Effect Of Sodium Butyrate On Growth, Differentiation, And Apoptosis Of Human Glioma Cell Line SHG-44

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of sodium butyrate, which is the most important short chain fatty acids, on growth suppression, cellular differentiation, and apoptosis of SHG-44 glioma cell line.METHODS: Human glioma SHG-44 cells were treated with several concentrations sodium butyrate in vitro. The morphologic changes were observed by inverted microscope and transmission electron microscope. The inhibition of cell growth was assessed by MTT spectrophotometric analysis, AgNORs analysis, and cell phase distribution analysis. The cellular differentiation was determined by immunohistochemistry method and agglutination test. And mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Δψm) was detected by rhodamine 123 dyeing, which confirmed that SHG-44 cells were suffered a mitochondrial path apoptosis.RESULTS: Sodium butyrate treatment resulted in significant inhibition of cell growth in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner, with AgNORs and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression weakened and G1-S transition impeded. The SHG-44 cell differentiation was induced by sodium butyrate at 2 mmol/L concentration, with nucleus regularized and heterochromatin increased, the mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum increased in density in normal state. Furthermore, SHG-44 cells expressed more GFAP but less vimentin, and the agglutination degree was decreased obviously. Moreover, 4 mmol/L sodium butyrate could induce the SHG-44 cells apoptosis. It was proved that cellular membrane shrunk, vacuoles existed in plasm, and apoptosis bodies occurred by morphologic observation. In addition, the Δψm was decreased in apoptosis cells after 4 mmol/L sodium butyrate treatment.CONCLUSION: These results indicate, in malignant glioma SHG-44 cells, sodium butyrate could not only suppress cell growth, but also induce differentiation and apoptosis.