Morphology and proliferation of B16 melanoma cells in the presence of lanthanoid and Al3+ ions.

The effects of trivalent metal ions such as lanthanoid (La3+, Ce3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, Gd3+, Er3+, Yb3+, Lu3+) and Al3+ ions on the morphological change and proliferation of B16 melanoma cells in culture are discussed. These metal ions induced morphological transformations and decreased growth rates at doses of 1 mM. B16 melanoma cells treated with La3+, Ce3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, and Gd3+ showed polyhedrical spreading. Elongation of axones was dependent on the metal ions. B16 melanoma cells treated with Er3+, Yb3+, Lu3+, and Al3+ showed a long slender shape. Growth rates of melanoma cells in the presence of 1 mM of metal ions (La3+, Ce3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, Gd3+, Yb3+, Al3+) were significantly lower than that of control cells. Measurements of cell cycle indicated that the metal ions arrested the transitions from G0/G1 to S state.