Sodium nitroprusside inhibits proliferation and putrescine synthesis in human colon carcinoma cells

In human colon carcinoma HT-29 Glc(-/+) cells, L-arginine is the common precursor of polyamines which are absolutely necessary for cellular proliferation and nitric oxide (NO) with reported anti-proliferative activity. The aim of the present work was to test the effect of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on polyamine synthesis and cellular growth in HT-29 cells. SNP in the micromolar range inhibits cellular putrescine synthesis and this effect is greatly reversed by haemoglobin, supporting the view that the effect of SNP is related to the generation of NO. This corresponds to the inhibition by SNP of ornithine decarboxylase activity. Furthermore, SNP inhibits cellular proliferation. The effect of SNP is reversed by haemoglobin after 2 days of treatment but not after 4 days. Although no acute toxic effect of SNP was detected after 90 min incubation, it greatly enhanced the cellular death rate after several days in culture as estimated by the LDH leakage test. In conclusion, our data raise the possibility of an inhibitory interrelationship between NO and polyamine metabolic pathways. NO induced inhibition of putrescine synthesis and growth in HT-29 cells is discussed from a causal perspective.