Bone morphogenetic protein-4 strongly potentiates growth factor-induced proliferation of mammary epithelial cells

Journal Article · Fri Sep 12 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.07.007· OSTI ID:21143862

Montesano, Roberto ^[1]; Sarkoezi, Rita; Schramek, Herbert ^[2]

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1. Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue-Michel-Servet, 1, CH-1211 Geneva 4 (Switzerland)
2. Department of Internal Medicine IV, Nephrology and Hypertensiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck (Austria)

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are multifunctional cytokines that elicit pleiotropic effects on biological processes such as cell proliferation, cell differentiation and tissue morphogenesis. With respect to cell proliferation, BMPs can exert either mitogenic or anti-mitogenic activities, depending on the target cells and their context. Here, we report that in low-density cultures of immortalized mammary epithelial cells, BMP-4 did not stimulate cell proliferation by itself. However, when added in combination with suboptimal concentrations of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2, FGF-7, FGF-10, epidermal growth factor (EGF) or hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), BMP-4 potently enhanced growth factor-induced cell proliferation. These results reveal a hitherto unsuspected interplay between BMP-4 and growth factors in the regulation of mammary epithelial cell proliferation. We suggest that the ability of BMP-4 to potentiate the mitogenic activity of multiple growth factors may contribute to mammary gland ductal morphogenesis as well as to breast cancer progression.

• OSTI ID: 21143862
• Journal Information: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Journal Name: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 374; ISSN 0006-291X; ISSN BBRCA9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
CELL PROLIFERATION
EPITHELIUM
FIBROBLASTS
LYMPHOKINES
MAMMARY GLANDS
MORPHOGENESIS
NEOPLASMS
SKELETON