alpha-Difluoromethylornithine alters calcium signaling in platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated A172 brain tumor cells in culture.

alpha-Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversible inhibitor of the polyamine biosynthetic enzyme ornithine decarboxylase, inhibits the growth of brain tumor cell lines and is undergoing clinical trials as a treatment for brain tumors. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is thought to regulate the growth and development of precursors of both normal and neoplastic astrocytic cells; calcium signaling is thought to play a role in the transduction of PDGF signals. Using laser fluorescence image cytometry, flow cytometry, and spectrofluorometry, we studied the effect of DFMO on the calcium signals induced by PDGF in A172 human glioblastoma cells. Four days of treatment with 5 mM DFMO substantially shortened PDGF-induced calcium signals. The effect was reversed more than 10 h but less than 24 h after putrescine treatment, even though polyamines were repleted 4 h after putrescine and spermidine were added. DFMO did not substantially affect intracellular calcium release or the timing of the opening and closing of plasma membrane calcium channels. These findings support the notion that calcium signaling may be a target for inhibitors of polyamine metabolism.