Cholera toxin stimulates division of 3T3 cells

Abstract

Cholera toxin was used in an attempt to inhibit epidermal growth factor stimulated 3T3 cell division. Instead, cholera toxin alone at low concentrations (10⁻¹⁰ M), was able to stimulate cell division and could augment EGF stimulated cell division. The mitogenic effect of cholera toxin can occur despite a dramatic increase in the intracellular levels of cAMP in 3T3 cells. Cholera toxin stimulated mitogenesis could not be mimicked by choleragenoid, the binding but inactive subunit of cholera toxin, or by other agents which elevate cAMP levels in 3T3 cells.