人主动脉硫酸乙酰肝素蛋白聚糖对培养的人血管壁细胞生长的作用

通过培养的人主动脉平滑肌细胞（ｈＡＳＭＣ）及脐静脉内皮细胞（ｈＵＶＥＣ）,应用＾３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入、Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ分析、逆转录多聚酶链反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）、放射免疫分析（ＲＩＡ）、和紫外比色法等技术观察了人主动脉中硫酸乙酰肝素蛋白聚糖（ＨＳＰＧ）对ｈＡＳＭＣ和ｈＵＶＥＣ ＤＮＡ合成的作用及对血小板源生长因子（ＰＧＤＦ）、ＰＧＤＦ受体、转化生长因子β（ＴＧＦ－β）、内皮素－１（ＥＴ－１）或     

低氧对肺动脉内皮细胞PDGF—B链释放及平滑肌细胞生长的影响

应用蛋白ｄｏｔｂｌｏｔ技术检测了低氧内皮细胞条件培养液（ＨＥＣＣＭ）和常氧内皮细胞条件培养液（ＮＥＣＣＭ）内ＰＤＧＦ相对含量,并利用［３Ｈ］－ＴｄＲ掺入法和流式细胞术观察了ＨＥＣＣＭ和ＮＥＣＣＭ及加入特异ＰＤＧＦ抗体对肺动脉平滑肌细胞（ＰＡＳＭＣ）生长的影响。结果表明,ＨＥＣＣＭ中的ＰＤＧＦ含量明显高于ＮＥＣＣＭ;ＨＥＣＣＭ能明显增强ＰＡＳＭＣ内ＤＮＡ合成,促进ＰＡＳＭＣ从Ｇｏ／Ｇ１期进入Ｓ期;当预先加入ＰＤＧＦ－Ｂ链抗体时,则会明显地抑制ＨＥＣＣＭ对ＰＡＳＭＣ的ＤＮＡ合成,阻止ＰＡＳＭＣ从Ｇｏ／Ｇ１期进入Ｓ期。结果提示,低氧时ＰＡＳＭＣ增殖与肺动脉内皮细胞分泌释放ＰＤＧＦ增加有关     

二甲亚砜与维甲酸对人卵巢癌细胞COC1的生长抑制及转化生长因子β_1表达的影响

本实验以人卵巢癌细胞株（ＣＯＣ１）为模型,观察诱导分化剂二甲亚砜（ＤＭＳＯ）与维甲酸（ＲＡ）对该细胞生长增殖、ＤＮＡ合成和转化生长因子β１（ＴＧＦβ１）在细胞内表达的影响。结果显示：ＤＭＳＯ与ＲＡ对人卵巢细胞ＣＯＣ１生长有明显的抑制作用,生长曲线表明作用５天后其生长抑制率分别为６２．７％和４２．１％;３Ｈ－胸腺嘧啶核苷（３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ）掺入实验说明ＤＭＳＯ组与ＲＡ组的单位时间计数率（ＣＰＭ）明显低于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０１）。用药３天后百分掺入抑制率分别为６０．４％与３７．９％,表明ＤＭＳＯ与ＲＡ抑制ＣＯＣ１细胞的ＤＮＡ合成;免疫细胞化学反应表明,ＤＭＳＯ或ＲＡ处理５天后,对照组细胞ＴＧＦβ１表达为阳性,定位于胞浆,而处理组细胞ＴＧＦβ１呈阴性或弱阳性反应。以上结果提示ＤＭＳＯ和ＲＡ对人卵巢癌细胞有一定的诱导分化作用。     

表皮生长因子，生长抑素对人早孕胎盘hCG分泌及基因表达的影响

观察了表皮生长因子（ＥＧＦ）,生长抑素（ＳＳ）对体外培养的人早孕绒毛膜促性腺激素（ｈＣＧ）分泌及ｈＣＧβ－ｍＲＮＡ含量的影响。发现ＥＧＦ可明显刺激绒毛分泌ｈＣＧ,显著增加ｈＣＧβ－ｍＲＮＡ含量,生长抑素虽然对绒毛ｈＣＧ分泌及ｈＣＧ　β－ｍＲＮＡ含量无明显影响,但可抑制ＥＧＦ,ＧｎＲＨ刺激的ｈＣＧ分泌及ｈＣＧβ－ｍＲＮＡ水平。提示ＥＧＦ,ＳＳ在妊娠早期参与了ｈＣＧ分泌的调节。     

优化mRNA翻译起始区提高人粒－巨噬细胞集落刺激因子在E．coli中的表达

人粒－巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ）是一种重要的造血生长因子．利用基因重组技术构建两个ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ的Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉ表达菌株,一个为在不改变氨基酸顺序的前提下,对ｍＲＮＡ翻译起始区核苷酸顺序进行优化突变（ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ（Ｍ））,另一个为未突变的对照（ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ（Ｎ））．经酶切电泳、ＤＮＡ测序、ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ等分析鉴定,证明两者均能表达特异性的１４．６ｋＤｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ,但ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ（Ｍ）的表达水平较ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ（Ｎ）提高了１．２６倍,占菌体总蛋白的１６．９％．ｍＲＮＡ翻译起始区二级结构预测分析表明,优化突变后生成自由能ΔＧ从原来的－１０．２提高至－９．４Ｋｃａｌ,ＡＵＧ从部分配对状态变为非配对状态．     

优化mRNA翻译起始区提高人粒—巨噬细胞集落刺激因子在E.coli…

人粒－巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ）是一种重要的造血生长因子。利用基因重组技术构建两个ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ的Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉ表达菌株,一个为在不改变氨基酸顺序的前提下,对ｍＲＮＡ翻译起始区核苷酸顺序进行优化突变（ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ（Ｍ））,另一个为未突变的对照（ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ（Ｎ））。经酶切电泳、ＤＮＡ测序、ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ等未突变的对照（ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ（Ｎ））。经酶切电泳、Ｄ     

DDPH对猪肺动脉平滑肌细胞PDGF·BB和bFGF表达的影响：免疫细胞化学研究

ＤＤＰＨ［１－（２．６－二甲基苯乙氧基）－２－（３．４二甲氧基苯乙胺基）丙烷盐酸盐］是南京药科大学合成的降压新化合物,也具有降低肺动脉高压和抑制肺动脉平滑肌细胞增殖作用。本实验用细胞培养、免疫细胞化学、图像分析、３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ、细胞周期测定等方法,进一步探讨ＤＤＰＨ对缺氧性肺动脉平滑肌细胞（ＰＡＳＭＣＳ）增殖的抑制机制。结果：缺氧促进肺动脉内皮细胞（ＰＡＥＣｓ）的ＰＤＧＦ·ＢＢ和ｂＦＧＦ两种生长因子的表达（积分光密度ＯＤ值）增高。缺氧内皮细胞条件培养液（ＨＥＣＣＭ）能促进ＰＡＳＭＣＳ的ＰＤＧＦ·ＢＢ的ＯＤ值增高,ｂＦＧＦ的ＯＤ值无明显改变。加药组（ＨＥＣ－ＣＭ＋ＤＤＰＨ）的ＰＤＧＦ·ＢＢ和ｂＦＧＦ的ＯＤ值均显著降低,尤以ＰＤＧＦ·ＢＢ的ＯＤ值减少最多．提示：ＤＤＰＨ能抑制ＨＥＣＣＭ引起ＰＡＳＭＣＳ的ＰＤＧＦ·ＢＢ和ｂＦＧＦ表达增多和细胞增殖。结果与大鼠实验观察相符。     

内皮素和bFGF对MC的促增殖作用及胰岛素的协同效应

采用３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入法,测定碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（ｂＦＧＦ）、胰岛素和内皮素－１（ＥＴ－１）对体外培养的大鼠肾小球系膜细胞（ＭＣ）增殖的影响,以及胰岛素与ｂＦＧＦ或ＥＴ－１促ＭＣ增殖的协同作用。结果表明,不同浓度的ｂＦＧＦ（５－２００ｎｇ／ｍｌ）和胰岛素（０．１－２．４Ｕ／ｍｌ）均显著升高ＭＣ的３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入值（ｃｐｍ值）（Ｐ＜０．０１）。ＥＴ－１对ＭＣ的ｃｐｍ值的影响依剂量不同呈现两种不同的效应,在１０－９－１０－７ｍｏｌ／Ｌ时,随着浓度的升高,ＭＣ的ｃｐｍ值明显升高（Ｐ＜０．０１）,并以１０－８ｍｏｌ／Ｌ作用最强;当升高到１０－６ｍｏｌ／Ｌ时,ＭＣ的ｃｐｍ值出现降低趋势。胰岛素与ｂＦＧＦ或低浓度ＥＴ－１（≤１０－８ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）共同作用于ＭＣ时,ＭＣ的ｃｐｍ值明显高于二者单独作用之和（Ｐ＜０．０１）,与高浓度ＥＴ－１（＞１０－７ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）共同作用于ＭＣ时,ＭＣ的ｃｐｍ值小于二者单独作用之和（Ｐ＞０．０５）。上述结果说明,胰岛素、ｂＦＧＦ和ＥＴ－１均能显著促进ＭＣ增殖;胰岛素与ｂＦＧＦ或低浓度的ＥＴ－１促ＭＣ增殖具有正协同作用,与高浓度ＥＴ－１呈现负协同作用。     

二甲基苯蒽对小鼠皮肤表皮鸟氨酸脱羧酶和转化生长因子βmRNA水平的影响

本文利用Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ印迹分析技术研究了完全致癌物二甲基苯蒽（ＤＭＢＡ）对小鼠表皮鸟氨酸脱羧酶（ＯＤＣ）ｍＲＮＡ和转化生长因子β（ＴＧＦ－β）ｍＲＮＡ水平的影响。ＤＭＢＡ在１５μｇ和９００μｇ剂量下一次涂用于小鼠皮肤,可使表皮ＯＤＣｍＲＮＡ和ＴＧＦ－βｍＲＮＡ表达增加。ＯＤＣｍＲＮＡ为单一的２．０ｋｂ大小的条带,其表达在在３６ｈ时最为明显。而ＴＧＦ－βｍＲＮＡ大小为２．５ｋｂ和１．９ｋｂ,其表达在３６ｈ时最高,到４８ｈ几乎降至正常,但在７２ｈ又有增加。ＯＤＣ和ＴＧＦ－β可能在ＤＭＢＡ诱癌过程中起重要作用。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ对大鼠心肌肌浆网Ca~(2+),Mg~(2+)-ATPase基因转录调节的影响

观察血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡｎｇⅡ）对心肌肌浆网Ｃａ２＋,Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰａｓｅ基因（ＳＥＲＣＡ２ａ）转录调节的影响,评价ＤＭＰ８１１对此效应的干预作用．６周龄雄性ＳＤ大鼠随机分为３组,每组６只．组１：生理盐水输注;组２：ＡｎｇⅡ输注＋ＤＭＰ８１１管饲（３ｍｇ·ｄ－１·ｋｇ－１）;组３：ＡｎｇⅡ输注（２００ｎｇ·ｍｉｎ－１·ｋｇ－１．１周后称其体重,取心脏并称重,提取心脏总ＲＮＡ后采用Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ的方法检测ＳＥＲ－ＣＡ２ａ的转录水平,采用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ检测ＡｎｇⅡ１型受体（ＡＴ１）ｍＲＮＡ水平．实验后,组３心重（ＣＷ）、心重／体重（Ｃ／Ｂ）、ＡＴ１受体转录水平均高于组１（分别增加４．７±０．４％,４．９±０．９％和２４．７±３．５％;Ｐ＜０．０１）,而ＳＥＲＣＡ２ａ基因转录水平显著低于组１（降低２０．１±３．０％,Ｐ＜０．０１）,并且ＳＥＲＣＡ２ａｍＲＮＡ水平与ＡＴ１受体ｍＲＮＡ水平呈负相关（ｒ＝－０．７４,Ｐ＜０．０１）．ＡｎｇⅡ导致的上述改变能被ＤＭＰ８１１完全阻断．ＡｎｇⅡ通过其Ⅰ型受体的介导,诱导了ＳＥＲＣＡ２ａ的转录下调     

人主动脉硫酸乙酰肝素蛋白聚糖对培养人的脐静脉内皮细胞生长的影响

为探讨硫酸乙酰肝素蛋白聚糖（ＨＳＰＧ）对内皮细胞生长的作用,用解聚提取及离子交换柱层析法分离出人主动脉ＨＳＰＧ,用倒置显微镜、细胞计数、及￣３Ｎ－ＴｄＲ参入观察其对培养的第一代人脐静脉内皮细胞（ｈＵＶＦＣ）生长的影响。结果发现：（１）倒置显微镜下观察,加入ＨＳＰＧ（１．７０μｇ已糖醛酸／ｍｌ）的ｈＵＶＥＣ生长密度高于对照组（未加ＨＳＰＧ）．（２）随着培养时间增加（２４,４８及７２ｈ）．根据细胞计数计算出同一剂量的ＨＳＰＧ（１７．０μｇ已糖醛酸／ｍｌ）对ｈＵＶＥＣ的促增殖％增高（分别为１４％,３０％及３７％）。（３）随着加入ＨＳＰＧ浓度的升高（４．３,８．５及１７．０μｇ已糖醛酸／ｍｌ．培养７２ｈ）．根据￣３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入计算出ＨＳＰＧ对ｈＵＶＥＣ的促增殖％亦增高（分别为４９％,７１％及９８％）。故人主动脉ＨＳＰＧ对培养的人脐静脉内皮细胞有促增殖作用。     

Human arterial smooth muscle cells in culture: Inverse relationship between proliferation and expression of contractile proteins

Summary Human arterial smooth muscle cells (hASMC) from explants of the inner media of uterine arteries were studied in secondary culture. We had previously found that these cells depend on exogenous platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) for proliferation in vitro. Deprivation of the serum mitogen(s) by culture in plasma-derived serum or bovine serum albumin (BSA) caused a true growth arrest that was reversible upon reexposure to the mitogen(s). When added to serum-containing medium, heparin caused a reversible growth arrest which could be competed for by increasing concentrations of serum. In the current study we used a set of smooth muscle-specific actin and myosin, antibodies to study the expression of contractile proteins in stress fibers under indirect immunofluorescence on hASMC in culture. Even in sparse culture, grwoth-arrested hASMC expressed stress fibers containing these actin and myosin epitopes. This was true irrespective of whether growth arrest was achieved by culture in media containing only BSA or a combination of heparin and whole blood serum. hASMC proliferating in whole blood serum in sparse culture did not express such strees fibers, as judged by immunofluorescent staining. This was true also for cells that were restimulated to proliferate in serum after a growth arrest. Utilizing a monoclonal antibody against a nuclear antigen expressed in proliferating human cells, we were able to demonstrate an inverse relationship between the expression of this antigen and the SMC-specific contractile proteins, respectively. Under these culture conditions, the reversible transition between defifferentiated and differentiated hASMC was almost complete and terminated about 1 wk after the change in culture condition. We conclude that hASMC in vitro respond, to exogenous PDGF by proliferation and dedifferetiation as a single population of cells. We also conclude that this modulation is reversible, because the cells become uniformly quiescent and differentiated when the mitogenic stimulus is blocked or removed. This study was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (Project no. 4531 and 6816), the Swedish Association against Heart and Chest Diseases, the King Gustaf V and Queen Victoria Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (grant HL 29873) and the Swedish National Board for Laboratory Animals.     

Heparin-like glycosaminoglycans influence growth and phenotype of human arterial smooth muscle cells in vitro. I. Evidence for reversible binding and inactivation of the platelet-derived growth factor by heparin

Summary We have investigated the effects of interactions between growth factors and heparin-like glycosaminoglycans on untransformed human arterial smooth muscle cells (hASMC) in vitro. The results indicate that heparin in the presence of serum mitogens prevents the cells from entering the S phase of the cell cycle by binding and inactivating reversibly some serum mitogen(s). Our results suggest that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is one of them and that it is the most potent stimulator of hASMC growth in vitro. Thymidine incorporation as well as increase in DNA content was inhibited not only by the presence of heparin in serum-containing medium but also when serum was chromatographed on Heparin-Sepharose at physiologic salt concentrations before exposure to the cells. The mitogenic activity of the unretained serum fraction was restored by the addition of PDGF AA, AB, or BB dimers or of a fraction (RF I) that dissociated from Heparin-Sepharose at 0.2 to 0.6M NaCl. Radiolabeled recombinant PDGF (c-sis) dissociated from Heparin-Sepharose within a concentration range of NaCl similar to that of RF I. Neither the unretained material nor the RF I or PDGF dimers were effective alone. The effect of RF I was significantly decreased by the addition of an anti-PDGF IgG that is known to neutralize the PDGF mitogenic activity partially. Addition of heparin abolished DNA-synthesis when the PDGF dimers or RF I were combined with the unretained fraction. A second fraction (RF II) bound strongly to Heparin-Sepharose and eluted between 1.1 and 1.6M NaCl. The RF II also induced DNA synthesis but was neither as efficient as RF I nor depending on other serum fractions for growth promotion and it was not inhibited by anti-PDGF IgG. A similar strong affinity for Heparin-Sepharose was found for labeled basic fibroblast growth factor and we cannot exclude the possibility that RF II represent fibroblast growth factor. Under these culture conditions, inhibition of hASMC proliferation was directly correlated with the expression of smooth muscle specific alpha actin isoforms in stress fibers and the suppression of a proliferating cell-specific nuclear antigen. Conversely, stimulation of hASMC proliferation was associated with the opposite phenomenon. We conclude that heparin-like glycosaminoglycans influence growth and phenotype of hASMCs in vitro by binding and inactivating PDGF. Inasmuch as heparin-like substances constitute a significant proportion of the proteoglycan-associated glycosaminoglycans of the arterial wall, such mechanisms might be important for the development of atherosclerotic lesions.     

人主动脉壁硫酸乙酰肝素蛋白聚糖对培养的人主动脉平滑肌细胞生长的影响

从动脉粥样硬化（ＡＳ）高（北京）、低（南宁）发区人正常胸主动脉内－中膜分离ＨＳＰＧ,观察其对体外培养的ＨＡＳＭＣ生长的影响,细胞计数、~３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入及形态观察均表明ＡＳ高、低发区人主动脉ＨＳＰＧ都能剂量依赖性地抑制ＨＡＳＭＣ增殖,但抑制百分数未见显著差异,结果提示,人动脉壁中ＨＳＰＧ的含量可能与ＡＳ发病有关．     

Stimulation of platelet-derived growth factor-induced DNA synthesis by angiotensin II in rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells

In cultured rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), angiotensin II by itself had little mitogenic effect even in the presence of cell-free plasma-derived serum (PDS), but markedly stimulated the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced DNA synthesis in the presence of PDS. The maximal extent of DNA synthesis induced by PDGF plus angiotensin II was about twice that induced by PDGF alone. The stimulatory effect of angiotensin II was dose-dependent with the maximal response seen at 1 microM and was inhibited by the specific angiotensin II receptor antagonist, [Sar1, Ile8]angiotensin II. In VSMCs, both PDGF and angiotensin II induced expression of the c-fos gene in dose-dependent manners. In contrast to the synergistic effect of angiotensin II and PDGF on DNA synthesis, they induced expression of the c-fos gene in an additive manner. These results suggest that angiotensin II may act as a growth regulator for VSMCs in addition to acting as a vasoconstrictor.     

PDGF-stimulated cell proliferation and migration of human arterial smooth muscle cells. Colocalization of PDGF isoforms with glycosaminoglycans

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been implicated in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, a key process in vascular disease. PDGF is a family of dimeric isoforms of structurally related A-, B-, C- and D-chains that bind to PDGF receptors. PDGF A- and B-chains occur with and without basic C-terminal amino acid extensions as long (A(L) and B(L)) and short (A(S) and B(S)) isoforms. This basic sequence has been implicated as a cell retention signal through binding to glycosaminoglycans, especially to heparan sulfate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological relevance of PDGF interaction with glycosaminoglycans on the PDGF function in human arterial smooth muscle cells (hASMC). Here, we show that long PDGF isoforms showed greater affinity for hASMC cell surface and that they also presented more colocalization with heparan and chondroitin sulfates present on hASMC cell membrane than did short isoforms. Furthermore, all PDGF isoforms colocalized more with heparan sulfate than with chondroitin sulfate and there was little colocalization between heparan and chondroitin sulfate. PDGF-stimulated hASMC activation of DNA synthesis and directed migration (chemotaxis) was also examined. The isoform PDGF-BB(S) induced maximal proliferation and migration of hASMC. Collagen-I coating significantly increased hASMC motility towards PDGF isoforms, and particularly toward PDGF-BB(S). These results strongly support the notion that cell surface glycosaminoglycans are not essential for receptor-mediated activity of PDGF and may contribute basically to the retention and accumulation of long PDGF isoforms.     

Elastase-mediated release of heparan sulfate proteoglycans from pulmonary fibroblast cultures. A mechanism for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) release and attenuation of bfgf binding following elastase-induced injury.

We have investigated elastase-mediated alterations in the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) receptors and proteoglycan co-receptors and characterized the subsequent effects on bFGF receptor binding profiles. For these studies, pulmonary fibroblast cultures were treated with porcine pancreatic elastase, and elastase-mediated changes in bFGF receptor expression and binding profiles were assessed. Quantitation of [(35)S]sulfate-labeled proteoglycan and total glycosaminoglycan release from fibroblast matrices indicated that elastase treatment released sulfated proteoglycan from the cell surface in a time- and dose-dependent fashion that correlated strongly with elastase-mediated bFGF release. Ligand binding studies indicated that elastase treatment decreased total binding of (125)I-bFGF to the cell surface and affected both fibroblast growth factor receptor and heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) binding sites. Western blot analyses indicated that elastase treatment did not release significant amounts of fibroblast growth factor receptor protein. These findings indicate that elastase-mediated HSPG release from fibroblast matrices reduces the effective affinity of bFGF for its receptor. Collectively, these studies suggest that HSPG co-receptors are important mediators of the pulmonary fibroblast response to elastase treatment and that bFGF, HSPG, and other elastase-released entities play an important role in the response of the lung to chronic injury.     

Human arterial smooth muscle cells in culture. Effects of platelet-derived growth factor and heparin on growth in vitro

Human arterial smooth muscle cells (hASMC) were cultured from explants of the inner media of uterine arteries obtained at hysterectomy. The presence of alpha-actin and smooth muscle-specific actin isoforms and the microscopic appearance of the cells in secondary culture established their smooth muscle origin. The hASMC were diploid and had no signs of transformation. Plasma-derived serum failed to stimulate their proliferation in vitro. Their rate of proliferation was, however, proportional to the concentration of whole blood serum in the medium. Anti-PDGF IgG at high concentrations inhibited the stimulatory effect of whole blood serum on cell proliferation. This suggests that hASMC depend on exogenous PDGF for their growth. In PDS or bovine serum albumin cell numbers remained constant for 7 days in culture and the thymidine index was below 1% per 24 h. When reexposed to whole blood serum these cells started to proliferate within 2 days. This indicates that hASMC when deprived of PDGF enter a quiescent state that is fully reversible upon rexposure to the mitogen. Heparin is a powerful growth inhibitor for SMC. In our system, heparin caused a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation despite optimal concentrations of whole blood serum. This inhibition was reversible upon withdrawal of heparin. At heparin concentrations which caused a half-maximal inhibition it was also competed for by increasing concentrations of whole blood serum. Quiescent hASMC expressed the PDGF receptor on their surface as judged from immunofluorescence with a monoclonal antibody. This was true irrespective of whether growth arrest was achieved by serum depletion or by the addition of heparin to serum-containing medium. Cells growing in the presence of whole blood serum did not, however, express the receptor antigen. These observations suggest that heparin may interfere with PDGF or with its binding and further processing at the level of the cell-surface receptor.     

Erythromycin and clarithromycin modulation of growth factor-induced expression of heparanase mRNA on human lung cancer cells in vitro.

Heparanase activity is correlated with the metastatic potential of several cancer cells and is a key enzyme in the breakdown of tissue barriers. It is also involved in the regulation of growth factor and cytokine activity. However, little is known about the factors that induce heparanase in cancer cells. We investigated the effect of three growth factors, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), on heparanase mRNA induction in lung cancer cells in vitro. In addition, we examined the effect of erythromycin (EM) and clarithromycin (CAM), which are 14-membered ring macrolide antibiotics that act as biological response modifiers, on the expression of heparanase mRNA induced by growth factors. PDGF, HGF and bFGF stimulated cell migration activity and enhanced the expression of heparanase mRNA in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. Via different mechanisms, EM and CAM modulate the induction by these factors of heparanase mRNA expression on A549 cells. EM also significantly suppressed A549 cell migration induced by PDGF and HGF, and CAM significantly suppressed A549cell migration induced by bFGF. The results suggest that the growth factors PDGF, HGF and bFGF are important inducers of heparanase in potentially invasive and metastatic cancer cells. The suppressive effect of heparanase mRNA expression by EM and CAM may have interestingtherapeutic applications in the prevention of metastasis.