Adaptation of ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells to energy deprivation in vivo can be associated with heat shock protein accumulation

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Abstract
Tumor adaptation to chronic energy starvation in vivo was studied on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. EAC cells were isolated from mice and incubated in a glucose‐free medium containing blocators of mitochondrial ATP generation (rotenone, 2,4‐dinitrophenol, or oligomycin). ATP level in the treated cells decreased to 3–4% of the initial during 30 min of the incubation. The aggregation of cytoskeletal proteins, blebbing, and necrotic death within 2–3 h were observed in ATP‐depleted EAC which were isolated and treated in the exponential phase of growth (5 days after inoculation), whereas stationary EAC (8 days after inoculation) were considerably more resistant to ATP depletion, and actin aggregation as well as bleb formation were suppressed in these cells despite the ATP loss. In contrast to the exponentially growing cells, thermotolerance and unexpected expression of inducible HSP68 and HSP27 as well as an elevated level of HSP90 were found in stationary EAC. Since the stationary cells had decreased content of ATP, ATP/ADP ratio, and energy charge, we suggest that this energy dysbalance may be conducive to HSP induction within the ascites tumor in vivo, and, at the same time, EAC cells with elevated content of HSPs acquire resistance to chronic energy starvation occurring in late stages of the tumor growth. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss Inc.