Induction of apoptosis in a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line by a neutralizing antibody to transforming growth factor-?

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Abstract
A cell line derived from a Japanese man with hepatocellular carcinoma was established in culture and designated OCUH-16. The cell line has the morphological and chromosomal features of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and has a short doubling time (≈33 h). OCUH-16 cells were shown to express transforming growth factor-α, (TGF-α) in addition to albumin, DNA polymerase-α, c-JUN, and the retinoblastoma gene product. Electron microscopy revealed TGF-α immunoreactivity associated with the cell membrane, but TGF-α was not detected in medium conditioned by OCUH-16 cells by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed the presence of TGF-α messenger RNA in these cells. Culture of OCUH-16 cells in the presence of a neutralizing antibody to TGF-α inhibited cell proliferation and induced many cells to undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death). These observations suggest that endogenous TGF-α is necessary for OCUH-16 cell growth.