Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces apoptosis in a transfected cell line expressing EGF receptor on its membrane.
Interaction between epidermal growth factor (EGF) and EGF receptor (EGFR) promotes cell growth in most cell lines, but in a number of cell lines, EGF paradoxically inhibits proliferation. In the present study, we established a cell line expressing full-length human EGFR on membrane with a GFP fluorescence reporter at the C-terminal and studied the effects of EGF on cell proliferation in the transfected cell line. Our results suggested that low concentrations of EGF promoted proliferation, while high concentrations of EGF induced loss of adhesion, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and inhibition of proliferation. The effects of EGF on cell proliferation correlated well with the expression levels of EGFR. High concentrations of EGF induced both EGFR expression and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Our study reported, for the first time, a relationship between the effects of EGF on cell proliferation and levels of EGFR expression in one cell line expressing different levels of EGFR caused by different concentrations of EGF treatment. The study should provide considerable insight into the effects of EGF on cell proliferation and tumor cell metastasis.
Zhao
Xiaorong
X
Laboratory of Molecular and Immuno-Pharmacology, Department of Immunology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13#, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Dai
Wentao
W
Zhu
Huifen
H
Zhang
Yue
Y
Cao
Limin
L
Ye
Qing
Q
Lei
Ping
P
Shen
Guanxin
G
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors