title: The mitogenic effect of KGF and the expression of its cell surface receptor on cultured normal and malignant human oral keratinocytes and on contiguous fibroblasts.
abstract: This study examined the mitogenic response to keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) of normal and tumour-derived human oral keratinocytes in which the degree of cellular differentiation was known and in contiguous fibroblast cultures derived from the malignant epithelial cultures. Keratinocytes, but not fibroblasts, were stimulated by KGF, thereby demonstrating epithelial target cell specificity of the ligand. KGF-induced stimulation of the tumour-derived keratinocytes cultured in the absence of the 3T3 fibroblast support broadly correlated with the degree of cellular differentiation; well-differentiated keratinocytes were stimulated more by KGF than their less differentiated counterparts. Malignant oral keratinocytes expressed KGF cell surface receptors (KD 451-709 pM; receptors/cell 2306-13645), but KGF receptor mRNA did not correlate with either KGF-induced mitogenesis or the degree of epithelial cell differentiation. When the tumour-derived keratinocytes were cultured in the presence of 3T3 fibroblasts, the mitogenic response to KGF was comparable to normal epithelial cells. The results suggest that KGF-mediated growth stimulation may not be significant in providing a selective advantage for the growth of malignant keratinocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Dental Science, University of Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Drugan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Game
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Prime
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005260:Female; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C496453:FGF7 protein, human; C496454:Fgf7 protein, mouse; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D006133:Growth Substances; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; C065104:keratinocyte growth factor receptor