Effect of insulin on the growth of a human hepatoma cell line PLC/PRF/5: A possible role of insulin receptor.

Abstract
Insulin produced increases in cell number, DNA synthesis and alpha-fetoprotein secretion of a human hepatoma cell line PLC/PRF/5. The insulin-treated cells showed a decrease in binding of 125I-insulin. The decreased binding was due to the decreased numbers as well as the low affinity constant of insulin receptor. These data suggest that insulin is a growth factor for the human hepatoma cells and that insulin receptor plays a role in the growth-promoting effect of insulin.