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Autocrine growth stimulation by transforming growth factor alpha in asbestos-transformed rat mesothelial cells.

Although the association between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma development has been established for decades, very little is known regarding the molecular mechanism(s) by which asbestos fibers induce this disease. In this series of experiments, the potential for transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) to act as an autocrine growth factor in transformed mesothelial cells was examined in rats, a model system frequently used to assess the tumorigenic potential of fibrous particulates. Both asbestos-transformed cells and spontaneously transformed cells expressed functional EGF receptors, although only the asbestos-transformed cells expressed TGF-alpha. Expression of TGF-alpha transcripts was correlated with secretion of picogram amounts of growth factor into conditioned medium by the asbestos-transformed cells. In addition, whereas TGF-alpha inhibited the growth of spontaneously transformed mesothelial cells, it stimulated the growth of asbestos-transformed cells. Neutralizing antibody that recognized TGF-alpha secreted by the asbestos-transformed cells was able to inhibit the growth of these cells. Taken together, these data indicate that TGF-alpha acts as an autocrine growth factor for asbestos-transformed rat mesothelial cells. Therefore, in asbestos-transformed mesothelial cells, altered production and responsiveness to TGF-alpha distinguish these cells from spontaneously transformed mesothelial cells. These data suggest that differences in mesothelioma etiology may be reflected in differences in the molecular alterations present in these tumors.

Animals↗

Autocrine growth of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder induced by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) produced by nonhematopoietic malignant cells has been reported to be capable of inducing a leukemoid reaction in the host through intense stimulation of leukocyte production. Furthermore, this is frequently associated with aggressive tumor cell growth and a detrimental clinical outcome. In this study, we identified bladder cancer cells producing G-CSF with the expression of the functional receptor, which provides direct evidence of autocrine growth of bladder cancer cells induced by G-CSF. The cancer cells used in this study were obtained from a 76-year-old man who had a metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and who demonstrated marked leukocytosis, his peripheral blood leukocyte count was 94,900 leukocytes/mm3, and his serum G-CSF level was 103 pg/ml. The culture medium in which the cancer cells were grown exclusively contained a significant amount of G-CSF (5560 pg/ml). Significant G-CSF mRNA expression and G-CSF receptor mRNA expression in the cultured cells were demonstrated by the reverse transcription-PCR method. In addition, binding studies with the use of radiolabeled recombinant G-CSF demonstrated the presence of high-affinity G-CSF binding receptors on the cultured cancer cells. Finally, the proliferation of the cultured cancer cells was stimulated by exogenous G-CSF administration, and this stimulation was inhibited by adding anti-G-CSF antibody, as demonstrated by both the flow cytometric bromodeoxyuridine incorporation technique and the [3H]thymidine incorporation assay. These results strongly suggest that G-CSF production by the bladder cancer cells studied augments autocrine growth. Therefore, we recommend exercising caution in the clinical use of G-CSF for bladder cancer patients.

Aged↗

An autocrine loop of HIV type-1 Tat protein responsible for the improved survival/proliferation capacity of permanently Tat-transfected cells and required for optimal HIV-1 LTR transactivating activity.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transactivating Tat protein is pivotal to virus replication. Tat's potential effects on HIV-1 pathogenesis, however, go well beyond its role in the virus's life cycle. Current data indicate that biologically active Tat is released from HIV-1-infected cells and readily endocytosed and targeted to the nucleus of nearby, or perhaps distant, cells, where it may exert a series of pleiotropic effects. This paracrine action has been extensively investigated, and depending on the amounts of exogenously added Tat, its effects may extend from the suppression of immunocompetent cells to transactivation of heterologous genes to the promotion of growth of Kaposi's sarcoma spindle cells. We have already observed that various cell lines, either permanently transfected with an expressive HIV-1 tat gene construct or cultured in the presence of exogenously added Tat protein, are protected from programmed cell death after serum withdrawal or other apoptotic stimuli. The present article shows that various types (lymphoblastoid, epithelial, neuronal) of permanently tat-transfected cell lines actively release fully bioactive Tat protein. The addition of anti-Tat antibody to the culture medium completely abolishes their increased survival/proliferation capacity in serum-free culture. In these conditions, therefore, the enhanced survival/proliferation potential of permanently tat-transfected cells seems entirely dependent on a Tat-protein autocrine loop. The finding that anti-Tat antibody, added to culture medium, exerts a negative influence on the expression of a Tat-responsive HIV-1 long terminal repeat chloramphenicol-acetyltransferase construct, transiently transfected into permanently tat-transfected cells, suggests that the Tat autocrine loop may also be required for optimal HIV-1 long terminal repeat transactivation.

Animals↗

Vascular remodeling in hypertension: role of autocrine-paracrine factors.

It has been postulated that changes in vessel structure have an important role in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. Despite the potential pathogenetic importance of vascular remodeling, the molecular basis of this process remains poorly characterized. A rapidly emerging body of evidence indicates that many of the processes responsible for remodeling the vasculature are mediated by complex interactions between autocrine-paracrine factors generated within the vessel wall. Indeed, at the level of a single vessel the overall vessel structure appears to be determined by a yin-yang balance of stimulatory and inhibitory factors that module cell growth, death, migration and extracellular matrix composition. There is increasing evidence that factors that regulate vessel tone are also important determinants of vessel structure. This review focuses on angiotensin II as a paradigmatic vasoactive substance capable of mediating the process of vascular remodeling which is predominantly associated with vascular hypertrophy in hypertension. The pathogenetic and clinical implications of understanding these autocrine-paracrine systems are discussed.

Animals↗

Expression of insulin-like growth factor II in spontaneously immortalized rat mesothelial and spontaneous mesothelioma cells: a potential autocrine role of insulin-like growth factor II.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are polypeptides that play an important role in cellular proliferation and differentiation. The present study examines the role of IGFs in the growth of mesothelial cells. Cell lines derived from normal rat mesothelium as well as lines derived from spontaneous rat mesotheliomas were found to express RNA transcripts for IGF-II. In contrast, cell lines derived from asbestos-induced rat mesotheliomas did not express this growth factor. All cell lines expressed receptors for IGF-I and IGF-II, as well as insulin receptors. Coexpression of IGF-II and its cognate receptor suggested that IGF-II was acting as an autocrine growth factor in the spontaneously immortalized cells and the cells derived from the spontaneous tumors. The biological activity of IGF-II secreted by the cell lines into conditioned medium could be neutralized using an IGF-II-specific antibody. Growth was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner; at the highest antibody concentration used (100 micrograms anti-IGF-II/ml), cell growth was decreased to 47% of control values. This inhibition was partially reversible by treatment of the cultures with IGF-II (91% of the control). These data suggest that IGF-II expression may be involved in the spontaneous alteration of rat mesothelial cells and may function as an autocrine or paracrine growth factor to modulate the growth of these cells in vitro and in vivo. Ubiquitous expression of IGF-II by cells that have not been exposed to asbestos and the lack of IGF-II expression by asbestos-transformed cells suggest that the mechanisms of changes in growth factor expression differ in mesothelial cells transformed by different pathways.

Animals↗

Inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor autocrine growth stimulation by a monoclonal antibody to the human alpha platelet-derived growth factor receptor.

A potent neutralizing monoclonal antibody to the human alpha platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor (alpha PDGFR) was raised by immunizing BALB/c mice with 32D cells expressing the human alpha PDGFR. This monoclonal antibody, designated alpha R1, immunoprecipitated human, monkey, rabbit, pig, dog, and cat, but not hamster, rat, or mouse alpha PDGFRs. Comparison with PR292, a monoclonal antibody previously generated against the alpha PDGFR, showed that both recognized alpha PDGFR extracellular domains, but neither demonstrated reactivity against the beta PDGFR. In vitro binding studies revealed that alpha R1, but not PR292, detection of the alpha PDGFR was blocked by either PDGF AA or PDGF BB. These results strongly suggest that the receptor ligand-binding domain spatially overlapped with the alpha R1 epitope. Monoclonal antibody alpha R1 also inhibited PDGF stimulation of [3H]thymidine uptake by 32D cells expressing the alpha PDGFR (32D alpha R) as well as autocrine growth stimulation of 32D alpha R cells transfected with and expressing PDGF AA or PDGF BB. Therefore, monoclonal antibody alpha R1 may be useful in the detection and growth inhibition of malignancies in which PDGF autocrine stimulation and/or alpha PDGFR overexpression plays an important role(s).

Animals↗

Establishment of a novel myeloma cell line KPMM2 carrying t(3;14)(q21;q32), which proliferates specifically in response to interleukin-6 through an autocrine mechanism.

We established a new human myeloma cell line, KPMM2, which proliferates specifically in response to IL-6 via an autocrine mechanism. The proliferative response of KPMM2 cells to exogenous IL-6 was significantly stimulated in a dose-dependent manner. The growth was markedly inhibited by an anti-IL-6 mAb and an anti-IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) mAb in a dose-dependent manner. KPMM2 cells expressed IL-6 and IL-6R mRNA by RT-PCR. Flow cytometric analysis showed cell surface expression of IL-6R. IL-6 protein was detected in the culture supernatant by ELISA. IL-11, oncostatin M and leukemia inhibitory factor had no effect on the proliferation of KPMM2 cells although interferon-alpha and interferon-gamma inhibited the growth. Furthermore, KPMM2 cells bore a t(3;14)(q21;q32) translocation and this finding is of potential interest for future studies in the light of the nuclear protein BM28 (CDCL1, for cdc-like 1) mapped on 3q21, which plays an important role in the cell cycle. In this report, we demonstrated completely an IL-6-dependent autocrine growth mechanism in KPMM2 cell line. This cell line may be useful to investigate the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma and to evaluate the therapeutic potential of IL-6 blocking agents in vitro and in vivo.

Aged↗

Autocrine transforming growth factor alpha is dispensible for v-rasHa-induced epidermal neoplasia: potential involvement of alternate epidermal growth factor receptor ligands.

Autocrine epidermal growth factor receptor activation by transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) has been implicated in growth stimulation during epithelial neoplasia. Using keratinocytes isolated from mice with genetic defects in TGF alpha expression, we tested whether TGF alpha is required for transformation by the v-rasHa oncogene. Introduction of v-rasHa into primary epidermal cultures using a retroviral vector stimulated growth of both control (TGF alpha +/+, BALB/c) and TGF alpha-deficient (TGF alpha -/-, wa-1) keratinocytes. Moreover, v-rasHa elicited characteristic changes in marker expression (keratin 1 was suppressed; keratin 8 was induced), previously shown to be associated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor activation, in both TGF alpha +/+ and TGF alpha -/- keratinocytes. v-rasHa markedly increased secreted (> 10-fold) and cell-associated (2-3-fold) TGF alpha levels in keratinocytes from TGF alpha +/+ and BALB/c mice, but not TGF alpha -/- or wa-1 mice. Based on Northern blot analysis, v-rasHa induced striking up-regulation of transcripts encoding the additional EGF family members amphiregulin, heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, and betacellulin in cultured keratinocytes from all four mouse strains. Interestingly, in addition to the normal 4.5-kilobase TGF alpha transcript, wa-1 keratinocytes expressed two additional TGF alpha transcripts, 4.7 and 5.2 kilobases long. All three transcripts were up-regulated in response to v-rasHa, as well as exogenous TGF alpha or keratinocyte growth factor treatment, and were also detected in RNA isolated from wa-1 brain and skin. In vivo, v-rasHa keratinocytes from control as well as TGF alpha-deficient mice produced squamous tumors when grafted onto nude mice, and these lesions expressed high levels of amphiregulin, heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, and betacellulin mRNA, regardless of their TGF alpha status. These findings indicate that TGF alpha is not essential for epidermal neoplasia induced by the v-rasHa oncogene and suggest that another EGF family member(s) may contribute to autocrine growth stimulation of ras-transformed keratinocytes.

Animals↗

Interleukin-10 is an autocrine growth factor for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related B-cell lymphoma.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an acid-sensitive protein of 35 kD that has pleiotropic effects including inhibition of cytotoxic T-cell response, induction of major histocompatibility complex type II in B lymphocytes, induction of B-cell growth and differentiation, and autocrine growth factor activity in monocytes. We and others have shown that IL-10 is produced spontaneously by blood mononuclear cells from human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive patients. In an attempt to ascertain the potential role of IL-10 in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related B-cell lymphoma, we evaluated the expression of human IL-10 in both tumor-derived B-cell lines and primary tumor cells. Expression of human IL-10 (hIL-10) mRNA and protein was detected in four of five cell lines examined. An IL-10 antisense oligonucleotide inhibited IL-10 mRNA expression and IL-10 protein production. The proliferation of all B-cell lines was inhibited by an antisense oligonucleotide in a dose-dependent manner that was abrogated by the addition of recombinant hIL-10 protein. No effect of antisense oligonucleotide was observed in the B-cell line not producing hIL-10. Evaluation of primary tumor cells from patients with AIDS-lymphoma cells showed similar production and response to IL-10. These data suggest an autocrine growth mechanism for IL-10 in AIDS-related lymphoma cells and that IL-10 may be important in its pathogenesis.

B-Lymphocytes↗

The Met/HGF receptor is over-expressed in human osteosarcomas and is activated by either a paracrine or an autocrine circuit.

The c-MET oncogene encodes the receptor for the Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor (HGF), a cytokine that stimulates the invasive growth of normal and neoplastic cells. The Met/HGF receptor is expressed by epithelial cells and its ligand by cells of mesenchymal origin. Receptor-ligand interaction occurs via a paracrine circuit. We studied the expression of the Met/HGF receptor and of its ligand in mesenchymal human tumours by examining 39 clinical samples of bone tumours. The Met/HGF receptor was not detectable in the majority of bone tumours, as expected from their mesenchymal origin. Notably, the receptor was overexpressed in 60% of the osteosarcomas examined. In 12 osteosarcoma cell lines the Met/HGF receptor was overexpressed, phosphorylated by HGF stimulation and fully functional. HGF was detected in two out of seven clinical specimens of osteosarcoma. The ligand and the receptor are co-expressed in two clonal osteosarcoma cell lines. In these lines the Met/HGF receptor was constitutively phosphorylated; phosphorylation was suppressed by suramin treatment, a known blocker of autocrine loops. These data suggest that activation of the Met/HGF receptor by a paracrine or an autocrine mechanism might play a role in the particularly aggressive behaviour of osteosarcomas.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Paracrine and autocrine regulation of human melanocyte and melanoma cell growth by transforming growth factor beta in vitro.

It has been considered that the growth of human melanoma cells is positively and negatively regulated by transforming growth factors. To investigate further the role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in melanoma biology, we analysed paracrine and autocrine growth regulatory properties of TGF-beta in normal human melanocytes and malignant melanoma cell lines in vitro. Exogenously added TGF-beta 1 potently inhibited normal melanocyte proliferation and DNA-synthesis in all cultures examined; in contrast, TGF-beta 1 inhibited only moderately or not at all the growth of cultured melanoma cells. Melanoma cell lines established from metastatic lesions were found to be less sensitive to TGF-beta 1 than those derived from primary melanomas. TGF-beta 1 resistance correlated with high levels of active TGF-beta secreted by metastatic cell lines. Inactivation of endogenously produced TGF-beta by neutralizing anti-TGF-beta antibody resulted in the stimulation of cell proliferation of a TGF-beta-sensitive primary melanoma cell line but not of a resistant metastatic one. These findings suggest that TGF-beta may function as a paracrine and autocrine growth inhibiting factor in the growth regulation of human melanocytic cells. The gradual loss of response of melanocytic cells to TGF-beta during malignant progression suggests that escape of melanoma cells from growth regulation by TGF-beta could be involved in melanoma oncogenesis.

Antibodies↗

Association among an autocrine parameter (EGF-R) and endocrine parameters (ER and PR) in locoregional breast cancer.

Sixty-three locoregional breast cancer biopsies were examined for association among epidermal growth factor receptors (as parameter of autocrine growth control), and estrogen and progesterone receptors (as endocrine parameters of estrogen responsiveness). In the tumor group with similar steroid receptor levels, low (0-50 fmol/mg), medium (50-100 fmol/mg) and high (above 100 fmol/mg), an inverse quantitative correlation between epidermal growth factor receptors and progesterone receptors was obtained (p < 0.05). In the tumor groups where estrogen receptor levels were higher or lower than progesterone receptor levels, epidermal growth factor receptors were correlated neither with estrogen nor with progesterone receptors (p > 0.05). It seemed that inverse correlation between endocrine and autocrine parameters obtained in previous studies might not be a common behaviour of all breast tumors.

Adult↗

Antibody-induced epidermal growth factor receptor dimerization mediates inhibition of autocrine proliferation of A431 squamous carcinoma cells.

We previously reported that anti-epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor monoclonal antibody (mAb) 225 can block receptor activation and inhibit proliferation of tumor cells bearing EGF receptors. To further explore the mechanism of mAb-mediated growth inhibition, we compared the capacities of bivalent 225 mAb and 225 F(ab')2, and monovalent 225 Fab' fragment to block ligand binding to EGF receptors, inhibit activation of receptor tyrosine kinase by exogenous and endogenous ligand, produce receptor dimerization, down-regulate receptors, and inhibit proliferation of cultured A431 squamous carcinoma cells. Unlike 225 mAb and 225 F(ab')2, 225 Fab' fragment was a poor inhibitor of A431 cell proliferation. The weak antiproliferative capacity of 225 Fab' was not due to depletion of active fragment from cultures. When cells were exposed to exogenous EGF, monovalent 225 Fab' remaining in conditioned culture medium could act as well as the bivalent forms of mAb to block binding and tyrosine kinase activation by exogenous EGF. However, unlike the bivalent forms, 225 Fab' fragment was unable to induce receptor dimerization and down-regulation, and it lacked the capacity to block autocrine activation of EGF receptors by endogenous ligand. These deficiencies were corrected by addition of rabbit anti-mouse IgG antibody, which also enabled 225 Fab' fragment to inhibit cell proliferation. We conclude that in A431 cells, inhibition of autocrine-stimulated proliferation by anti-EGF receptor mAbs requires antibody bivalency, which provides the capacity to produce EGF receptor dimerization accompanied by receptor down-regulation. These properties may explain the greater efficacy of bivalent mAb and F(ab')2, compared with monovalent Fab' fragment, in inhibiting proliferation of a variety of malignant and nonmalignant cultured cell lines.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Autocrine factor enhancing the secretion of M(r) 95,000 gelatinase (matrix metalloproteinase 9) in serum-free medium conditioned with murine metastatic colon carcinoma cells.

We previously reported that murine tumor cells with a high spontaneous metastatic potential to the lung secrete higher amounts of M(r) 95,000 gelatinase (matrix metalloproteinase 9, MMP9) than do poorly metastatic cells. The present study, conducted to clarify the mechanisms underlying the increase in MMP9, revealed an autocrine factor that enhances the secretion of M(r) 95,000 gelatinase (MMP9). The secretion of MMP9 by highly metastatic colon carcinoma LuM1 cells, detected by zymography, was augmented 10-fold when cultured in medium supplemented with serum-free medium conditioned with LuM1 cells. Because the secretion of M(r) 60,000 gelatinase (MMP2), as well as total protein, by the same cells was not affected under these conditions, the augmentation appears specific for MMP9. The steady-state level of MMP9 mRNA was elevated in LuM1 cells cultured in the presence of the supernatant. The amount of the factor in the culture medium increased with time in culture, indicating that it was produced by the LuM1 cells. It was found to be heat stable but sensitive to trypsin digestion. Conditioned medium from poorly metastatic NM11 cells did not stimulate the secretion of gelatinases by NM11 cells, suggesting that autocrine stimulation of MMP9 secretion is a characteristic of metastatic cells. This factor could account for the augmented secretion of MMP9 by murine tumor cells with spontaneous metastatic potential to the lung.

Animals↗

Signal transduction pathway(s) involved in phorbol ester and autocrine induction of interleukin-1 alpha mRNA in murine keratinocytes.

We investigated the signal transduction pathways leading to the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)- and interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1)-induced IL-1 alpha mRNA in mouse keratinocytes. Induction of IL-1 alpha mRNA by TPA or IL-1 alpha was followed by increases in cell-associated IL-1 alpha protein measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Although protein kinase C (PKC) was involved in TPA-induced IL-1 alpha mRNA, down-regulation of PKC did not block the induction of this gene by TPA. The autocrine induction of IL-1 alpha was not mediated through PKC or cAMP. IL-1 alpha did activate mitogen-activated protein kinase. Genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, blocked both IL-1 alpha-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase activation as well as IL-1 alpha mRNA expression. Genistein, at an unsaturating dose, plus a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor, H7, completely blocked the autocrine induction of IL-1 alpha suggesting that expression of this gene is regulated by tyrosine kinase(s) in combination or independently with serine/threonine kinase(s). In addition, both TPA and IL-1 alpha caused increases not only in the phosphorylation of c-Jun and c-Fos protein but also in the transactivating activity of AP-1 nuclear transcription factor. Neither TPA nor IL-1 alpha induced NF-kappa B binding activity, as assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift analysis. This study suggests that the activation of AP-1 may be a common event through which TPA and IL-1 alpha induce IL-1 alpha mRNA.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Oncostatin-M is an autocrine growth factor in Kaposi's sarcoma.

Oncostatin-M is a cytokine produced by macrophages and activated T lymphocytes that has recently been shown to be a mitogen for AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-derived spindle cells. The significance of oncostatin-M production in AIDS-related KS in vivo, however, remains unknown. In this study we wanted to determine whether oncostatin-M is expressed in vivo in patients with HIV-I-related KS, define the cell types that express this cytokine, and compared with the control tissues from HIV-I-negative individuals. A second objective of our study was to define the expression of oncostatin-M in AIDS-KS-derived spindle cell isolates cultured in vitro and to determine whether oncostatin-M is an autocrine growth factor for these KS cells. We have determined that oncostatin-M is not expressed in any of the several organs examined in control cases, whereas the tumor tissue obtained from the skin biopsies of HIV-I-infected cases with KS displayed oncostatin-M expression in the spindle cell components of the tumor, as well as the cells lining the vascular structures, smooth muscle cells lining the eccrine sweat glands, and the epidermal layers of the skin. Furthermore, uninvolved skin of patients with HIV-related KS express oncostatin-M in the cells lining normal vessels. The mRNA polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed findings in the primary tissues and showed expression in all of the AIDS-KS-derived spindle cell isolates examined. We have also shown with the use of oncostatin-M-specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides that KS cell proliferation is inhibited, which correlated with a more precipitous decline in the production of interleukin-6 by these cells. We conclude that oncostatin-M is only expressed in the skin and KS tumor of HIV-I-infected individuals. Furthermore, we provide evidence that oncostatin-M is an autocrine growth factor for KS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

TNF-alpha-induced antiproliferation is not dependent on the autocrine action of TGF-beta 1 in a thyroid cancer cell line.

The autocrine inhibitory action of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) may play an important role in maintaining the normal state of thyroid follicular epithelial cells. Deficiency of this regulatory mechanism has been implicated in the pathogenesis of nontoxic nodular goiter and thyroid epithelial cell cancer. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) has an antiproliferative action in a human papillary thyroid carcinoma cell line, NP-PTC cells, through a receptor-mediated mechanism. In the present work, we studied the antiproliferative action of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1 in NP-PTC cells. TNF-alpha induced TGF-beta 1 mRNA and secretion of the latent form of TGF-beta 1. Both TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1 inhibited the proliferation of NP-PTC cells. A neutralizing antibody specific to human TGF-beta 1 blocked the antiproliferative action of TGF-beta 1 on NP-PTC cells, but it failed to block TNF-alpha-induced antiproliferation. Further, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1 acted synergistically to inhibit NP-PTC cell proliferation. The results show that both TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1 inhibit the proliferation of NP-PTC cells. However, the actions of TGF-beta 1 and TNF-alpha differ in NP-PTC cells; TNF-alpha activates nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) and TGF-beta 1 does not. Although TNF-alpha induced TGF-beta 1 mRNA and secretion of the latent form of TGF-beta 1, the antiproliferative action of TNF-alpha is not dependent on the autocrine action of TGF-beta 1 in NP-PTC cells.

Antibodies↗

FGF2 as an autocrine growth factor for immortal human breast epithelial cells.

HBL100 is a human breast epithelial cell line which has been immortalized by the defective genome of SV40 but which is not tumorigenic in nude mice. Growth experiments in defined serum-free and protein-free media revealed its ability to grow without exogenous supply of serum growth factors. Addition of heparin to the serum-free medium increased its growth rate, suggesting the release of heparin-binding autocrine growth factor(s) in the culture medium. HBL100-conditioned medium was mitogenic for HEMG (human embryonic mammary gland) and CCL39 fibroblasts. Western blot analysis of growth factors revealed the presence of the M(r) 18,000, 22,000 and 24,000 forms of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF or FGF2) both in HBL100 cell extracts partially purified on heparin-Sepharose beads and in concentrated conditioned medium. Northern blot analysis of HBL100 RNA demonstrated the synthesis of 7-, 3.7-, and 1.8-kilobase (kb) FGF2-specific mRNAs by these cells. Anti-FGF2 neutralizing IgG inhibited HBL100 growth in serum-free medium in a dose-dependent manner. Affinity cross-linking of 125I-FGF2 to the HBL100 cell surface revealed an FGF receptor of 130 kDa. Taken together, these results suggest that FGF2 may be implicated as an autocrine growth factor in the early events leading to neoplastic transformation of human breast epithelial cells.

Animals↗