[DMSO induced differentiation of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line MGC 80-3]

The in vitro effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on MGC 80-3 cells were studied by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and biochemical methods. The results indicated that the inhibitory effects of DMSO on the growth of MGC 80-3 cells was concentration dependent and 1.5% DMSO was suitable in the present study. The growth rate, mitotic index, colony forming efficiency and Con A-aggregation of the cells treated with 1.5% DMSO in vitro for 7 days was reduced respectively by 35.15%, 18/1000, 90% and 55.8%. It was remarkable that the activity of membrane-associated alkaline phosphatase, which is not presented in normal human gastric mucosa, was decreased by 90% in the treated cells. There was a 75% decrease of the rate of tumorigenesis in the treated cells as compared with the tumorigenic rate of the untreated MGC 80-3 cells inoculated into nude mice. Gross morphological changes of MGC 80-3 cells treated with 1.5% DMSO were evident including enlargement and flatness of the cells, stumpy microvillies instead of long and rigid ones, and extremely well-developed Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum. This data indicated that DMSO was able to induce differentiation of MGC 80-3 cells and change their malignant phenotypes.