Expression of epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-alpha and their receptor genes in human gastric carcinomas; implication for autocrine growth.
The expressions of mRNA for epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and EGF receptor (EGFR) genes were examined in 7 human gastric carcinoma cell lines and 15 gastric carcinoma tissues and the corresponding normal mucosas. All of the gastric carcinoma cell lines expressed mRNA for EGFR and TGF-alpha genes. TMK-1 and MKN-28 cells also expressed EGF mRNA. Production of EGF, TGF-alpha and EGFR protein by gastric carcinoma cell lines was also confirmed by EGF and TGF-alpha specific monoclonal antibody binding. As for surgical specimens, EGFR and TGF-alpha mRNA were detected at high levels in all the tumor tissues. Interestingly, EGF mRNA was detected in 5 (33.3%) of the 15 gastric carcinomas but it was not detected in normal tissues. Moreover, anti-EGF and anti-TGF-alpha monoclonal antibodies inhibited the spontaneous 3H-TdR uptake by gastric carcinoma cells. These results suggest that EGF and/or TGF-alpha produced by tumor cells act as autocrine growth factors for gastric carcinomas.
Yoshida
K
K
First Department of Pathology, Hiroshima University School of Medicine.
Kyo
E
E
Tsujino
T
T
Sano
T
T
Niimoto
M
M
Tahara
E
E
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors; D066246:ErbB Receptors