ETHANOL ENHANCES THE STIMULATORY EFFECTS OF INSULIN AND INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR-I ON DNA-SYNTHESIS IN NIH 3T3 FIBROBLASTS

In practically all in vitro experimental systems examined so far, incl uding embryonal fibroblasts, ethanol was shown to inhibit cell growth. Here we report that in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, (patho)physiologically re levant concentrations (50-100 mM) of ethanol significantly (2- to 2.8- fold) enhanced the stimulatory effects of both insulin and insulin-lik e growth factor-1 on DNA synthesis. Ethanol had no major effects on th e mitogenic effects of platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast grow th factor and lyso-phosphatidic acid. These data suggest that ethanol is not a universal inhibitor of cell growth. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.