title: Activated mesothelial cells produce heparin-binding growth factors: implications for tumour metastases.
abstract: Curative surgery for gastrointestinal malignancy is commonly thwarted by local tumour recurrence. The heparin-binding growth factors, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and vascular epidermal growth factor (VEGF) are all implicated in the metastatic process, but whether or not these essential growth factors are produced by the activated peritoneum is unknown. This study reveals that peritoneal mesothelial cells constitutively express mRNA for bFGF, HB-EGF and two VEGF spliced variants, VEGF121 and VEGF165. Mesothelial activation with interleukin (IL)-1b or tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-a produced an up-regulation of mRNA for HB-EGF and VEGF, but not bFGF expression. IL-6 failed to stimulate growth factor expression, whereas IL-2 produced a marked suppression in HB-EGF and bFGF, but not VEGF expression. Mesothelial cells were shown to predominantly express mRNA for the intermediate affinity (bg(c)) IL-2 receptor. Cytokine-induced growth factor up-regulation was confirmed at the protein level using Western blotting of mesothelial cell lysates for HB-EGF and culture supernatant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for VEGF. The production of these growth factors by human mesothelial cells may play a significant role in post-operative peritoneal tumour recurrence. Their common heparin-binding property offers a potential therapeutic target for manipulating the growth factor environment of the human peritoneum.
authors.affiliation: Professorial Surgical Unit, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Jayne
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Farmery
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Guillou
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010537:Peritoneum; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C587883:HBEGF protein, human; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C070699:FGFBP1 protein, human; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor