Fibroblast growth factor receptor levels decrease during chick embryogenesis

Two putative receptors for fibroblast growth factor (FGF) of approximately 150 and 200 kD were identified in membrane preparations from chick embryos. Specific binding (femtomoles/milligram) of 125I-aFGF to whole chick embryonic membranes was relatively constant from day 2 to 7, then decreased fivefold between days 7 and 13. Day-19 chick embryos retained 125I-aFGF binding at low levels to brain, eye, and liver tissues but not to skeletal muscle or cardiac tissues. The 200-kD FGF receptor began to decline between day 4.5 and 7 and was barely detectable by day 9, whereas the 150-kD FGF receptor began to decline by day 7 but was still detectable in day-9 embryonic membranes. It is not known whether the two FGF-binding proteins represent altered forms of one polypeptide, but it is clear that their levels undergo differential changes during development. Because endogenous chick FGF may remain bound to FGF receptor in membrane preparations, membranes were treated with acidic (pH 4.0) buffers to release bound FGF; such treatment did not affect 125I-aFGF binding and moderately increased the number of binding sites in day-7 and -19 embryos. Consequently, the observed loss of high affinity 125I-aFGF binding sites and FGF-binding polypeptides most likely represents a loss of FGF receptor protein. These experiments provide in vivo evidence to support the hypothesis that regulation of FGF receptor levels may function as a mechanism for controlling FGF-dependent processes during embryonic development.     

Isolation of a receptor for acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor from embryonic chick

A receptor for acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (aFGF and bFGF, respectively) was isolated from 7-day embryonic chick. Chromatography of solubilized membrane proteins on wheat germ agglutininagarose and aFGF-Sepharose yielded three major polypeptides migrating at 150, 70, and 45 kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These polypeptides were eluted from aFGF-Sepharose with either 1.0 M NaCl or 100 micrograms/ml heparin, but were not retained on underivatized Sepharose. Cross-linking of 125I-aFGF or 125I-bFGF to either crude membrane preparations or to purified fractions yielded a 165-kDa complex, suggesting the existence of a 150-kDa FGF receptor after subtraction of approximately 15 kDa for 125I-FGF. Addition of excess aFGF or bFGF competed for binding of either 125I-aFGF or 125I-bFGF to FGF receptor preparations. Purified FGF receptor fractions were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transferred to Immobilon membranes, and incubated with 125I-aFGF or 125I-bFGF in order to identify FGF-binding polypeptides. Bound 125I-aFGF and 125I-bFGF were displaced by aFGF and bFGF, but not epidermal growth factor, consistent with the identification of the 150-kDa polypeptide as a receptor for acidic and basic FGF. Treatment of purified FGF receptor fractions with N-glycanase demonstrated that the 150-kDa polypeptide contained approximately 10 kDa of N-linked oligosaccharide. The apparent molecular mass of the 150-kDa polypeptide was unaffected by treatment with heparitinase, indicating that the 150-kDa polypeptide is not a heparan sulfate proteoglycan. Together, these data suggest that the 150-kDa polypeptide is a FGF receptor that may mediate the biological activities of aFGF and bFGF.     

Cell type and tissue distribution of the fibroblast growth factor receptor

A receptor for fibroblast growth factor (aFGF, bFGF) was partially characterized in intact cell cultures, cell plasma membranes, and tissue plasma membrane preparations. Analysis of 24 different cell types from four species identified a 165-kDa FGF receptor present on the cell surface of most mesodermal and neuroectodermal cells. Chemical crosslinking of 125I-aFGF to its cell surface receptor was specifically blocked by a 100-fold molar excess of either aFGF or bFGF. In contrast to the similar molecular weight of FGF receptors, different cell types exhibited significant variations in binding of 125I-aFGF to intact cultures with low values of 8 pM and 700, to high values of 60 pM and 30,000, for the Kd and receptor number per cell, respectively. A binding assay was developed for quantitation of 125I-aFGF binding to cell- and tissue-derived membrane preparations. Membranes prepared from baby hamster kidney cells exhibited a Kd of 55 pM, while a similar Kd of 67 pM was determined for intact baby hamster kidney cells. Although ten different adult bovine tissue membrane preparations and human term placental membranes exhibited no specific binding of 125I-aFGF, FGF receptor was detected in embryonic murine tissues (17 days gestation). These results support the existence, in a variety of cells, of either a common FGF receptor that binds both aFGF and bFGF or closely related FGF receptors that cannot be distinguished by molecular weight. The differential binding of FGF to its receptor in embryonic vs. adult tissues suggests a potentially broad role for FGF in embryonic development and a more restrictive role in the adult.     

Acidic fibroblast growth factor is present in regenerating limb blastemas of axolotls and binds specifically to blastema tissues

The growth of regenerating limbs of amphibians depends upon proliferation of the blastema cells that accumulate beneath the epidermal cap. The epidermal cap is known to be mitogenic for the blastema cells. We have extracted a mitogenic activity from both the mesenchymal and epidermal (epidermal cap) components of cone stage blastemas which is retained on heparin-Sepharose and elutes with 1.15 M NaCl. This fraction stimulates neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells and [3H]thymidine incorporation into CCL 39 cells and is potentiated by heparin. The 2 M fraction was inactive. The heparin-Sepharose-purified growth factor cross-reacts with bovine acidic FGF polyclonal antibodies and shows a Mr of 16,000 on Western blots. Blastema membranes contain specific high affinity binding sites (Kd = 25 pM; capacity = 30 fmole/mg protein) and low affinity binding sites (Kd = 18 nM; capacity = 30 pmole/mg protein) for aFGF as revealed by Scatchard analysis. 125I-aFGF which is bound specifically by both the epidermal cap and mesenchyme of blastema frozen sections is displaced by an excess of unlabeled factor and inhibited by heparin. Heparinase treatment and 2 M NaCl washing which decreased the binding was fourfold more efficient for epidermal cap than for mesenchyme suggesting the presence of high affinity receptors in the latter tissue. The presence of aFGF (or a closely related molecule) in blastemas is consistent with our earlier results that showed stimulation of proliferation of cultured blastema cells by acidic or basic FGF or heparin alone. These results suggest the possibility that aFGF is stored in the epidermal cap during limb regeneration and that it stimulates the proliferation of the underlaying mesenchyme.     

The identification and partial characterization of the fibroblast growth factor receptor of baby hamster kidney cells

The binding of biologically active, 125I-labeled basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) to baby hamster kidney-derived cell line cells (BHK-21) was studied at 4 degrees C. Unlabeled FGF displaced cell surface bound 125I-FGF, but platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin, or transferrin did not. Binding was saturable both as a function of time and as a function of increasing 125I-FGF concentrations. Scatchard analysis of the binding data revealed the presence of about 1.2 X 10(5) binding sites/cell with an apparent KD of 270 pM. The number of the binding sites was down-regulated following preincubation of the cells with FGF. The density of binding sites/cell also decreased as an inverse function of cell density. When 125I-FGF binding was studied in a BHK-21 cell membrane preparation, it was found that the membranal binding site displayed a lower KD of 21 pM. 125I-FGF was covalently cross-linked to its cell surface receptor on intact BHK-21 cells using the homobifunctional agent disuccinimidyl suberate. Two macromolecular species with an apparent molecular weight of 145,000 and 125,000, respectively, were labeled under both reducing and nonreducing conditions. Unlabeled FGF competed with 125I-FGF for binding to both macromolecular species. The labeling of the macromolecules was also inhibited by heparin. No labeling was observed in the absence of the cross-linkers or when heat-inactivated 125I-FGF was used instead of radiolabeled, biologically active FGF.     

Identification of heparan sulfate proteoglycan as a high affinity receptor for acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) in a parathyroid cell line.

We have characterized two high affinity acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) receptors in a rat parathyroid cell line (PT-r). Affinity labeling with 125I-aFGF showed that these two receptors, apparent molecular masses, 150 and 130 kDa, respectively, display higher affinity for aFGF than for bFGF. The 150-kDa receptor bears a heparan sulfate chain(s), demonstrated by a decrease in size of 15-20 kDa with heparitinase digestion after affinity labeling. Heparitinase digestion before affinity labeling markedly reduced the intensity of the 150 kDa species. Scatchard analysis showed two different high affinity binding sites (Kd of 3.9 pM with 180 sites/cell and Kd of 110 pM with 5800 sites/cell). The higher affinity site was completely eliminated by digestion with heparitinase before adding labeled aFGF; the lower affinity site was unaffected. In ion exchange chromatography after metabolic labeling of the cells with [3H]glucosamine and affinity labeling with 125I-aFGF, the larger receptor-ligand complex, 165 kDa, eluted with approximately 0.5 M NaCl, typical eluting conditions for heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Both of the receptor-ligand complexes were smaller on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis than two major heparan sulfate proteoglycans, HSPG I and II, which we characterized in this cell line previously (Yanagishita, M., Brandi, M. L., and Sakaguchi, K. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 15714-15720). Both receptors have similar N-linked oligosaccharide and sialic acid contents, shown by analysis of affinity-labeled receptors upon digestion with glycopeptidase F and with neuraminidase. All together, these results suggest that PT-r cells bear two distinct high affinity receptors for aFGF, a 150-kDa receptor which is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan and another that is a glycoprotein. The heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan moiety of the 150- kDa receptor is critical for high affinity binding of aFGF. These findings contrast with current concepts derived from other systems, suggesting that heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans/proteoglycans function as a reservoir source for FGF or as a group of low affinity binding sites.     

Basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors interact with the same cell surface receptors

Despite quantitative differences, the activity of basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors (FGF) on a wide variety of normal diploid cells derived from neuroectoderm and mesoderm is intrinsically similar. This suggests that they bind to the same cell surface receptors. This was investigated using a baby hamster kidney cell line (BHK-21) as a model. BHK-21 cell membrane components that interact with basic and acidic FGF have been identified by covalent cross-linking to their respective 125I-labeled ligands. Under appropriate conditions, basic and acidic 125I-FGF were cross-linked, using disuccinimidyl suberate, to two receptor species with apparent molecular masses of 145,000 and 125,000 daltons, respectively. The labeling of those receptors is inhibited when either native basic or acidic FGF are present in excess during incubation of cells with either acidic or basic 125I-FGF. Competition of basic 125I-FGF with increasing concentrations of native acidic FGF results in a preferential decrease in the labeling of the 125,000-dalton species, whereas competition of acidic 125I-FGF with increasing concentrations of native basic FGF leads to a preferential decrease in the labeling of the 145,000-dalton species. The data suggest that qualitatively both mitogens interact with the same 145,000- and 125,000-dalton receptor species. The different affinities displayed by acidic and basic FGF toward their common receptor molecules could explain why acidic FGF, depending on the cell type considered, is 20-100-fold less potent than basic FGF.     

Characterization of the receptor for keratinocyte growth factor. Evidence for multiple fibroblast growth factor receptors

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. KGF exhibits potent mitogenic activity for a variety of epithelial cell types but is distinct from other known FGFs in that it is not mitogenic for fibroblasts or endothelial cells. We report saturable specific binding of 125I-KGF to surface receptors on intact Balb/MK mouse epidermal keratinocytes. 125I-KGF binding was completed efficiently by acidic FGF (aFGF) but with 20-fold lower efficiency by basic FGF (bFGF). The pattern of 125I-acidic FGF binding and competition on Balb/MK keratinocytes and NIH/3T3 fibroblasts suggests that these cell types possess related but distinct FGF receptors. Scatchard analysis of 125I-KGF binding suggested major and minor high affinity receptor components (KD = 400 and 25 pM, respectively) as well as a third high capacity/low affinity heparin-like component. Covalent affinity cross-linking of 125I-KGF to its receptor on Balb/MK cells revealed two species of 115 and 140 kDa. KGF also stimulated the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of a 90-kDa protein in Balb/MK cells but not in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Together these results indicate that Balb/MK keratinocytes possess high affinity KGF receptors to which the FGFs may also bind. However, these receptors are distinct from the receptor(s) for aFGF and bFGF on NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, which fail to interact with KGF.     

High and low affinity binding sites for basic fibroblast growth factor on cultured cells: absence of a role for low affinity binding in the stimulation of plasminogen activator production by bovine capillary endothelial cells

Scatchard analysis of binding of 125I-basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) to baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells revealed the presence of two binding sites: a high affinity site with KD of 20 pM and 80,000 sites per cell and a low affinity site with KD of about 2 nM and 600,000 sites per cell. The binding to the two sites could be separated by first washing the cells with 2 M NaCl at pH 7.5 which released the low affinity binding and then extracting the cells with 0.5% Triton X-100 to recover the 125I-basic FGF bound to high affinity sites. The binding to the high affinity site was acid sensitive, suggesting that it represented binding to the receptor. Binding to the low affinity site could be competed strongly by heparin and less strongly by heparan sulfate but not by chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, or keratan sulfate. Treatment of BHK cells with heparinase abolished 62% of the low affinity binding, suggesting that the low affinity binding represented binding to cell-associated, heparin-like molecules. A variety of other cell types, including bovine capillary endothelial (BCE) cells, also demonstrated both low and high affinity binding sites. To test whether the low affinity binding might play a role in the basic FGF stimulation of plasminogen activator (PA) production by BCE cells, heparin was added to BCE cultures at concentrations which totally blocked binding of 125I-basic FGF to the low affinity sites. Addition of the heparin did not diminish the increased PA production induced by basic FGF. This suggests that the low affinity binding has no direct role in the stimulation of PA production in BCE cells.     

cDNA cloning and developmental expression of fibroblast growth factor receptors from Xenopus laevis.

The heparin-binding growth factors constitute a family of homologous polypeptides including basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). These factors participate in a variety of processes, including wound healing, angiogenesis, neuronal survival, and inductive events in the early amphibian embryo. We have isolated three closely related species of cDNA clones for Xenopus FGF receptors. One of these, designated XFGFR-A1, encodes an open reading frame of 814 amino acids. A second class encodes an identical amino acid sequence with the exception of an 88-amino-acid deletion near the 5' end. This species probably arises through alternative splicing. A third class of cDNA corresponding to the shorter form of XFGFR-A1 was isolated and shown to be 95% homologous and is designated XFGFR-A2. Xenopus FGF receptors are similar to FGF receptors from other species in that they contain a transmembrane domain, a tyrosine kinase domain split by a 14-amino-acid insertion, and a unique conserved stretch of eight acidic residues in the extracellular domain. Overexpression of Xenopus FGF receptor protein by transfection of COS1 cells with the corresponding cDNA in a transient expression vector leads to the appearance of new FGF binding sites on transfected cells, consistent with these cDNAs encoding for FGF receptors. RNA gel blot analysis demonstrates that Xenopus FGF receptor mRNA is a maternal message and is expressed throughout early development. When blastula-stage ectoderm is cultured in control amphibian salt solutions, Xenopus FGF receptor mRNA declines to undetectable levels by late neurula stages. However, when cultured in the presence of FGF of XTC mesoderm-inducing factor, Xenopus FGF receptor RNA expression is maintained.     

Phosphorylation of basic fibroblast growth factor by a protein kinase associated with the outer surface of a target cell.

A protein kinase capable of phosphorylating basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) can be localized on the outer cell surface of human hepatoma cells (SK-Hep cells). The addition of [gamma-32P]ATP, but not H3(32)PO4, results in a rapid (less than 10 min) incorporation of 32P into exogenously added basic FGF. The reaction is time and concentration dependent (apparent Km, 170 nM) and is stimulated by the addition of cAMP (EC50, 0.5 microM), but not the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate. There is also no tyrosine protein kinase detected on the cell surface. The inhibition of basic FGF binding to its low and/or high affinity sites decreases the phosphorylation of basic FGF by the ecto-protein kinase. Accordingly, pretreatment of cells with heparinase for 30 min or coincubation with heparin (0.1-10 micrograms/ml) decreases phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the addition of a nonphosphorylatable peptide analog of basic FGF ([Val112] basic FGF-(106-146)NH2) that can compete with basic FGF binding to cells prevents the phosphorylation of basic FGF. Together, these observations suggest that 1) exogenous basic FGF must associate with its low and/or high affinity binding sites to be phosphorylated, and 2) the kinase is cAMP dependent and associated with the outer cell surface, and support the hypothesis that phosphorylation may regulate the activity and/or bioavailability of the growth factor.     

Presence of basic fibroblast growth factor receptors in bovine brain membranes

We described a protocol for purification of bovine brain membranes suitable to study the binding of iodinated basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) to bovine brain membrane preparation. The binding of 125I basic FGF to brain membranes reached equilibrium within 30 min at 20 degrees C, was reversible, and displaced by an excess of unlabeled basic FGF. Scatchard analysis of the data revealed that two classes of binding sites could be detected with an apparent Kd of 30 pM and a capacity of 0.24 pmol/mg of membrane proteins for the high affinity binding site and Kd of 3 nM with a capacity of 51 pmol/mg of membrane proteins for the low affinity binding site. Cross-linking experiments of labeled basic FGF to brain membrane receptor yield the formation of a single major complex with an apparent molecular mass of 170 kDa which is similar to the value obtained for the high affinity binding site for basic FGF on target cells in tissue culture. Hence these data present the first biochemical evidence suggesting that membrane purified from bovine brain contain two classes of specific binding sites for basic FGF and confirm results described with cells grown in vitro.     

Acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor bind with differing affinity to the same heparan sulfate proteoglycan on BALB/c 3T3 cells: Implications for potentiation of growth factor action by heparin

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans on the cell surface act as low affinity binding sites for acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) [Moscatelli (1887): J Cell Physiol 131:123–130] and play an important role in the interaction of FGF with the FGF receptor (FGFR). In this study, several aspects of the interaction of FGFs with cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans were examined. Reciprocal cross blocking studies demonstrated that acidic FGF (aFGF) and basic FGF (bFGF) bind to identical or closely associated heparan sulfate motifs on BALB/c 3T3 cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans. However, the binding affinity of the two growth factros for these heparan sulfate proteoglycans differs considerably, competition binding data indicating that aFGF has a 4.7-fold lower affinity than bFGF for 3T3 heparan sulfate proteoglycan. Subsequent studies of dissociation kinetics demonstrated that bFGF dissociates form the FGFR at least 10-fold slower than aFGF, whereas, following removal of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoplycan. Subsequent studies of dissociation kinetic demonstrated that bFGF dissociates from the FGFR at least 10-fold slwer than aFGF, whereas, following removal of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans by heparinase treatment, the dissociation rate of both FGFs is similar and rapid. These results support the concept that cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans stabilize the interactio fo FGF with FGFR, possibly by the formatin of a ternary complex. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Studies of the cell surface of Dictyostelium discoideum during differentiation. The binding of 125I-concanavalin A to the cell surface.

125I-concanavalin A (125I-Con A) was found to be equally effective as native Con A in binding to and agglutinating cells of Dictyostelium discoideum, suggesting that iodination of the molecule had no effect on the interaction of the protein with the cell surface. Almost all of the 125I-Con A binding to the cells was inhibited by alpha-methyl glucoside. The binding of 125I-Con A to the cells was extremely rapid, and once bound, the molecule was not readily displaced by prolonged incubation or by the addition of excess native concanavalin A (Con A). In contrast, the 125I-Con A was displaced rapidly from the cell surface by alpha-methyl glucoside. The binding of 125I-Con A to D. discoideum was identical at 22 degrees and 4 degrees, and was unaffected by metabolic inhibitors, suggesting that the protein was not subject to endocytosis. The cell surface Con A binding sites became saturated at high 125I-Con A concentrations. Scatchard plots of the data indicated that growing cells possessed 4 X 10(7) sites/cell, all of equal affinity. Similar plots for "aggregation phase" cells indicated at least two classes of binding sites. A small proportion of the sites had an affinity close to that for the sites on growing cells, but the majority of the sites had a markedly decreased affinity. The total number of binding sites increased only slightly during aggregation to 5.6 X 10(7) sites/cell.     

Identification and initial characterization of an autocrine pheromone receptor in the protozoan ciliate Euplotes raikovi

The polypeptide pheromone Er-1, purified from the ciliate Euplotes raikovi of mating type I and genotype mat-1/mat-1, was iodinated with 125I-Bolton-Hunter reagent to a sp act of 0.45-0.73 mu Ci/microgram of protein. This preparation of 125I-Er-1 bound specifically to high affinity binding sites on the same cells of mating type I. Binding of 125I-Er-1 occurred with an apparent Kd of 4.63 +/- 0.12 X 10(-9) M in cells in early stationary phase. It was estimated that these cells carry a total number of approximately 5 X 10(7) sites/cell, with a site density that falls in the range of 1,600-1,700/microns 2 of cell surface. Unlabeled Er-1, other homologous pheromones such as Er-2 and Er-10, antibodies specific for Er-1, and human IL-2 were shown to act as effective inhibitors of specific binding of 125I-Er-1 to mating type I cells. The "autocrine" nature of the identified specific high affinity binding sites for Er-1 was further substantiated by cross-linking experiments. These experiments revealed that mating type-I cell membranes contain one protein entity of Mr = 28,000 that is capable of reacting specifically with the homodimeric native form of Er-1.     

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) dissociates rapidly from heparan sulfates but slowly from receptors. Implications for mechanisms of bFGF release from pericellular matrix.

The effect of heparin on the rate of binding of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to high affinity (receptor) and low affinity (heparan sulfate) binding sites on endothelial cells and CHO cells transfected with FGF receptor-1 or FGF receptor-2 was investigated. Radiolabeled bFGF bound rapidly to both high and low affinity sites on all three types of cells. Addition of 10 micrograms/ml heparin eliminated binding to low affinity sites and decreased the rate of binding to high affinity sites to about 30% of the rate observed in the absence of heparin. However, the same amount of 125I-bFGF bound to high affinity sites at equilibrium in the presence and absence of heparin. The effect of heparin on the initial rate of binding to high affinity sites was related to the log of the heparin concentration. Depletion of the cells of heparan sulfates by treatment with heparinase also decreased the initial rate of binding to high affinity receptors. These results suggest that cell-surface heparan sulfates facilitate the interaction of bFGF with its receptor by concentrating bFGF at the cell surface. Dissociation rates for receptor-bound and heparan sulfate-bound bFGF were also measured. Dissociation from low affinity sites was rapid, with a half-time of 6 min for endothelial cell heparan sulfates and 0.5 min for Chinese hamster ovary heparan sulfates. In contrast, dissociation from receptors was slow, with a half-time of 46 min for endothelial cell receptors, 2.5 h for FGF receptor-1, and 1.4 h for FGF receptor-2. These results suggest that degradative enzymes may not be needed to release bFGF from the heparan sulfates in instances where receptors and heparan sulfate-bound bFGF are in close proximity because dissociation from heparan sulfates occurs rapidly enough to allow bFGF to bind to unoccupied receptors by laws of mass action.     

Insulin-like growth factor-II receptors in cultured rat hepatocytes: regulation by cell density

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) receptors in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes were characterized and their regulation by cell density examined. In hepatocytes cultured at 5 X 10(5) cells per 3.8 cm2 plate [125I]IGF-II bound to specific, high affinity receptors (Ka = 4.4 +/- 0.5 X 10(9) l/mol). Less than 1% cross-reactivity by IGF-I and no cross-reactivity by insulin were observed. IGF-II binding increased when cells were permeabilized with 0.01% digitonin, suggesting the presence of an intracellular receptor pool. Determined by Scatchard analysis and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after affinity labeling, the higher binding was due solely to an increase in binding sites present on 220 kDa type II IGF receptors. In hepatocytes cultured at low densities, the number of cell surface receptors increased markedly, from 10-20,000 receptors per cell at a culture density of 6 X 10(5) cells/well to 70-80,000 receptors per cell at 0.38 X 10(5) cells/well. The increase was not due simply to the exposure of receptors from the intracellular pool, as a density-related increase in receptors was also seen in cells permeabilized with digitonin. There was no evidence that IGF binding proteins, either secreted by hepatocytes or present in fetal calf serum, had any effect on the measurement of receptor concentration or affinity. We conclude that rat hepatocytes in primary culture contain specific IGF-II receptors and that both cell surface and intracellular receptors are regulated by cell density.     

Identification of the fibroblast growth factor receptor in human vascular endothelial cells

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor of human umbilical vein-derived endothelial (HUE) cells has been identified by affinity labeling. It has an apparent molecular weight of 130,000. It binds both basic and acidic FGF, but not with epidermal growth factor, insulin, or transferrin. The lectin concanavalin-A does not inhibit the binding of ¹²⁵l-bFGF to HUE cell-surface receptors, whereas it inhibits bFGF binding to BHK-21 cell-surface FGF receptor. This suggests that both types of receptors may differ in their degree of glycosylation. In contrast to other cell types, heparin only slightly inhibits the binding of basic FGF to its receptor. Protamine sulfate, which is anti-angiogenic in vivo, and suramin, a drug used in the therapy of trypanosomiasis and onchocerciasis, also inhibit the binding of basic FGF to the receptor.     

Effect of lipoproteins and growth factors on the proliferation of BHK-21 cells in serum free culture

Baby hamster kidney-derived cells (BHK-21 cell line), seeded at low density on gelatin coated dishes and exposed to a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and Ham's F-12 medium, proliferate actively when exposed to high density lipoproteins (HDL), transferrin, and basic or acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF). This serum free medium combination supported cell multiplication at a rate equal to that of serum supplemented medium, and at low cell input (10(3) cells/35-mm dish). Epidermal growth factor (EGF), although mitogenic for BHK-21 cells, was less efficient than either basic or acidic FGF in supporting cell growth. When the potency of basic and acidic FGF were compared, acidic FGF was 10-fold less potent than basic FGF. The requirement of BHK-21 cells for transferrin appears to be minimal since cells exposed to HDL and basic FGF could be serially transferred for at least 50 cumulative population doublings in the absence of transferrin.