyryl cAMP (Bt2cAMP), prostaglandin E1, AMP and 2-chloroadenosine stimulated several functions characteristic of mastocytoma P-815 cells in culture, elevating the synthesis of histamine and serotonin, the activity of chymotrypsin-like protease, and the incorporation of [35S] sulfate into acidic glycosaminoglycans. 1-Methyl-3-isobutyl-xanthine (MIX), a potent inhibitor of cAMP phosphodiesterase, potentiated stimulatory effect of these agents. The results indicate that cAMP regulates the growth and functions of mastocytoma P-815 cells. [35S]-Sulfated acidic glycosaminoglycans synthesized in cells at stationary phase or in cells treated with Bt2cAMP plus MIX mainly localized in the 3000-10000×g sedimentable fraction of cell homogenates, and had a molecular weight of 200000 to 400000 based on gel filtration. This acidic glycosaminoglycan was resistant to condroitinase ABC and the heparindegrading enzyme present in the 20000×g sedimentable fraction of the cells, and was identified as a highly sulfated macromolecular heparin based on behaviors on DEAE-cellulose column and on acidic electrophoresis. Cycloheximide suppressed the stimulatory effect of Bt2cAMP on the synthesis of histamine and [35S]-sulfated acidic glycosaminoglycan.