Objective: To study the difference in expression and response of certain growth factors between the two metastatic variants PGbE1 and PGLH7 of human pulmonary giant cell carcinoma, and the action of these growth factors on the metastasis of tumor cells.
Methods: RT-PCT was conducted to detect the expression of TGF alpha, TGF beta 1, IL-6, IL-8, bFGF and ANG, and the expression of receptors EGFR, IL-6R and IL-8R; 3H-TdR incorporation assay was used to determine the effects of recombinant TGF alpha, TGF beta 1 and IL-6 on the proliferation of the two cells.
Results: TGF alpha, EGFR, IL-6 and IL-6R were expressed at a higher level in PGbE1 cells than in PGLH7 cells. No significant differences were found in the expression of TGF beta 1, bFGF, IL-8, IL-8R and ANG between the two cells. Recombinant TGF alpha and IL-6 stimulated the proliferation of both cells, while TGF beta 1 had dual effects.
Conclusion: TGF alpha, TGF beta 1, bFGF, IL-6, IL-8 and ANG may be involved in the autocrine regulation of the growth and proliferation of pulmonary giant cell carcinoma, TGF alpha and IL-6 may play an important role in the metastasis of the tumor cells.