Induction of apoptosis in a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line by a neutralizing antibody to transforming growth factor-alpha.
A cell line derived from a Japanese man with hepatocellular carcinoma was established in culture and designated OCUH-16. The cell line has the morphological and chromosomal features of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and has a short doubling time (approximately 33 h). OCUH-16 cells were shown to express transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) in addition to albumin, DNA polymerase-alpha, c-JUN, and the retinoblastoma gene product. Electron microscopy revealed TGF-alpha immunoreactivity associated with the cell membrane, but TGF-alpha was not detected in medium conditioned by OCUH-16 cells by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed the presence of TGF-alpha messenger RNA in these cells. Culture of OCUH-16 cells in the presence of a neutralizing antibody to TGF-alpha inhibited cell proliferation and induced many cells to undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death). These observations suggest that endogenous TGF-alpha is necessary for OCUH-16 cell growth.
Seki
S
S
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.
Sakai
Y
Y
Kitada
T
T
Kawakita
N
N
Yanai
A
A
Tsutsui
H
H
Sakaguchi
H
H
Kuroki
T
T
Monna
T
T
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000276:immunology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha