Changes in Phosphoglycerides and Their Acyl Group Profiles of Glioma Cells Due to Butyrate Treatment

Abstract

Butyrate treatment of F98 clonal glioma cell line is known to induce cell differentiation and result in expression of new phenotypes (Ko & Koestner, J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 65(5): 1017–1027, 1980). In this experiment, the phospholipids and their acyl group profiles of cells grown in the presence and absence of butyrate (2.5 mM) were compared. The phospholipids in F98 glioma cells resembled those in tumors and contained an unusually high proportion of phosphatidylcholine in plasmalogen form (PCpl). Practically no cerebroside was observed. Butyrate treatment resulted in an increase in PC and phosphatidylinositols (PI) and a decrease in PCpl. PC in these glioma cells are comprised mainly of 16:0 and 18:1. Butyrate treatment resulted in a decrease in 16:0 and an increase in 18:1. PE of the glioma cells are enriched in 16:0, 18:0 and 18:1, and butyrate treatment resulted in a decrease in 16:1 and 20:4 but an increase in 18:0. The PCpl in glioma cells have an unusually high level of 16:0 and this fatty acid decreased upon butyrate treatment. The PI in glioma cells are practically devoid of 20:4 but upon butyrate treatment, there was a marked increase in this fatty acid. The PS in glioma cells are high in 18:0 and 18:1, and upon butyrate treatment, there was a decrease in 18:0 and an increase in 18:1. These results indicate that butyrate treatment has induced changes in phospholipids and their acyl group profiles towards a more differentiated state similar to those occuring during early brain development. (Supported in part by Chinese National Science Council and The Ching-Ling Foundation.)