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A soluble fibroblast growth factor receptor is released from HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells: implications for

J F Wang1, M Shen, G H Fong

  • 1Lawson Research Institute, St. Joseph's Health Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.

Insights

Secreted fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) forms, including FGFR1-IIIa, are expressed in HL-60 cells. These secreted FGFRs can modulate fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-mediated cell proliferation and DNA synthesis.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) exert biological activities via fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs).
  • FGFR1 exhibits alternative splicing, producing variants like FGFR1-IIIa, FGFR1-IIIb, and FGFR1-IIIc.
  • The FGFR1-IIIa variant encodes a secreted form lacking intracellular and transmembrane domains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of FGFR1 variants in HL-60 cells.
  • To determine the functional role of secreted FGFR1-IIIa in modulating FGF-2 activity.

Main Methods:

  • Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect mRNA expression.
  • Glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene fusion system for protein fragment synthesis.
  • Western ligand blot and Western blot analysis to detect protein binding and expression.
  • Assays for [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell proliferation to assess biological activity.

Main Results:

  • Both FGFR1-IIIa and FGFR1-IIIc mRNAs are expressed in HL-60 cells.
  • A 33 kDa FGFR1-IIIa fragment fusion protein binds FGF-2.
  • Secreted FGFR1 proteins (82, 60, and 50 kDa) were detected in HL-60 cell conditioned medium.
  • FGFR1-IIIa fragment inhibited FGF-2-stimulated DNA synthesis and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusions:

  • HL-60 cells express both membrane-bound and secreted forms of FGF receptors.
  • Secreted FGF receptor forms, such as FGFR1-IIIa, can act as modulators of FGF signaling.
  • These findings suggest a regulatory mechanism for FGFs acting as paracrine growth factors.

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