title: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor induces expression of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor/diphtheria toxin receptor and sensitivity to diphtheria toxin in human neutrophils.
abstract: Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a widely expressed EGF superfamily member that induces mitogenic and/or chemotactic activities toward different cell types through binding to EGF receptors 1 or 4. Membrane-bound HB-EGF exerts growth activity and adhesion capabilities and possesses the unique property of being the receptor for diphtheria toxin (DT). Using molecular and functional techniques, we show that human polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN), which did not express HB-EGF in resting conditions, expressed it at mRNA and protein level, following incubation with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Other classic agonists for PMN (including lipopolysaccharide, phagocytable particles, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or G-CSF) failed to induce HB-EGF. The effects of GM-CSF on HB-EGF mRNA levels were concentration-dependent, reached a plateau after 1 to 2 hours of stimulation, and did not require protein synthesis. After GM-CSF treatment, membrane-bound HB-EGF was detected by flow cytometry. At the same time, PMN acquired sensitivity to the apoptosis-promoting effect of DT, which, moreover, specifically suppressed the GM-CSF-induced priming of formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-stimulated superoxide anion release. Finally, soluble HB-EGF was detected in the PMN culture medium by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Thus, we provide evidence that HB-EGF is specifically inducible by GM-CSF in PMN and represents a novel peptide to be included in the repertoire of PMN-derived cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Hematology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. VINANTE@borgoroma.univr.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vinante
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rigo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scapini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pizzolo
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cassatella
mesh_terms: D004167:Diphtheria Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D004167:Diphtheria Toxin; C587883:HBEGF protein, human; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor