title: Interactions between stromal cell--derived keratinocyte growth factor and epithelial transforming growth factor in immune-mediated crypt cell hyperplasia.
abstract: Immune reactions in the gut are associated with increased epithelial cell proliferation. Here we have studied the role of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; FGF7) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) in the epithelial cell hyperplasia seen in explants of fetal human small intestine after activation of lamina propria T cells with the superantigen Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB). After the addition of SEB to the explants there is a 10-fold increase in KGF mRNA by 72 h of culture. KGF transcripts were abundant in the lamina propria using in situ hybridization and the culture supernatants contained elevated amounts of KGF protein. SEB had no direct effect on KGF mRNA and protein production by cultured lamina propria mesenchymal cells, but both were upregulated by TNF-alpha. Accompanying the increase in KGF there was also an increase in TGF-alpha precursor proteins in the culture supernatants and the phosphorylated form of the EGFR receptor was also detected in the tissue. Increased TGF-alpha precursor proteins were also detected in the supernatants of control explants stimulated with KGF alone. The direct addition of KGF and TGF-alpha enhanced epithelial cell proliferation and antibodies against KGF and TGF-alpha partially inhibited SEB-induced crypt hyperplasia. These results suggest molecular cross-talk between the KGF/KGFR and the TGF-alpha/EGFR in immune-mediated crypt cell hyperplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, St. Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bajaj-Elliott
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poulsom
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pender
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Wathen
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D004347:Drug Interactions; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D005333:Fetus; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000209:etiology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D017154:Stromal Cells; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D004768:Enterotoxins; C496453:FGF7 protein, human; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D006133:Growth Substances; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018089:Superantigens; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D016559:Tacrolimus