Trophic effect of multiple growth factors in amniotic fluid or human milk on cultured human fetal small intestinal cells.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of growth factors in amniotic fluid and in human milk on gastrointestinal adaptation of the fetus and very low-birth-weight infants, the effects of these fluids and multiple growth factors were investigated in a human fetal small intestinal cell line (FHs 74 Int).


METHODS
After FHs 74 Int cells were incubated with amniotic fluid, human milk, or recombinant growth factors, growth-promoting activity was measured by [3H]-thymidine incorporation into cells.


RESULTS
Incubating cells with amniotic fluid or human milk promoted growth dose dependently. Genistein almost completely inhibited growth-promoting activity in amniotic fluid P = 0.002), and growth was partially inhibited by antibodies against epidermal growth factor (EGF) (P = 0.047), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1, P = 0.047), or fibroblast growth factor (FGF, P = 0.014). This activity in human milk was inhibited almost completely by genistein (P < 0.0001) and partially inhibited by antibodies against EGF (P = 0.036), IGF-1 (P = 0.009), FGF (P = 0.004), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF, P = 0.001), or transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha, P = 0.001). Although recombinant EGF, IGF-1, FGF, HGF, and TGF-alpha elicited a synergistic trophic response on cultured cells, the response was much less than with amniotic fluid or with human milk.


CONCLUSIONS
In aminiotic fluid and in human milk, EGF, IGF-1, FGF, HGF, and TGF-alpha have a strong trophic effect on immature intestinal cells and may be involved in perinatal gastrointestinal adaptation.
Hirai
Chie
C
Department of Pediatrics, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
Ichiba
Hiroyuki
H
Saito
Mika
M
Shintaku
Haruo
H
Yamano
Tsunekazu
T
Kusuda
Satoshi
S
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D014316:Tritium
D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D006133:Growth Substances; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D014316:Tritium; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D019833:Genistein