REGULATION OF GROWTH AND DIFFERENTIATION OF HUMAN KERATINOCYTES BY TYPE BETA-TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTOR AND EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR

  • 15 December 1987
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (24) , 6705-6709
Abstract
The role of type .beta. transforming growth factor (TGF.beta.) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) as regulators of the growth and differentiation of cultured human neonatal epidermal cells and squamous carcinoma cells was investigated in postconfluent cultures. Neither cell proliferation nor DNA synthesis was affected by treatment with TGF.beta. alone; however, EGF significantly stimulated cell growth, and this process was specifically antagonized by TGF.beta.. In addition, TGF.beta. inhibited the maturation of human foreskin-derived epidermal cells, as measured by their competence to synthesize involucrin and to form cornified cell envelopes, in a dose-dependent manner. Although treatment with EGF did not affect the maturation of human foreskin-derived epidermal cells, the combination of a low concentration of TGF.beta. with EGF resulted in significant enhancement of the maturation of these normal keratinocytes. Growth of three of four squamous carcinomas in the presence of EGF was not inhibited by TGF.beta.. In addition, all four carcinomas were either totally or partially resistant to the induction of maturation by the combination of TGF.beta. and EGF. This resistance of squamous carcinomas to TGF.beta. was paralleled by an increased sensitivity to the antikeratizining effects of EGF. Thus, TGF.beta. inhibits the mitogenic stimulation of keratinocytes by EGF and induces cell maturation.

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