Polysulfide promotes neuroblastoma cell differentiation by accelerating calcium influx.

Polysulfides are a typical type of bound sulfur, which is physiologically stable form of sulfur species, derived from the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) that is generated endogenously in cells. We previously reported that bound sulfur protects neuronal cells from oxidative injury. In the present study, we demonstrated that polysulfides inhibited cell growth and promoted neurite outgrowth in mouse neuroblastoma Neuro2A (N2A) cells. However, Na2S showed no effect on neurite outgrowth in N2A cells. Furthermore, 2-APB and SKF96365, which are typical transient receptor potential (TRP) channel inhibitors, suppressed the neurite outgrowth induced by Na2S4. These new findings suggest that bound sulfur could induce neurite outgrowth and cell differentiation of N2A cells by accelerating calcium influx.