Differentiation of BCS-TC2 human colon adenocarcinoma cells by sodium butyrate: increase in 5'-nucleotidase activity.

We have analysed the major effects of sodium butyrate on the morphology, protein content and induction of epithelial differentiation markers in human colon adenocarcinoma BCS-TC2 cells. Sodium butyrate alters the cell morphology, inducing a larger cellular size, flattening and vacuolization. The protein content per cell increases, whereas the proliferation rate is reduced. Moreover, cell death by apoptosis is also observed. Butyrate-treated cells show higher levels of alkaline phosphatase activity and carcinoembryonic antigen, suggesting that this agent induces the in vitro differentiation of BCS-TC2 cells. These effects are reversible and time and dose dependent. In addition, we have observed that the ectoenzyme 5'-nucleotidase activity also increases during this treatment, suggesting that it could be considered as a new differentiation marker for this type of carcinoma cells. These results contribute to the understanding of the action of sodium butyrate as a potential cancer chemotherapeutic agent.