Antiproliferative effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on human glioblastoma cells linked with cell cycle arrest in G1 phase.

The effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) on proliferation and cell cycle alterations in human malignant glioma cell lines, SF-188 and LN-382, were investigated by flow cytometry with the bromodeoxyuridine-propidium iodide dual staining technique. Low concentrations of TNF (1-100 U/ml) suppressed the growth of SF-188 assessed by cell count, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, and thymidine incorporation assay, but not that of LN-382. After TNF treatment, the percentage of SF-188 cells in the G0/G1 phase increased, while the percentage of cells in the S phase decreased. LN-382 cells did not show any marked change in cell kinetics. TNF arrests certain human glioma cells in the G0/G1 phase resulting in reduction of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in the subsequent S phase, suppressing the proliferation pathway.