The cytolytic effect of L-2,4 diaminobutyric acid with malignant glioma cells and fibroblasts.

L-2,4-Diaminobutyric acid (DABA), an amino acid analogue, produced a cytolytic effect with a human glioma cell line, SKMG-1, and normal human fibroblasts. The concentrations of DABA necessary to reduce the cell count to 50% of control (LD50) following a 24-h incubation at 37 degrees C were 12.5 mM for the human fibroblasts and 20 mM for the glioma cell line. The concentrations of DABA necessary to produce an LD50 after a 48-h incubation at 37 degrees C were 10 mM for the human fibroblasts and 14 mM for the human glioma cell line. The cytolytic effect of DABA was similar in the absence or the presence of serum with the human glioma cell line. The cytolytic effect of 20 mM DABA was partially prevented by the presence of 5 mM methyl-AIB. DABA was not preferentially toxic to this human glioma cell line compared with normal fibroblasts.