Ketone-body metabolism in glioma and neuroblastoma cells.

We have examined the metabolism of ketone bodies in neuroblastoma C1300 and glioma C6 cells, two established lines of neural origin. The three ketone body-metabolizing enzymes are present in cells of both lines in the relative proportions normally found in brain (D-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase less than acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase less than 3-ketoacid CoA-transferase), the activities of the first two are higher in glioma cells than in neuroblastoma, and that of the third is 2-fold higher in neuroblastoma cells than in glioma cells. The specific activity of 3-ketoacid CoA-transferase (EC 2.8.3.5) in both cell lines increased as the cultures achieved confluence, then decreased. Ketone bodies and especially acetoacetate are preferred substrates for synthesis of neural lipids in cells of both lines. The incorporation of glucose carbon into lipids is significantly reduced in cells of both lines in the presence of ketone bodies. Addition of acetoacetate but not DL-3-hydroxybutyrate to the culture medium resulted in a significant increase in the activity of 3-ketoacid CoA-transferase and also in the rate of acetoacetate oxidation in neuroblastoma cells but not glioma cells. These findings indicate that specific differences exist in the capacity of these two cell lines to metabolize ketone bodies and also that substrate-level regulation of the ketone body-metabolizing pathway exists. These two lines therefore provide a potentially useful system in which the mechanisms of regulation of these enzymes may be examined.