Interaction of Calcium Ions and Camp on the Cytotoxic Effect of Doxorubicin

Abstract

Doxorubicin tested at the concentration of 1–2 × 10−7 M inhibited the cloning efficiency of MS2T cells following 22 and 48 h exposure in complete medium. In the same experimental conditions the [3H]thymidine incorporation was practically unaffected. The inhibitory effect of doxorubicin on cloning efficiency appeared to be directly related with the serum concentration. In fact, this effect became more marked when the cloning efficiency was stimulated by increasing serum concentration in the cultural medium. However, this effect did not seem to be Ca2+dependent. Similarly doxorubicin displayed a strong inhibitory effect, when the proliferative activity was stimulated by an optimal combination of cAMP and low Ca2+. On the contrary the inhibitory effect of doxorubicin was markedly reduced when the Ca2+ concentration reached the physiological value. These results confirm the direct correlation of the killing effect of doxorubicin with proliferative activity of the cells.