Hepatocyte growth factor reverses the TGF-β-induced growth inhibition of CCL-64 cells: A novel bioassay for HGF and implications for the TGF-β bioassay

• Published in: Journal of immunological methods 1996-01, Vol.189 (1), p.59-64
• Main Authors: Börset, Magne, Waage, Andres, Sundan, Andres
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Animals; Bioassay; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - chemistry; CCL-64 cell; Cell Division - drug effects; Cell Line; Epidermal growth factor; Epidermal Growth Factor - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Growth Inhibitors - antagonists & inhibitors; Growth Inhibitors - pharmacology; Hepatocyte growth factor; Hepatocyte Growth Factor - analysis; Hepatocyte Growth Factor - pharmacology; Humans; Immunobiology; Lung - cytology; Lung - drug effects; Lymphokines, interleukins ( function, expression); Mice; Mink; Multiple Myeloma - metabolism; Mv-1-Lu cell; Regulatory factors and their cellular receptors; Transforming Growth Factor beta - antagonists & inhibitors; Transforming Growth Factor beta - pharmacology; Transforming growth factor β
• ISSN: 0022-1759; 1872-7905
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-1759(95)00228-6

The influence of human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) bioassay CCL-64 was examined. HGF induced proliferation of the CCL-64 cells and potently counteracted TGF-β-induced growth inhibition. HGF was not inactivated by transient acidification to pH 2, a commonly used procedure to activate latent TGF-β. HGF was a stronger mitogen for the mink lung cells than epidermal growth factor (EGF), a known stimulator of CCL-64 cell growth. Costimulation of the cells by these two cytokines resulted in an additive effect on proliferation. In complex biological fluids containing large amounts of HGF, the TGF-β concentration can be underestimated when determined by the CCL-64 assay. When a fixed amount of TGF-β is added, the CCL-64 cells can be used as a reliable bioassay for HGF with a sensitivity of about 1 ng/ml.