title: Human embryonal carcinoma cells express low levels of functional receptor for epidermal growth factor.
abstract: Using immunological probes, we have detected expression of the receptor for epidermal growth factor (EGF) at the cell surface of the clonally-derived human embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell lines, 2102Ep cl. 4D3 and NTERA-2 cl. D1. By this method, the level of receptor expression by these cells is estimated to be 3- to 5-fold less than for the human diploid fibroblast cell line, WI38, and our results indicate that it is the EC stem cells that display this receptor and not a subpopulation of differentiated cells. The human EC cell receptor binds ligand and catalyses autophosphorylation at tyrosine in a normal fashion. Treatment of NTERA-2 cl. D1 cells with retinoic acid (RA) for 7 days to induce differentiation results in decreased levels of receptor expression, and a subpopulation of differentiated cells possessing a markedly higher level of the EGF receptor was not detected among the cultures exposed to RA for longer periods.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Carlin
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000032:analysis; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D005347:Fibroblasts; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000032:analysis*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014212:Tretinoin; D066246:ErbB Receptors