Enhanced transglutaminase activity in transformed human lung fibroblast cells after exposure to sodium butyrate

The low level of transglutaminase activity in virus-transformed human embryonic lung fibroblasts (WI-38 VA13A) increased markedly when cells were exposed to sodium butyrate. The effect of sodium butyrate was time- and concentration-dependent and fully reversible. Transformed cells exposed for 5 days to 1 mM sodium butyrate had fewer cells, showed an 8-10 fold higher transglutaminase activity, and stained more abundantly for transglutaminase and pericellular fibronectin than control cells when examined by indirect immunofluorescence. Non-transformed cells (WI-38) showed only a 2-4-fold increase in transglutaminase activity when treated in a similar manner. Studies with metabolic inhibitors revealed the increase in activity was the result of synthesis of new protein. Kinetic studies showed the affinity of putrescine for the enzyme was essentially unchanged but the number of active sites increased 9-fold following exposure to sodium butyrate. Enhanced transglutaminase activity returned to control levels within 7 days after subculture and sodium butyrate removal. These findings suggest that sodium butyrate offers a potential model system to understand better the role of transglutaminase in cells in culture; particularly growth control in transformed cells.