title: Autocrine growth loop of the epidermal growth factor receptor in normal and immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent growth factor for human normal bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells and lung cancer cells, which often demonstrate an EGF receptor (EGFR) autocrine loop. We have found that HBE cells are capable of proliferating in basal medium without EGF supplementation, and this suggests the probable presence of an active EGFR autocrine loop in non-neoplastic HBE cells. Northern blot hybridization shows that the parental and immortalized HBE cells express comparable and high levels of mRNA for EGFR, transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), and amphiregulin (AR), but not EGF. Incubation with neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against EGFR partially inhibits the growth of these cells. Immunohistochemistry shows that HBE cells express the TGF-alpha peptide in vitro and in vivo, however, neutralizing mAbs against TGF-alpha fail to inhibit their proliferation. In contrast, AR stimulates the growth of HBE cells. Thus, several EGF-family ligands appear to be involved functionally in the EGFR autocrine growth loop in HBE cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Montreal General Hospital, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Viallet
mesh_terms: D066258:Amphiregulin; D001980:Bronchi / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D002455:Cell Division; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C587848:AREG protein, human; D066258:Amphiregulin; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors