Comparative effects of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor on the growth of cultured human uterine leiomyoma cells and myometrial cells.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to investigate the comparative effects of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) on the growth of cultured human leiomyoma cells and myometrial cells.


METHODS
Isolated cells were subcultured in Phenol Red-free Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum for 120 h and then stepped down to serum-free conditions for an additional 24 and 48 h in the presence or absence of graded concentrations of HB-EGF (0.1, 1, 10 and 100 ng/ml). These cells were used for immunocytochemical analysis for Ki67, western blot analysis for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and human EGF receptor (HER1), and TdT (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase)-mediated dUDP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay.


RESULTS
Treatment with HB-EGF at concentrations >1 ng/ml significantly increased the Ki67-positive rate of cultured leiomyoma cells and myometrial cells. Treatment with HB-EGF also resulted in a dose-dependent increase in PCNA expression in both cells compared with untreated control cultures. A significant increase in PCNA expression in cultured myometrial cells was noted following treatment with HB-EGF at concentrations >1 ng/ml, whereas an increase in PCNA expression in cultured leiomyoma cells was noted following treatment with HB-EGF at concentrations >10 ng/ml. HER1 expression was significantly higher in untreated myometrial cells than in untreated leiomyoma cells. A significant increase in HER1 expression in myometrial cells was observed when treated with HB-EGF at concentrations >10 ng/ml, whereas a significant increase in HER1 expression in leiomyoma cells was noted only by the treatment with HB-EGF at concentrations >100 ng/ml. Treatment with HB-EGF decreased the TUNEL-positive rate of those cells with no significant differences between the two cell types.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained suggest that HB-EGF plays a role in stimulating the proliferation of leiomyoma cells and myometrial cells and in inhibiting apoptosis of those cells through augmentation of HER1 expression. Since the proliferative potential of myometrial cells responded better to HB-EGF than that of leiomyoma cells, HB-EGF may play a more vital role in myometrial growth than leiomyoma growth.
Wang
Jiayin
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan.
Ohara
Noriyuki
N
Takekida
Shigeki
S
Xu
Qin
Q
Maruo
Takeshi
T
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003856:Deoxyuracil Nucleotides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D003856:Deoxyuracil Nucleotides; C587883:HBEGF protein, human; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; C027078:deoxyuridine triphosphate; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors