Relationship between androgen-induced cell proliferation and sensitivity to exogenous growth factors.
The relationship between growth factor responses and androgen-induced cell proliferation was studied in a mouse renal tumor (RAG) cell line, a hybrid (F614B16) rat prostate x RAG cell line, and an 8-azaguanine-resistant revertant of the F614B16 cell line. The hybrid F614B16 cells are very sensitive to androgens; treatment with 20 nM 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone accelerated cell growth in the presence or absence of serum. In contrast, the RAG cells and 8-azaguanine-resistant F614B16 cells responded to 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone only in the absence of serum. Variation in the proliferative response to androgens among these cell lines was associated with variation in growth factor sensitivity. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) stimulated basal and androgen-induced growth of F614B16 cells in serum-free and serum-supplemented media, whereas it inhibited RAG cell growth. Basic FGF stimulated basal, but not androgen-induced growth of revertant F614B16 cells. The cell lines also differed in sensitivity to epidermal growth factor, which had no effect on hybrid cell growth but inhibited RAG and revertant cell growth in a dose-dependent fashion in serum-free media. The results of these studies suggest that androgen-sensitivity is associated with a positive response to FGF and insensitivity to exogenous epidermal growth factor.
Judge
S M
SM
Department of Urology Surgery, University of Chicago, Illinois 60637.
Kanter
A M
AM
D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006822:Hybrid Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011467:Prostate; D051381:Rats; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000728:Androgens; D006133:Growth Substances; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor