title: Regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor expression in normal and transformed keratinocytes.
abstract: Transformed keratinocytes (SCC-4, SCC-15, SCC-12F2, SVK14) or normal keratinocytes which differ in their differentiation programme were used to study the regulation of EGF-receptor expression. The capacity of the cells to differentiate was modulated by changing the extracellular calcium concentration. We were able to demonstrate that EGF-receptor expression in normal and transformed keratinocytes depends upon the cell type and one or more levels of regulatory control. At the DNA level, EGF-receptor gene amplification occurred in poorly differentiating cells. At the mRNA level, cells showing EGF-receptor gene amplification expressed elevated mRNA and protein levels when cultured under low Ca2+ conditions. Cells not exhibiting EGF-receptor gene amplification showed equal mRNA expression, regardless the Ca2+ concentration in the culture medium. At the protein level, EGF-receptor protein was decreased in cells exhibiting EGF-receptor gene amplification when extracellular Ca2+ was increased (to 1.6 mM) to stimulate differentiation, the decrease in protein being comparable to mRNA expression. Cells not exhibiting EGF-receptor gene amplification showed equal protein expression, regardless of the Ca2+ concentration in the culture medium. Under the same conditions, SV40 transformed keratinocytes showed equal mRNA but elevated protein expression in cells grown under low Ca2+ conditions. At the membrane level, normal keratinocytes and SCC-17F2 cells showed elevated numbers of cell surface exposed EGF-receptors in cells grown under low Ca2+ conditions, but equal mRNA and protein expression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, State University Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: te Pas
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: van Bergen en Henegouwen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boonstra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ponec
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D002118:Calcium