Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor is a potent mitogen for rat hepatocytes.
We examined the hepatotrophic activity of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), a recently identified potent mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. HB-EGF stimulated DNA synthesis of rat hepatocytes in primary culture in a dose-dependent manner up to 30 ng/ml. The maximal stimulation by HB-EGF represented more than 80% of that induced by HGF. In normal rat liver, the transcript of HB-EGF gene was detected in the non-parenchymal cells and very low level in the hepatocytes. In the regenerating liver on the 3rd day after 70% hepatectomy, the HB-EGF mRNA increased in the non-parenchymal cells, suggesting that HB-EGF may contribute to liver regeneration through a paracrine mechanism.
Ito
N
N
Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Kawata
S
S
Tamura
S
S
Kiso
S
S
Tsushima
H
H
Damm
D
D
Abraham
J A
JA
Higashiyama
S
S
Taniguchi
N
N
Matsuzawa
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D006498:Hepatectomy; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013936:Thymidine; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
C587885:Hbegf protein, rat; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D004247:DNA; D013936:Thymidine