title: Regulation of production of a platelet-derived growth factor-like protein by cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells.
abstract: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a potent mitogen for cultured cells of mesenchymal origin. Known sources of PDGF or PDGF-like protein are blood platelets, several transformed cell lines, and cultured endothelial cells (EC). We have examined the regulation of production of a PDGF-like protein in cultures of bovine aortic EC using a specific radioreceptor assay for PDGF. EC constitutively secreted PDGF-like protein into serum-containing or serum-free medium. The rate of production of PDGF-like protein was constant for at least 3 weeks and was not due to release of an internal store, since cell lysis by repeated freeze/thaw cycles did not release significant amounts of the protein. Synthesis of PDGF-like protein was sensitive to changes in the pH of the media and was maximal at pH 8.5. Production of PDGF-like protein was independent of EC growth rate: rapidly dividing cells and confluent, quiescent cells produced equal amounts per cell. However, sparse, quiescent EC produced more PDGF-like protein per cell than did confluent, quiescent cells. Several phorbol esters stimulated production of PDGF-like protein. At a concentration of 10(-6) M, a twofold stimulation was observed upon addition of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and nearly a fourfold stimulation upon addition of the nonpromoting analog, methyl TPA. Incubation of EC with endotoxin (10 micrograms/ml) resulted in a twofold stimulation of PDGF-like protein production. In all experiments with endotoxin and phorbol esters, an increase in the production of PDGF-like protein was accompanied by morphological changes in the EC cultures. The cells appeared elongated and fibroblastic and exhibited low viability. A mathematical model was developed in which PDGF-like protein production was shown to consist of two separate components--production at a constant rate by healthy cells and a large burst of synthesis and secretion by dying cells. These results suggest that injurious agents may be capable of stimulating production of a growth factor by the endothelium.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004261:DNA Replication; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007700:Kinetics; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; C020922:4-O-methyl-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate