Keratinocyte growth factor induces proliferation of hepatocytes and epithelial cells throughout the rat gastrointestinal tract Housley RM, Morris CF, Boyle W, Ring B, Biltz R, Tarpley JE, Aukerman SL, et al. J Clin Invest 1994; 94: 1764?1777

Lung branching morphogenesis depends on mesenchymal-epithelial tissue interactions. Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) has been implicated to be a regulator of these tissue interactions. In the present study, we investigated the role of KGF in early rat lung organogenesis. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed KGF mRNA expression in the mesenchymal component of the 13-day embryonic lung, while message for KGF receptor (KGFR) was expressed in the epithelium, confirming the paracrine nature of KGF/KGFR axis. Antisense KGF oligonucleotides inhibited DNA synthesis of embryonic lung explants. This inhibitory effect of antisense KGF was partially reversed by the addition of exogenous KGF. Recombinant KGF was mitogenic for 13-day isolated embryonic lung epithelial cells. Medium conditioned by 13-day lung mesenchymal cells also stimulated DNA synthesis of 13-day embryonic lung epithelial cells. This stimulatory effect was partially abrogated by a neutralizing KGF antibody. The number of terminal buds of lung explants cultured in the presence of antisense KGF oligonucleotides was significantly reduced compared to control explants. Exogenous KGF partially abrogated the inhibitory effect of antisense KGF on early lung branching. Sense or scrambled KGF oligonucleotides had no inhibitory effect on lung growth and branching. Addition of neutralizing KGF antibodies to the explants also reduced the degree of branching, while non-immune IgG and neutralizing acidic FGF antibodies had no effect. Explants incubated with antisense oligonucleotides targeted to the initiation site of translation of both the splice variants of the fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (FGFR2) gene, KGFR and bek, exhibited a similar reduction in lung branching as observed with antisense KGF oligonucleotides. Antisense KGFR-specific oligonucleotides dramatically inhibited lung branching, while exposure of explants to antisense bek-specific oligonucleotides resulted in reduced branching albeit to a lesser degree than that observed with antisense KGFR-specific oligonucleotides. Neither sense nor scrambled KGFR-specific oligonucleotides had any effect on early lung branching. These results suggest that the KGF/KGFR system has a critical role in early lung organogenesis.

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Keratinocyte Growth Factor Expression in the Mesenchymal Cells of Human Amnion*

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism ◽

10.1210/jcem.82.10.4294 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 82 (10) ◽

pp. 3319-3323 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. Linette Casey ◽

Paul C. MacDonald

Keyword(s):

Growth Factor ◽

Epithelial Cells ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Keratinocyte Growth Factor ◽

Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽

Mesenchymal Cells ◽

Cell Replication ◽

Human Amnion ◽

Tetradecanoyl Phorbol Acetate ◽

Amnion Epithelial Cells

Abstract Amnion epithelial and mesenchymal cells were separated by differential protease treatment, and the separated cells were maintained in monolayer culture. Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) messenger RNA (mRNA) was readily detected by Northern analysis of amnion mesenchymal cell total RNA (10 μg) but not in amnion epithelial cells. Treatment of the amnion mesenchymal cells in serum-free medium with tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (1 nm) caused an increase in the level of KGF mRNA. Forskolin treatment also caused an increase in KGF mRNA but not to the levels attained with tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate treatment. Dexamethasone (1 nm) treatment of these cells effected a reduction in the level of KGF mRNA. Prolonged maintenance of mesenchymal cells in serum-free medium also was associated with an increase in the level of KGF mRNA. Treatment with a variety of other agents, viz., interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 plus or minus IL-6 soluble receptor, IL-11, oncostatin M , epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transforming growth factor-β did not modify the level of KGF mRNA. Treatment of amnion epithelial cells with KGF caused an increase in the rate of [3H]thymidine incorporation, but the rate of cell replication induced by KGF was less than that induced by treatment with EGF. Transforming growth factor-β treatment inhibited basal and EGF- and KGF-stimulated amnion epithelial cell replication. The findings of this study are indicative that KGF is expressed in human amnion mesenchymal cells, and that KGF may act on the epithelial cells of this tissue.

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