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PubMed1989

Autocrine induction of major histocompatibility complex class I antigen expression results from induction of beta interferon in oncogene-transformed BALB/c-3T3 cells.

By varying growth conditions, we identified a novel mechanism of autocrine regulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I gene expression by induction of beta interferon gene expression in transformed BALB/c-3T3 cells. Low-serum conditions enhanced MHC class I antigen expression in v-rasKi- and v-mos-transformed BALB/c-3T3 cells but not in untransformed BALB/c-3T3 cells. Transformed and untransformed cells grown under standard serum conditions (10% bovine calf serum) expressed similar cell surface levels of MHC class I antigens. However, low-serum conditions (0.5% bovine calf serum) induced four- to ninefold increases in cell surface levels of MHC class I antigens in both v-rasKi- and v-mos-transformed cells but not in untransformed cells. These increases in MHC class I gene expression were seen at both the mRNA and cell surface protein levels and involved not only the heavy-chain component of the class I antigens but also beta 2 microglobulin. Beta 1 interferon mRNA and beta interferon-inducible 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase mRNA were induced by growth under low-serum conditions in transformed BALB/c-3T3 cells, and antibodies to beta interferon blocked the induction of MHC class I antigen expression by serum deprivation in these cells. These results demonstrate that growth under low-serum conditions leads to induction of beta interferon expression in oncogene-transformed cells which then directly mediates autocrine enhancement of MHC class I gene expression.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗

PubMed1984

Growth of kidney epithelial cells in culture: evidence for autocrine control.

The factors that stimulate kidney growth in K+-deficient animals are unknown. Cultures of renal epithelial cells (BSC-1 line) were used to study this phenomenon because their growth is accelerated in medium containing a reduced K+ concentration. We tested the hypothesis that growth induced by low-K+ medium is mediated by factors produced by the cells; i.e., is subject to autocrine control. Low-K+ (3.2 mM) or control (5.4 mM) medium was conditioned by placing it on confluent cultures of BSC-1 cells for 1 h and was then collected. The K+ concentration of the low-K+ conditioned medium was then adjusted to the control value by addition of KCl. This conditioned medium stimulated growth of fresh cultures of cells to the same extent as did unconditioned low-K+ medium. The appearance of growth-promoting activity was maximal at a K+ concentration of 3.2 mM during conditioning of the medium. Low-K+ conditioned medium, corrected to a K+ concentration of 5.4 mM, required 6 h to commit cells to enhanced proliferation. Growth-stimulating activity in low-K+ conditioned medium was antagonized by a purified growth inhibitor produced by the cells. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that autocrine products with opposite effects on growth can regulate proliferation of renal epithelial cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

ANG II- or AVP-induced increases in protein synthesis are not dependent on autocrine secretion of PDGF-AA.

Previous studies have demonstrated that angiotensin II (ANG II) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) stimulate increased protein synthesis and cellular hypertrophy in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC). The aim of this study was to explore the hypothesis that ANG II- and/or AVP-induced increases in protein synthesis are mediated by autocrine secretion of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AA. Results demonstrated that ANG II or AVP increased expression of PDGF-A, but not -B, chain mRNA. Additionally, conditioned media from ANG II- and AVP-treated SMC had increased mitogenic activity for Swiss 3T3 cells, which could be inhibited with a neutralizing antibody to PDGF-AA. However, PDGF-AA-neutralizing antibodies did not inhibit ANG II- or AVP-induced increases in protein synthesis, and exogenous PDGF-AA did not stimulate increased protein synthesis. Furthermore, no PDGF-alpha receptors were evident based on 125I-labeled PDGF-AA binding studies. In summary, results indicate that ANG II- or AVP-induced increases in protein synthesis were not dependent on autocrine secretion of PDGF-AA.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMed1993

Autocrine control of wound repair by insulin-like growth factor I in cultured endothelial cells.

The repair process of the vascular endothelium is modulated by growth factors from both endogenous (within the vessel wall) and exogenous (blood borne) sources. We utilized a tissue culture model of endothelial wounding to gain further insight into the potential autocrine control of proliferation during wound repair. Cultured porcine aortic endothelial monolayers were mechanically wounded by passing a 7-mm sterile glass rod over the surface of the culture. Proliferation at the wound edge was quantified using [3H]thymidine autoradiography. In wounded cultures incubated in media supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, 81 +/- 2% of the nuclei at the wound edge were labeled. When the cultures were incubated in serum-free media, proliferation at the wound edge was only slightly diminished with 65 +/- 3% (P < 0.05) of the cells labeled. These findings raise the possibility that there is a significant contribution from autocrine growth factors to endothelial wound repair. To evaluate the potential role of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in the wound repair process, we used a radioimmunoassay to measure IGF-I secretion. Wounded cultures exhibited a 187 +/- 58% increase in IGF-I production when compared with nonwounded cultures (P < 0.05). To determine the extent to which endogenous IGF-I mediates the proliferative response of endothelial cell monolayers to wounding, wounded cultures were incubated with inactivating concentrations of IGF-I antibody. When IGF-I antibody was present in the culture media, only 26 +/- 3% of the nuclei at the wound edge were labeled with [3H]thymidine (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Thrombin-induced mitogenesis of vascular SMC is partially mediated by autocrine production of PDGF-AA.

Previous studies have shown that alpha-thrombin (Thr) is a mitogen for cultured smooth muscle cells (SMC), but controversy exists concerning mechanisms of growth stimulation. The purpose of these studies was to determine whether autocrine production of platelet-derived growth factor-AA (PDGF-AA) mediated Thr-induced SMC mitogenesis. SMC derived from aortae of Sprague-Dawley rats were grown to confluence, growth arrested in serum-free medium, and treated. Conditioned medium (CM) was harvested by adding bovine serum albumin as a carrier and hirudin to neutralize residual Thr. Results demonstrated that CM from Thr-treated SMC (Thr CM) had increased mitogenic activity compared with control CM (Cnt CM) and that PDGF-AA levels were increased 12-fold in Thr CM compared with Cnt CM. The excess mitogenic activity in Thr CM was markedly inhibited by PDGF-AA-neutralizing antibodies. Cotreatment with Thr and PDGF-AA-neutralizing antibodies resulted in a 30% decrease in Thr-induced [3H]thymidine incorporation. These results demonstrate that autocrine production of PDGF-AA partially mediated Thr-induced SMC mitogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Parathyroid hormone-related protein, an autocrine growth inhibitor of alveolar type II cells.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHRP) is an autocrine regulator of differentiation for type II pneumocytes [R. H. Hastings, D. Summers-Torres, T. C. Cheung, L. S. Ditmer, D. W. Burton, E. M. Petrin, R. G. Spragg, J. Li, and L. J. Deftos. Am. J. Physiol. 270 (Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 14): L353-L361, 1996]. We investigated autocrine effects on growth by decreasing endogenous PTHRP in rat type II cells. Cultured cells were incubated with antibodies against PTHRP-(1-34) (8B12) or PTHRP-(109-141) (9H7) or an irrelevant antibody (1 microg/ml) for 3 days. Conditioned media from the irrelevant antibody group contained 143 +/- 8 fg PTHRP/ 100,000 cells. The 8B12 and 9H7 reduced levels to 45 +/- 8 and 88 +/- 16 fg PTHRP/100,000 cells, respectively (n = 4 cell isolations, P < 0.05). Cells treated with the PTHRP antibodies nearly tripled in number. The irrelevant antibody had no effect on growth. Exogenous PTHRP-(1-34) (2.5 nM) blocked the growth-stimulating effect of 9H7. Instilled intratracheal 8B12 and 9H7 induced expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in clusters of alveolar cells in rats. Clustered cells expressed surfactant apoproteins and cytokeratin 19. These data suggest that endogenous PTHRP-(1-34) inhibits proliferation of type II cells in vivo and in vitro.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Endothelin-1 is an autocrine factor in rat inner medullary collecting ducts.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) may be an important factor in the regulation of inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) physiology. This segment of the nephron synthesizes ET-1, expresses endothelin receptors, and responds to exogenous ET-1 by reducing Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and water transport. Taken together, these findings suggest an autocrine role for ET-1 in the regulation of IMCD function; however, because of the polarized nature of the IMCD, it is not known if ET-1 secretion, receptors, and receptor activation occur on the same side of the cell. To examine this question, rat IMCD cells were grown to confluence on semipermeable membranes. These cells exhibited polar morphology with high transepithelial electrical resistances. Immunoreactive ET-1 was secreted primarily into the basolateral side. Furthermore, 125I-ET-1 bound predominantly to the basolateral surface. Finally, ET-1 (10(-8) M) stimulated prostaglandin E2 production only when added to the basolateral side. These data indicate, therefore, that ET-1 is capable of autocrine regulation of IMCD cells and that this effect occurs predominantly on the basolateral side.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Autocrine role of endothelin in rat IMCD: inhibition of AVP-induced cAMP accumulation.

Exogenous endothelin-1 (ET-1) inhibits arginine vasopressin (AVP)-induced adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation in the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD). Since ET-1 is produced by, and binds to specific receptors on, the IMCD, the possibility exists that ET-1 is an autocrine regulator of AVP action in this nephron segment. To test this hypothesis, rat IMCD cells grown on semipermeable membranes were exposed to rabbit anti-ET antisera or nonimmune rabbit sera (NRS). AVP (10(-9)M) caused a significantly greater accumulation of cAMP in confluent IMCD monolayers preincubated in ET-1 antisera compared with NRS. ET-1 (10(-8) M) inhibited the AVP-induced rise in cAMP by 65% in cells preincubated in ET-1 antisera, but had no effect in NRS-treated cells. Finally, 125I-ET-1 (30 pM) binding was increased sixfold in IMCD preincubated in anti-ET-1 antisera. These data indicate that ET causes tonic autocrine inhibition of AVP responsiveness in the IMCD.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Vascular smooth muscle growth: autocrine growth mechanisms.

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) exhibit several growth responses to agonists that regulate their function including proliferation (hyperplasia with an increase in cell number), hypertrophy (an increase in cell size without change in DNA content), endoreduplication (an increase in DNA content and usually size), and apoptosis. Both autocrine growth mechanisms (in which the individual cell synthesizes and/or secretes a substance that stimulates that same cell type to undergo a growth response) and paracrine growth mechanisms (in which the individual cells responding to the growth factor synthesize and/or secrete a substance that stimulates neighboring cells of another cell type) are important in VSMC growth. In this review I discuss the autocrine and paracrine growth factors important for VSMC growth in culture and in vessels. Four mechanisms by which individual agonists signal are described: direct effects of agonists on their receptors, transactivation of tyrosine kinase-coupled receptors, generation of reactive oxygen species, and induction/secretion of other growth and survival factors. Additional growth effects mediated by changes in cell matrix are discussed. The temporal and spatial coordination of these events are shown to modulate the environment in which other growth factors initiate cell cycle events. Finally, the heterogeneous nature of VSMC developmental origin provides another level of complexity in VSMC growth mechanisms.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Platelet-derived growth factor-AA is an essential and autocrine regulator of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in non-small cell lung carcinomas.

It is widely accepted that angiogenesis is required for tumor progression. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key molecule for tumor angiogenesis; however, its expressional regulation is not well understood during all stages of tumorigenesis. Using cell lines and surgical specimens of human non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), we here show that platelet-derived growth factor-AA (PDGF-AA) is an essential autocrine regulator for VEGF expression. To directly assess the expression of PDGF-AA-dependent VEGF and its roles in tumorigenesis, we stably transfected established cell lines with their antisense genes. In addition, the levels of PDGF-AA and VEGF expression in surgical sections were measured and compared with clinicopathologic findings such as tumor size and patient prognosis. PDGF-AA tightly regulated VEGF expression and had a greater effect on tumor size and patient prognosis than did VEGF in both cell lines and surgical sections. PDGF-AA expression was not seen in the atypical adenomatous hyperplasia at all, whereas VEGF was occasionally seen. Furthermore, the frequency of VEGF expression was higher in advanced NSCLCs than in precancerous lesions, which was tightly correspondent to the results for PDGF-AA. These results indicate that PDGF-AA is an important regulator of the frequency and level of VEGF expression during the transition from a precancerous lesion to advanced cancer. The PDGF-AA/VEGF axis, therefore, may be a ubiquitous autocrine system for enhancing angiogenic signals, and PDGF-AA, and its related pathways could be a more efficient target of antiangiogenic therapy for cancers than VEGF and its pathways.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

A selective c-met inhibitor blocks an autocrine hepatocyte growth factor growth loop in ANBL-6 cells and prevents migration and adhesion of myeloma cells.

PURPOSE: We wanted to examine the role of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor c-Met in multiple myeloma by applying a novel selective small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, PHA-665752, directed against the receptor. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Four biological sequels of HGF related to multiple myeloma were studied: (1) proliferation of myeloma cells, (2) secretion of interleukin-11 from osteogenic cells, (3) migration of myeloma cells, and (4) adhesion of myeloma cells to fibronectin. We also examined effects of the c-Met inhibitor on intracellular signaling pathways in myeloma cells. RESULTS: PHA-665752 effectively blocked the biological responses to HGF in all assays, with 50% inhibition at 5 to 15 nmol/L concentration and complete inhibition at around 100 nmol/L. PHA-665752 inhibited phosphorylation of several tyrosine residues in c-Met (Tyr(1003), Tyr(1230/1234/1235), and Tyr(1349)), blocked HGF-mediated activation of Akt and p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and prevented the adaptor molecule Gab1 from complexing with c-Met. In the HGF-producing myeloma cell line ANBL-6, PHA-665752 revealed an autocrine HGF-c-Met-mediated growth loop. The inhibitor also blocked proliferation of purified primary myeloma cells, suggesting that autocrine HGF-c-Met-driven growth loops are important for progression of multiple myeloma. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these findings support the role of c-Met and HGF in the proliferation, migration, and adhesion of myeloma cells and identify c-Met kinase as a therapeutic target for treatment of patients with multiple myeloma.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cytokines: autocrine and paracrine roles in the anterior pituitary.

In addition to their role as lymphocyte messengers, cytokines also act at the anterior pituitary gland as autocrine or paracrine regulators of anterior pituitary function. As a cellular and molecular basis for this latter role, receptors for interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2 and IL-6 have been demonstrated in the pituitary of several species, as the endogenous production of the homologous cytokines. Additional cytokines are synthesized in or alter the function of the pituitary. IL-1, IL-2 and IL-6 regulate not only the secretion of pituitary hormones, but also the growth and proliferation of pituitary cells. This latter action suggests that intrinsically produced cytokines play a role in the pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas. Cytokines thus constitute a complex autocrine or paracrine network that contributes to the regulation of anterior pituitary physiology and pathophysiology.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Autocrine differentiation of PC12 cells mediated by retroviral vectors.

Rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells have been modified genetically by the use of replication-defective retroviral vectors containing either the bacterial gene for beta-galactosidase (lac Z) or cDNAs for mouse beta-nerve growth factor (NGF) and the bacterial gene for neomycin resistance. Using the lac Z vector, clonal lines of PC12 cells were obtained in which almost 100% of cells stably expressed this histochemical marker. Infection of PC12 cells or the derived subclone PC12-BAG, which expresses beta-galactosidase, with the NGF vectors resulted in autocrine differentiation as assessed by extensive neurite formation, which occurred within hours after infection and was maintained for weeks in culture. Neurite formation could be partially blocked by antibodies to NGF. The percentage of cells expressing neurite outgrowth was greater than that of PC12 cells treated with exogenous NGF. PC12 cells infected with the NGF vectors were shown to release this trophic factor into the medium using a two-site enzyme immunoassay and a bioassay on 'naive' PC12 cells. PC12 cells genetically modified using these vectors provide a means to: follow the fate of the cells after transplantation into animals; test for delivery in vivo of NGF and catecholamines by grafted, autocrine-differentiated PC12 cells; and study the long-term actions of NGF on responsive cells without adding exogenous NGF.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Nitric oxide synthases and cardiac muscle. Autocrine and paracrine influences.

The different cell types comprising cardiac muscle express one or more of the three isoforms (neuronal NOS, or nNOS; inducible NOS, or iNOS; and endothelial NOS, or eNOS) of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). nNOS is expressed in orthosympathetic nerve terminals and regulates the release of catecholamines in the heart. eNOS constitutively expressed in endothelial cells inhibits contractile tone and the proliferation of underlying vascular smooth muscle cells, inhibits platelet aggregation and monocyte adhesion, promotes diastolic relaxation, and decreases O2 consumption in cardiac muscle through paracrinally produced NO. eNOS is also constitutively expressed in cardiac myocytes from rodent and human species, where it autocrinally opposes the inotropic action of catecholamines after muscarinic cholinergic and beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation. iNOS gene transcription and protein expression are induced in all cell types after exposure to a variety of inflammatory cytokines. Aside from participating in the immune defense against intracellular microorganisms and viruses, the large amounts of NO produced autocrinally or paracrinally mediate the vasoplegia and myocardial depression characteristic of systemic immune stimulation and promote cell death through apoptosis. In cardiac myocytes, NO may regulate L-type calcium current and contraction through activation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase and cGMP-modulated phosphodiesterases. Other mechanisms independent of cGMP elevations may operate through interaction of NO with heme proteins, non-heme iron, or free thiol residues on target signaling proteins, enzymes, or ion channels. Given the multiplicity of NOS isoforms expressed in cardiac muscle and of the potential molecular targets for the NO produced, tight molecular regulation of NOS expression and activity at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional level appear to be needed to coordinate the many roles of NO in heart function in health and disease.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) regulates the expression of the CC chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in autocrine-activated endothelial cells.

The CC chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 is induced by inflammatory cytokines and acts as a potent regulator of monocyte trafficking. Monocytes adhere preferentially to migrating endothelial cells in vitro and to endothelial cells at the migration front in vivo after aortic balloon denudation injury. Based on these findings, we analyzed MCP-1 expression in migrating and resting bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cells and identified prominently upregulated levels of MCP-1 expression in migrating BAE cells. Stimulation of resting BAE cells with 5 ng/mL bFGF resulted in a fourfold induction of MCP-1 mRNA expression. The time course of bFGF-induced MCP-1 mRNA expression indicated a rapid and direct stimulation of MCP-1 expression that was detectable 30 minutes after stimulation. Levels of basal MCP-1 expression, as well as upregulated levels of MCP-1 in migrating BAE cells, were downregulated by addition of a neutralizing anti-bFGF monoclonal antibody (1.0 microgram/mL). Digestion of conditioned media of resting BAE cells with collagenase led to a dose-dependent induction of MCP-1 expression in resting BAE cells, which was inhibited > 50% by addition of neutralizing anti-bFGF antibody. Confirmation of the Northern blot experiments by ELISA-based quantitation of MCP-1 protein levels identified threefold to sixfold higher levels of MCP-1 in the supernatants of bFGF-stimulated BAE cells than in unstimulated resting BAE cells. Finally, analysis of MCP-1 expression by in situ hybridization carried out on en face preparations of aortas demonstrated that MCP-1 expression is dramatically upregulated in regenerating endothelial cells in vivo after balloon denudation. Though not establishing a direct causal relation between the preferential adhesion of monocytes to migrating endothelial cells, these findings strongly suggest that autocrine-activated endothelial cell-derived MCP-1 may play a critical role in recruiting monocytes. They furthermore support the concept that bFGF acts as an autocrine regulator of endothelial cell activity and may imply an involvement of bFGF as a mediator of inflammatory cell trafficking.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

PubMed1998

Estrogen stimulates delayed mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in human endothelial cells via an autocrine loop that involves basic fibroblast growth factor.

BACKGROUND: Estrogen plays a significant role in protecting premenopausal women from cardiovascular disease. We have found that estradiol augments endothelial cell activities related to vascular healing and that human coronary artery and umbilical vein endothelial cells express estrogen receptors (ERs). Classically, the ER functions as a transcription factor, but the cytoplasmic targets of this genomic effect have not been defined for endothelial cells. In the present study, we examined the potential role of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases ERK1 and ERK2 as mediators of estrogen action. METHODS AND RESULTS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were estrogen depleted by culturing in hormone-free medium for 48 hours before experiments. 17Beta-estradiol (E2) stimulated a delayed (3 hours) 5- to 7-fold induction of ERK1/2 activity requiring activation of ER and new transcription/translation. Conditioned media from cells stimulated for 3 hours with E2 induced immediate ERK1/2 activation and phosphorylation of the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) receptor. Moreover, ERK1/2 activation by E2 or by conditioned media was abrogated by treatment with neutralizing anti-bFGF antibody. CONCLUSIONS: These data describe an autocrine mechanism for E2 induction of ERK1/2 in HUVEC. Because our previous studies suggested that certain cardioprotective effects of estrogen are genomic in nature, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that autocrine stimulation of endothelial ERK1/2 activity by bFGF may play a role in the beneficial effects of estrogen on cardiovascular biology.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed1998

Autocrine role for the endothelin-B receptor in the secretion of adrenomedullin.

Adrenomedullin, originally discovered in human pheochromocytoma, is a vasodilating and natriuretic peptide of vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell origin. Although endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been implicated as a vasoconstricting and growth-promoting peptide of endothelial origin, it may more importantly function as an autocrine factor and release vasodilatory substances such as nitric oxide by mechanisms linked to the endothelin-B (ETB) receptor subtype. The present study was designed to establish that the ETB receptor stimulates the secretion of adrenomedullin from cultured canine aortic endothelial cells. We first sought to determine the presence and production of adrenomedullin in canine aortic endothelial cells using immunohistochemistry and Northern blot analysis, which revealed that adrenomedullin immunoreactivity and adrenomedullin mRNA were present in canine aortic endothelial cells. Second, adrenomedullin was time-dependently secreted from canine aortic endothelial cells, with a secretion rate of 15.7+/-1.5 pg/10(5) cells per 24 hours. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of the ETB receptor in canine aortic endothelial cells, and ETB receptor stimulation by sarafotoxin S6c increased adrenomedullin production and secretion from canine aortic endothelial cells. Such actions were blocked with the ETB receptor antagonist IRL-2500 but not with ETA receptor antagonist FR-139317. These studies are the first to report an additional autocrine role of the ETB receptor in the release of vasodilating and natriuretic peptide adrenomedullin, and they suggest another important vasoactive system regulated by the ET receptor subtype.

Adrenomedullin↗

PubMed2002

Autocrine ligands for the epidermal growth factor receptor mediate interleukin-8 release from bronchial epithelial cells in response to cigarette smoke.

Airway neutrophilia is a prominent feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As cigarette smoke (CS) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) both cause release of interleukin-8 (IL-8) from epithelial cells in vitro, we investigated whether autocrine ligands for the EGF receptor (EGFR) are involved in this proinflammatory response to CS. NCI-H292 or primary bronchial epithelial cells were cultured with or without cigarette smoke extract (CSE) or EGF for 6-48 h. We then tested culture supernatants for lactate dehydrogenase activity to assess cell viability, and for IL-8 and EGFR ligands by ELISA; quantitative RT-PCR was used to measure IL-8 and EGFR ligand mRNA. EGF and low concentrations of CSE both promoted cell survival and caused enhanced transcription and release of IL-8. Similarly, levels of mRNA encoding transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha), heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, and amphiregulin (AR) were increased, as was shedding of TGF-alpha and AR protein into the culture medium. With the exception of AR gene transcription, the CS-induced responses were blocked by the EGFR-selective kinase inhibitor AG1478. Furthermore, ~ 45% of CS-induced IL-8 release was inhibited by a neutralising anti-EGFR. Our data indicate that secretion of IL-8 in response to CSE is dependent on EGFR activation and that autocrine production of TGF-alpha makes a substantial contribution to this response.

Adult↗