Number Of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors Research Articles

Insulin-EGF receptor chimerae mediate tyrosine transphosphorylation and serine/threonine phosphorylation of kinase-deficient EGF receptors

To study cross-talk between unoccupied epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors and activated EGF receptor kinases, we have used double-transfected cells, IHE2 cells, expressing both an enzymatically active insulin-EGF chimeric receptor and an inactive kinase EGF receptor mutant. Using immunoaffinity-purified receptors, we show that insulin increased phosphorylation of the insulin-EGF chimeric beta subunit and of the kinase-deficient EGF receptor. Stimulation of intact IHE2 cells with insulin leads to a rapid tyrosine autophosphorylation of the insulin-EGF chimeric beta subunit and to tyrosine phosphorylation of the unoccupied kinase-deficient EGF receptor. Insulin-stimulated transphosphorylation of the kinase-deficient EGF receptor yields the same pattern of tryptic phosphopeptides as those in EGF-induced autophosphorylation of the wild-type human EGF receptor. We conclude that insulin, through activation of the insulin-EGF chimeric receptor, mediates transphosphorylation of the kinase-deficient EGF receptor, further confirming that EGF receptor autophosphorylation may proceed by an intermolecular mechanism. In addition to receptor tyrosine phosphorylation, we find that exposure of cells to insulin results in enhanced phosphorylation on serine and threonine residues of the unoccupied kinase-deficient EGF receptor. These results suggest that insulin-EGF chimeric receptor activation stimulates at least one serine/threonine kinase, which in turn phosphorylates the kinase-deficient EGF receptor. Finally, we show that transphosphorylation and coexpression of an active kinase cause a decrease in the number of cell surface kinase-deficient EGF receptors without increasing their degradation rate.

Progesterone augments proliferation induced by epidermal growth factor in a feline mammary adenocarcinoma cell line

Steroid hormones and peptide growth factors promote growth and development of normal mammary tissues and some types of breast cancer. Ovarian steroids may influence mammary growth directly or indirectly. The epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of proteins may also regulate mammary growth. These two pathways may function independently of each other or they may act in concert, with steroids inducing transcription of genes that encode growth factors or growth factor receptors. We used a feline mammary adenocarcinoma cell line (K12) to address whether there was an interrelation between progesterone (PGN) and EGF-associated growth pathways. K12 cells responded to EGF by a dose-dependent increase in proliferation. PGN or promegestone (R5020, a synthetic progestagen) alone did not stimulate K12 growth, but when EGF and PGN, or EGF and R5020 were combined, they were synergistic. This synergistic response was abrogated by the PGN receptor antagonist RU486 or by antibodies that blocked binding of EGF to its receptor. K12 cells expressed characteristic double-affinity EGF receptors, as well as p185 (a functionally and structurally related protein, product of the neu gene) on their surface. PGN receptors were also found on intact cells and in cleared cytosols. Stimulation of K12 cells by PGN or by R5020 induced a two- to threefold increase in the number of high-affinity surface EGF receptors after 24 h. Stimulation of these cells by PGN also affected the relative levels of phosphorylation of the EGF receptor and p185 within minutes, but not of other cellular phosphoproteins. Our results show that PGN enhances the EGF-induced growth of K12 cells and suggest that this effect may be mediated at least partly via an increase in the number or function of high-affinity EGF receptors.

Ontogeny of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase in rat liver

The binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to its receptor and the activity of the receptor intrinsic protein-tyrosine kinase were studied during the ontogeny of rat liver. The number of EGF receptors during pre- and postnatal development was first compared in crude liver plasma membranes using 1) specific binding of 125I-labeled EGF and 2) immunoblot analysis using any antireceptor polyclonal rabbit antibody. Both methods detected the expression of the EGF receptor in fetal rat liver on day 17 of gestation, but in an amount markedly less than the adult. Within 24 h, there was a more than twofold increase in EGF binding to plasma membranes as well as a marked increase in receptor immunoreactivity. However, after birth, there was a precipitous drop in receptor number to less than 20% of the adult level by the end of the first postnatal day (P less than 0.001). Next, the presence of EGF-stimulated tyrosine kinase activity (autophosphorylation) was determined during the same stages of development. Electrophoresis of membranes phosphorylated in the presence or absence of EGF followed by autoradiography demonstrated autokinase activity stimulated by EGF in day 18 and 19 fetal liver plasma membranes, but not in membranes on day 17 of gestation. Similar to the pattern observed with EGF binding, there was a decrease in autokinase activity in early neonatal plasma membranes followed by an increase to near adult levels by 7 days postnatally. Quantitation of the amount of 32P radioactivity associated with the EGF receptor bands in each age group, correlated with the degree of autophosphorylation assessed by autoradiography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Interferon-Induced Modulation of Epidermal Growth Factor-Stimulated Growth of a Human Breast Tumor Cell Line

We have determined that interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and IFN-gamma inhibit the growth of a human breast tumor cell line, S4, in vitro. Cells were more sensitive to the antiproliferative effects of low-dose IFN-gamma than IFN-alpha. As the growth of the S4 cell line is enhanced by epidermal growth factor (EGF), we examined the effect of IFN on EGF-dependent growth of S4 cells. Cells plated in 2.5% serum alone failed to grow. EGF stimulated these cells to grow more than twofold. IFN substantially attenuated the EGF-stimulated growth of S4 cells. Binding of EGF to its receptor was unaffected by pretreatment of cells with IFN-alpha. However, a 24-h exposure of cells to IFN-gamma significantly increased the number of EGF receptors on S4 cells. Internalization of the EGF receptor was unaffected by IFN treatment. Binding remained elevated through 4 days of IFN-gamma exposure. Scatchard analysis of receptor binding data revealed that IFN-gamma increased the number of binding sites without changing the affinity of the receptor for its ligand. These results demonstrate that IFN inhibits EGF-stimulated growth of a breast tumor cell line and suggest that the antiproliferative effect of IFN may be due, in part, to its interaction with growth factor-initiated pathways.

Binding of epidermal growth factor-dextran conjugates to cultured glioma cells

Some gliomas, melanomas and squamous carcinomas have large numbers of EGF receptors which could, in these cases, be used for targeting with toxic agents. We investigated whether EGF could be conjugated to dextran, which is a suitable carrier for toxic agents, without losing its ability to bind to the receptor. Dextran of 20 kDa molecular weight was activated with I-cyano-4-dimethylamino pyridinium tetrafluoroborate (CDAP) yielding highly active pyridinium-isourea derivatives. EGF was coupled to the activated dextran through the amino terminus and glycine was added to block residual activity. The EGF-dextran conjugate was, after purification on Sephadex G25 and Sephacryl 200 columns, tested for its receptor binding properties on human malignant glioma, U343MGaC12:6, cells. The conjugate inhibited binding of 125I-EGF in a competitive assay, showing that the binding was receptor-specific. Dextran conjugated with glycine, without EGF, had no inhibitory effect. The conjugate was radio-labelled either on the EGF part with 125I or on the dextran part with 3H-glycine, and the internalization patterns were compared to the internalization of 125I-EGF. The radioactivity of the conjugates remained cell-associated for more than 20 hr, regardless of whether the radioactivity was on the EGF or on the dextran part, while the radioactivity of unconjugated EGF rapidly disappeared from the cells. Most of the cell-associated radioactivity was, at all analysed time intervals, located intracellularly. Thus, it seems promising to use dextran, conjugated with EGF, as a carrier of, for example, toxic radioactive nuclides.

Psoralen binding and inhibition of epidermal growth factor binding by psoralen/ ultraviolet light (PUVA) in human epithelial cells

The psoralen analogs 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and 4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen (TMP), in combination with ultraviolet light (UVA, 320–400 nm), are potent modulators of epidermal cell growth and differentiation and are commonly used in photochemotherapy of psoriasis and vitiligo. We have used KB cells, a human epithelial cell line, to examine the mechanism of action of these compounds. In KB cells, 8-MOP was found to bind to specific, saturable receptor sites. Binding of [ 3H]-8-MOP to its receptor was inhibited by TMP as well as psoralen. We found that binding of these analogs to the cells followed by UVA light treatment was associated with inhibition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor binding. Inhibition of EGF binding was temperature dependent, occurred immediately following UVA light exposure, and appeared to be due to a decrease in the number of EGF receptors. In KB cells, 125I-labeled EGF surface receptor binding is followed by its rapid internalization and degradation. We found that photoactivated psoralens also inhibited internalization of 125I-EGF, but had no apparent effect on EGF metabolism. These data indicate that the cell surface membrane may be an important target for the photoactivated psoralens. In addition, since photoactivated psoralens regulate cell proliferation, the interaction of these compounds with EGF receptor function may underlie their biological activity.

Epidermal growth factor treatment of A431 cells alters the binding capacity and electrophoretic mobility of the cytoskeletally associated epidermal growth factor receptor

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor interacts with structural elements of A431 cells and remains associated with the cytoskeleton following extraction with nonionic detergents. Extraction of cells with 0.15% Triton X-100 resulted in detection of only approximately 40% of the EGF binding sites on the cytoskeleton. If the cells were exposed to EGF prior to extraction, approximately twofold higher levels of low-affinity EGF binding sites were detected. The difference in number of EGF binding sites was not a consequence of differences in numbers of EGF receptors associated with the cytoskeleton; equal amounts of 35S-labeled receptor were immunoprecipitated from the cytoskeletons of both control and EGF-treated cells. The effect of EGF pretreatment on binding activity was coincident with a change in the mobility of the receptor from a doublet of Mr approximately 160-180 kDa to a single sharp band at 180 kDa. The alteration in receptor mobility was not a simple consequence of receptor phosphorylation in that the alteration was not reversed by alkaline phosphatase treatment, nor was the shift produced by treatment of the cells with phorbol ester. The two EGF receptor species demonstrated differential susceptibility to V8 proteinase digestion. The EGF-induced 180 kDa species was preferentially digested by the proteinase relative to the 160 kDa species, indicating that EGF binding results in a conformational change in the receptor. The EGF-mediated preservation of binding activity and altered conformation may be related to receptor oligomerization.

Regulation of growth of LNCaP human prostate tumor cells by growth factors and steroid hormones

The mitogenic activity of several growth factors on androgen responsive LNCaP human prostate tumor cells was studied. A two-fold stimulation of cell proliferation was observed after a culture period of 6 days in 1 ng EGF/ml, 10 ng TGF-α/ml or 20 ng basic FGF/ml. TGF-β (0.02 ng/ml), which did not affect cell proliferation when added alone to the culture medium, inhibited the EGF- and TGF-α-induced growth. The synthetic androgen R1881 (0.1 nM) stimulated cell proliferation three-fold and increased the number of EGF receptors from 11500 to 28500 sites/cell. One of the mechanisms involved in androgen action on these cells in therefore an increased EGF receptor expression and increased sensitivity to EGF. TGF-β did not directly affect androgen-responsive growth but inhibited the synergistic effect of EGF. A considerable expression of TGFα (precursors) could be demonstrated on the cells by immunohistochemical staining. However the staining intensity was not affected by androgens. These results make it less likely that androgen-responsive growth is mediated by regulation of secretion of an EGF- or TGFga-likely activity, which in turn acts in an autocrine manner to stimulate growth. Estrogens, progestagens and antiandrogens do not inhibit androgen responsive growth of LNCaP cells but have striking growth stimulatory effects, increase EGF receptor level and increase acid phosphatase secretion. LNCaP cells contain a modified androgen receptor system with respect to both steroid specificity and antiandrogen sensitivity. It has recently been shown that the stimulatory effects are due to a mut of the androgen receptor.

Response to epidermal growth factor of skin fibroblasts from donors of varying age is modulated by the extracellular matrix

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the biosynthetic activity of skin fibroblasts from donors of varying age and the modulation of their response to this growth factor by culture in a three-dimensional extracellular matrix. When cultured in monolayer on plastic or at the surface of a collagen gel, EGF specifically inhibited collagen synthesis whatever the age of the donor (from 17 to 84 years, n = 11). This inhibition was paralleled by a significant decrease in the steady-state level of procollagen type I mRNAs. When embedded in a three-dimensional floating collagen lattice, EGF stimulated the non-collagen protein (NCP) synthesis in fibroblasts from younger donors (5 out of 6) while fibroblasts from the older ones were not affected. Collagen production by fibroblasts from younger donors was not inhibited as in monolayer (some being even stimulated) while that of the older donors was inhibited as observed in monolayer. The steady-state level of procollagen type I mRNA was not modified by EGF in the three-dimensional culture. No significant difference was observed in the affinity and the number of EGF receptors of the fibroblasts on plastic or embedded in a collagen lattice between young and aged donors. Our results suggest that the environment of the cells can modulate the reactivity to EGF and reveal differences related to in vivo aging.

Epidermal growth factor regulates the in vitro sensitivity of human ovarian carcinoma cells to cisplatin.

Cisplatin (DDP) is the most effective drug for the treatment of human ovarian cancer, but the mechanisms that determine sensitivity to the cytotoxic action of DDP are not well understood. Treatment of two human ovarian carcinoma cell lines with epidermal growth factor (EGF) simultaneously increased sensitivity to DDP and caused a persistent change in morphology in the absence of any mitogenic effect. Sensitization to DDP was shown to be dependent on both EGF concentration and EGF receptor number in C127 mouse fibroblasts expressing the human EGF receptor after transfection with a pBPV plasmid construct containing the human EGF receptor gene under control of the transferrin receptor 3'-inducible regulator. Sensitization of human ovarian carcinoma cells to DDP was not blocked by inhibition of protein synthesis. EGF did not enhance sensitivity to DDP or alter morphology in DDP-resistant human ovarian carcinoma cells despite the presence of functional EGF receptors on these cells. These results showed that elements of the signal transduction pathway activated by EGF determined cellular sensitivity to DDP, and that a DDP-resistant phenotype is associated with a defect in this signal transduction pathway.

Epidermal growth factor binding and receptor distribution in the mouse reproductive tract during development

The ontogeny of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in the different cell types in the neonatal and immature mouse uterus and vagina was examined. Immunohistochemical examination of prenatal and neonatal reproductive tracts with a polyclonal antibody to the EGF receptor shows immunoreactive EGF receptors as early as Day 13 of gestation. Autoradiographic analysis of tissue sections at 3 to 17 days of age (the day of birth is Day 1) demonstrates that both uterine and vaginal epithelial and stromal cells are capable of binding 125I-labeled EGF. Both the 125I-labeled EGF autoradiography and immunohistochemistry in whole tissue show higher EGF receptor levels in the uterine epithelium than the uterine stroma. The presence of EGF receptors was also confirmed by affinity labeling and Scatchard analysis of isolated uterine cell types at 7 and/or 17 days of age. However, in contrast to the autoradiography and immunohistochemistry data of intact tissue, the affinity labeling and Scatchard data of isolated cells indicate that the uterine stroma contains higher levels of EGF receptor than that of the uterine epithelium. The reason for this discrepancy between the different techniques is, as yet, unknown. Regardless of the differences in the actual numbers of EGF receptors obtained, our data demonstrate that the developing mouse reproductive tract contains immunoreactive EGF receptors that are capable of binding 125I-labeled EGF.

Increased cell surface EGF receptor expression during the butyrate-induced differentiation of human HCT-116 colon tumor cell clones

Several clonal sublines of HCT-116 human colon adenocarcinoma cells were isolated and characterized on the basis of their growth characteristics, intrinsic enterocyte-like differentiation (as assessed by alkaline phosphatase and lactase activities), and responses to butyrate, an inducer of colon tumor cell maturation. The HCT-116 sublines were found to be heterogeneous and several phenotypically distinct clones were identified. Further characterization of these clones indicated that the effects of butyrate on cell growth, alkaline phosphatase activity, and lactase activity were distinct and separable. The growth of all of the clones was inhibited by butyrate (IC 50 values varied from 0.44 to 1.5 m M), but the effects of this agent on alkaline phosphatase and lactase activities varied widely. In several sublines butyrate had no effect on either enzyme while in others one or both activities were induced. Additionally, the binding of 125I-epidermal growth factor (EGF) to cell surface receptors was found to be proportional to the expression of lactase activity in the cell. The D3 clone and other sublines with intrinsic lactase activities greater than 100 nmol/mg/min expressed a class of high-affinity EGF receptors (e.g., D3 cells had 3.48 × 10 4 EGF receptors/cell with a k d of 0.61 n M). Other clones with less lactase activity had undetectable levels of 125I-EGF binding. In clones which exhibited greater than twofold increases in lactase activity in response to butyrate, the expression of a large number of low-affinity EGF receptors was also induced. In one such clone, the P1 subline, lactase activity was increased from 70 nmol/mg/min to 230 nmol/mg/min after 96 h in 2 m M butyrate, and the expression of EGF receptors was increased from undetectable levels to 1.18 × 10 5 EGF receptors/cell ( k d of 3.2 n M). Northern blot analysis indicated that the increased 125I-EGF binding after butyrate treatment may have been due, in part, to a greater than twofold accumulation of EGF receptor mRNA. In addition, the expression of the messages for transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) was examined in butyrate-treated cells. While TGF-α mRNA levels were found to correlate with EGF receptor message levels in the HCT-116 clones, TGF-β mRNA expression was not found to correlate with the butyrate-induced growth inhibition or with increases in EGF receptor expression, alkaline phosphatase activity, or lactase activity in these cells.

Epidermal growth factor stimulation and metastatic rate in human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines

Pancreatic carcinoma is usually a fatal disease with most patients dying of metastases. We have developed several pancreatic carcinoma cell lines that have varying metastatic abilities in a splenic injection/liver metastasis model. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a mitogen to most cell types with increased levels of EGF receptor. The parent cell line (COLO-357) of the pancreatic carcinoma cell lines used in this study has been shown to have a high number of EGF receptors per cell. We studied the relationship between the mitogenic responsiveness to EGF and the metastatic rate of each of the cell lines. Three of the six cell lines were significantly stimulated by EGF as determined by an increase in cell number over the course of 4 days, and three of the cell lines were not. There was no correlation between metastatic rate and EGF responsiveness. Further work will be needed to determine if there is any relationship between growth factors and their receptors and tumor metastasis with these pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) Receptors in Human Chorionic Gonadotropin-Producing Tumor: Transplantation in Nude Mice and the Effect of EGF on Tumor Growth

We examined the presence and characteristics of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors in hCG producing tumors (CC-2-JCK) transplanted in female nude mice. We also examined the in vivo effects of EGF on tumor growth. Specific receptors with apparent dissociation constants of 3.89 x 10(-10) and 1.0 x 10(-9) M and binding capacities of 5.96 x 10(-10) and 1.52 x 10(-9) M/mg protein for EGF have been identified in the hCG-producing tumor. [125I]EGF binding to the tumor tissues was time, temperature, and tissue weight dependent and specific. EGF and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) competed for [125I]EGF binding, with 50% of the bound [125I]EGF displaced by approximately 0.52 nM EGF and 3.10 nM TGF alpha. TGF beta competed for [125I]EGF binding slightly. Five micrograms of EGF caused an increase in the rate of tumor growth, while 50 micrograms EGF strongly inhibited tumor growth. The concentration of [125I]EGF binding in the tumor treated with low doses of EGF was high, and that in the tumor treated with high doses of EGF was low. These changes in EGF binding were attributable to the changes in the number of high affinity EGF receptors with no significant alteration in binding affinity. In conclusion, the existence of high concentrations of EGF receptors with high affinity and specificity to EGF was demonstrated in an hCG-producing tumor transplanted in nude mice and appeared to be correlated with tumor growth.

Toxicity and effects of epidermal growth factor on glucose metabolism of MDA-468 human breast cancer cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has an in vitro inhibitory effect on tumor cells which exhibit a high number of EGF receptors (EGFR). Studies were performed in order to delineate the effects of EGF on glucose metabolism of MDA-468 human breast cancer cells, which have a large number of EGFR. Glucose consumption and lactate production were found to be substantially increased in MDA-468 cells following EGF exposure, while no such effects were detected in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, which have a very low number of EGFR. When glucose levels in the growth medium were increased, the toxicity of EGF was diminished. The energetic status of MDA-468 cells perfused with growth medium containing EGF was monitored by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and no signs of compromised metabolic state or viability were noted for up to 36 h. The rate of glucose transport and phosphorylation was quantitated by 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy, utilizing [6-13C]2-deoxyglucose, and a 97% increase was found in MDA-468 cells following EGF administration. The profound effects of EGF on glucose metabolism in cells with very high numbers of EGFR and the lack of toxicity in the perfused system may indicate that the growth-inhibitory effect is confined to the in vitro cultured cells.

Epidermal growth factor labeled .beta.-amanitin-poly-L-ornithine: preparation and evidence for specific cytotoxicity

Poly-L-ornithine with an average molecular weight of 32K was reacted with beta-amanitin hydroxysuccinimide ester to form an amide-linked toxin conjugate. Loading of the polymeric chain with amanitin was high, corresponding to up to 35% of the total weight. To this amatoxin vehicle we attached a targeting molecule, human recombinant leucine-21 epidermal growth factor (hrEGFL), via a disulfide-containing linker moiety. A typical average stoichiometry of the hrEGFL labeled toxin conjugate was (L-Orn)164(beta-amanitin)19(COC2H4SSC2H4CO-hrEGFL)2. The affinity for EGF receptors of hrEGFL bound in this conjugate was tested by using A 431 cells. The affinity was eight times lower than that of unsubstituted hrEGFL but regarded as high enough for studying specific toxicity effects with cells bearing EGF receptors. We found that beta-amanitin in the labeled conjugate was able to inhibit the growth of A 431 cells at a concentration of 28 nM, 80 times lower than for native beta-amanitin and 20 times lower than for poly-L-ornithine-bound beta-amanitin without the hrEGFL label. The approximately 20-fold enhancement of cytotoxicity suggests a specific internalization of the toxin conjugate mediated by the hormone label. This idea is supported by the fact that also in another transformed fibroblast cell line, with an increased though smaller number of EGF receptors than A 431 cells, the corresponding enhancement of cytotoxicity was demonstrable but less pronounced (7-fold). The hormone-mediated increase in cytotoxicity of EGF labeled poly-L-ornithine-beta-amanitin conjugates, combined with their moderate toxicity in the mouse, encourages further examination of such compounds in tumor model systems in vivo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for the epidermal growth factor receptor

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor was developed using three different antibody preparations, one of which is commercially available. Using one of the antisera (986), the assay could detect as few as 200 x 10(6) receptors. This is equal to 0.332 fmol. This sensitivity means that a minimum of 100 A-431 cells (human carcinoma) or 5,000 normal cells are needed to quantitate the number of EGF receptors. Two of the antisera (986 and 451) recognized EGF receptors from placental tissue. EGF receptors from as little as 667 ng of placental membrane protein were detectable. The assay is highly species specific, with the sensitivity for the EGF receptor from different species dependent on the antiserum used. The commercial antibody, 29.1, had especially strong reactivity against pig and dog EGF receptors. An ELISA using this antibody had the capacity to detect the number of EGF receptors in 10 micrograms of liver membrane protein. The assay is sensitive to receptor conformation. The binding of antisera 986 and 451 to 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-denatured receptor was reduced. The binding of antibody 29.1 was impaired by the presence of 1% Triton X-100 but not the same levels of Tween-20 or SDS. In addition to being a sensitive technique for the quantitation of the EGF receptor, this assay is very rapid, taking a total of 4 h. The microtiter dish format also allows hundreds of samples to be assayed at once. By using the appropriate antiserum and standards, the EGF receptor can be quantitated in tissues from humans, dogs, pigs, and mice.

Retinoids enhance the number of EGF receptors in corneal endothelial cells

Corneal endothelium appears to be an important target tissue for retinoids and epidermal growth factor (EGF). We report here that retinoic acid, or its synthetic analogue CBS-211 A (10 −8–10 −7 m) dose-dependently enhances the mitogenic effect of EGF on cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells (BCEC). Furthermore, retinoid treatment, especially with CBS-211 A, increases the EGF-binding capacity of BCEC without any modification of EGF receptor affinity. The addition of cycloheximide (0·5 μg ml −1) to cultures simultaneously with retinoids suppressed the retinoid effect on EGF-binding, whereas this protein synthesis inhibitor was ineffective when added 24 hr later. These results suggest that retinoids could induce the expression of EGF receptors on BCEC as an early event. This study, which demonstrates a cooperation between retinoids and EGF in corneal endothelium, could explain the beneficial effect of retinoic acid previously reported on this tissue repair in vivo. Our data could offer clues for new pharmaceutical strategies in ophthalmology therapy.

Regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor signal transduction. Role of gangliosides.

The addition of gangliosides to tissue culture cells causes a decrease in the tyrosine protein kinase activity of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and an inhibition of EGF-stimulated growth. Based on these data, the hypothesis that the EGF receptor is physiologically regulated by gangliosides has been proposed by E.G. Bremer, J. Schlessinger, and S. Hakomori (J. Biol. Chem. (1986) 261, 2434-2440). To test this hypothesis, a mutant Chinese hamster ovary cell line (clone Idl D) that has a reversible defect in the biosynthesis of gangliosides (Kingsley, D.M., Kozarsky, K. F., Hobbie, L., and Krieger, M. (1986) Cell 44, 749-759) was investigated. The human EGF receptor cDNA was expressed in the mutant cells, and the properties of the EGF receptor were examined using cells grown under permissive and nonpermissive conditions. Changes in ganglioside expression were not observed to cause any significant alterations in the affinity or number of EGF receptors detected at the cell surface. However, decreased levels of ganglioside expression were associated with 1) increased EGF receptor autophosphorylation on tyrosine residues, and 2) increased EGF-stimulated cellular proliferation. The inverse correlation observed between the level of ganglioside expression and signal transduction by the EGF receptor is consistent with the hypothesis that the function of the EGF receptor is physiologically regulated by gangliosides.

Polysomy of chromosome 7 is associated with amplification and overexpression of the EGF‐receptor gene in a human carcinoma cell line derived from a brain metastasis

Overexpression of the EGF-receptor gene is associated with the malignant nature of some tumors. We have recently reported the establishment of a human carcinoma cell line (T-CAR1), derived from a brain metastasis, that had 7 million EGF receptors per cell and was growth inhibited by EGF. The present study was carried out in order to further characterize the EGF-receptor protein in T-CAR1 cells, and to see if the overexpression of the EGF-receptor gene in these cells was associated with abnormalities at the genomic level. We have compared the T-CAR1 cells with the human glioblastoma cell line T-MG1, which has 135,000 EGF-receptors and is growth stimulated by EGF. The MW of the EGF receptors in T-CAR1 cells and T-MG1 cells was estimated to be 170 kDa, equal to the normal EGF-receptor. However, in T-CAR1 cells an additional protein reacted with the monoclonal antibody directed against the internal domain of the EGF receptor. The levels of EGF receptor-related RNAs in T-CAR1 cells and T-MG1 cells reflected the number of EGF receptors in these cell lines. The EGF-receptor gene was amplified ten-fold in T-CAR1 cells, while it was not amplified in T-MG1 cells. No restriction fragment length polymorphism of DNA digested with various restriction enzymes was seen in either of the cell lines. Chromosomal analysis of T-CAR1 cells showed polysomy of chromosome 7 and marker chromosomes derived partly from chromosome 7. Thus, in the T-CAR1 cell line it was an association between polysomy of chromosome 7 and EGF-receptor gene amplification.