title: Modulation of a high molecular weight form of transforming growth factor-alpha in human colon carcinoma cell lines.
abstract: The secretion of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) by several human colon carcinoma cell lines in tissue culture medium was examined. All of the cell lines tested secreted TGF-alpha to varying degrees. Bio-Gel P-30 chromatography of the conditioned media from three of these cell lines (HCT 116, MOSER, FET) indicated differences in the molecular weights of secreted TGF-alpha. In the HCT 116 cell line, the majority of the TGF-like activity had a molecular weight of less than 10,000. For both MOSER and FET cell lines, 20-30% of the TGF-like activity had a molecular weight greater than 15,000. When HCT 116 and MOSER cells were treated with differentiation inducing agents there was an increase in a TGF-alpha species whose molecular weight was greater than 20,000. This indicates a possible alteration in either the processing of the TGF-alpha precursor and/or secretion of precursor products by the different cell lines.
authors.affiliation: Bristol-Baylor Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Brattain
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004126:Dimethylformamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D014212:Tretinoin; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors; D004126:Dimethylformamide; D066246:ErbB Receptors