Transforming growth factor alpha stimulates prostacyclin production by cultured human vascular endothelial cells more potently than epidermal growth factor
Ristimäki, A.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 160(3): 1100-1105
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0006-291X PMID: 2658990 Document Number: 332992
Transforming growth factor .alpha. (TGF .alpha.) induces dose- and time-dependent stimulation of prostacyclin (PGI2) production by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The lowest stimulatory concentration of TGF .alpha. was 0.1 ng/ml and the maximal response, a 2.7-fold rise, was obtained with 10 ng/ml. The stimulation, which lasted at least 24 h, was blocked by cycloheximide and by indomethacin. TGF .alpha. induced PGI2 production at 10-100 times lower concentrations than did epidermal growth factor (EGF), although in stimulating endothelial cell growth the two factors were equipotent. This is the first demonstration that TGF .alpha. enhances PGI2 production by human cells. Moreover, this is the first evidence that it acts as both an agonist (growth) and a superagonist (PGI2 production) of EGF in the same cell type. I suggest that this phenomenon may be involved with the angiogenic activity of TGF .alpha.