Heparin effect on DNA synthesis in a murine fibrosarcoma cell line: influence of anionic density

The effects of heparin subfractions on DNA synthesis in a murine cutaneous fibrosarcoma cell line were examined. Porcine mucosal heparin was preparatively fractionated for anionic charge density by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography and for molecular weight by Sephadex G-100 filtration. The cell line was plated from confluent monolayer cultures and grown in medium and fetal bovine serum, with or without a heparin fraction at a final concentration of 10 micrograms/ml. At intervals thereafter, the cells were pulsed with [3H]thymidine. A low-charge density heparin fraction stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation (cpm/mg protein and cpm/cell) during the first 3 days of growth compared to control values without added heparin, whereas a high-charge density heparin fraction had little of this effect (186 +/- 35% of control vs. 101 +/- 14%, respectively; P less than .05). The augmentation of DNA synthesis observed with the low-charge density fraction correlated with increased proportions of cells in S and G2 phases compared with those of the controls, as determined by flow cytofluorometry. Low- and high-molecular-weight heparin fractions did not significantly alter DNA synthesis. Heparin subfractions are thus heterogeneous with respect to their effect on cellular DNA synthesis in this tumor line.