Transforming Growth Factor-α and Epidermal Growth Factor Expression in Human Fetal Gastrointestinal Tract (original) (raw)

Pediatric Research volume 33, pages 481–486 (1993) Cite this article

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) are mitogenic to the intestinal epithelium. To further clarify their role in the developing human fetal gut, their expression was studied in fetuses at 15 to 20 wk of gestation. TGF-α mRNA was present throughout the gastrointestinal tract, most abundantly in the duodenum. EGF mRNA could be detected only with ribonuclease protection assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. The effect of EGF and TGF-α on TGF-α mRNA expression was studied by culturing explants of fetal jejunum, ileum, and colon for 7 d in Leibowitz L-15 medium supplemented with 100 μg/L of either EGF or TGF-α. EGF receptor-like immunoreactivity was detected in both the villi and the crypts. In the jejunum, exogenous EGF up-regulated TGF-α mRNA 3-fold. However, exogenous TGF-α reduced its own mRNA by 40%. No mature 6-kD TGF-α was detected in the culture medium by Western blotting, but precursor forms of approximately 30 and 68 kD were present. The ileum and colon did not respond to either growth factor. Besides the gut, TGF-α was expressed in the gallbladder, salivary gland, adrenals, brain, kidney, liver, and placenta. The data imply an important role for TGF-α and EGF in the developing intestine.

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  1. Department of Pathology and 1st Department of Pediatrics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, SF-00290, Finland
    Päivi j Miettinen

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Miettinen, P. Transforming Growth Factor-α and Epidermal Growth Factor Expression in Human Fetal Gastrointestinal Tract.Pediatr Res 33, 481–486 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305000-00012

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