Neuregulin stimulates DNA synthesis in embryonic chick heart cells.
Neuregulins are a family of growth factors that have been shown to promote the growth or differentiation of various cell types. Recently, targeted mutations of the genes for neuregulins or their putative receptors by homologous recombination resulted in embryonic lethality characterized by cardiac malformation. Here we investigate a role for neuregulin in the growth of cultured chick heart cells. Neuregulin induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 185-kDa protein in cultured heart cells, and it also stimulated an increase in [(3)H]thymidine incorporation and BrDU labeling in the cell cultures. Immunocytochemistry revealed that the increased DNA synthesis was primarily in mesenchymal cells and not detected in myocytes or endocardial cells. These data suggest that neuregulin may function as a paracrine signal in mesenchymal-endothelial interactions during cardiac development.
Ford
B D
BD
Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Loeb
J A
JA
Fischbach
G D
GD
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004699:Endocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D019000:Phosphotyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D020890:Neuregulin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019000:Phosphotyrosine; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D004247:DNA; D013936:Thymidine