title: Laminin-1 and epidermal growth factor family members co-stimulate fetal pancreas cell proliferation and colony formation.
abstract: The epidermal growth factor (EGF) family is implicated in the development and function of multiple cells and organs, including the pancreas. We used a serum-free, low-cell density culture system to investigate the effect of EGFs on fetal pancreas cells. By RT-PCR, the EGF receptors ErbB 1-3 were detected in the developing mouse pancreas between embryonic day (E) 13.5 and E17.5, whereas ErbB4 was not detected until E17.5. The presence but not absence of the basement membrane glycoprotein laminin-1, betacellulin, and to a lesser extent EGF, transforming growth factor alpha, heparin binding EGF, and epiregulin induced E15.5 pancreatic cells to proliferate and form cystoid and solid colonies. These results demonstrate that laminin-1 and EGF signaling pathways interact to promote pancreas development.
authors.affiliation: Autoimmunity and Transplantation Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville 3050, Australia. jiang@wehi.edu.au
authors.forename: Fang-Xu
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Leonard C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007797:Laminin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D006133:Growth Substances; D007797:Laminin; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; C121346:laminin 1