Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Therapeutic Gene Delivery and Transfection in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells using Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-targeted Gelatin Nanoparticles
08:35

Therapeutic Gene Delivery and Transfection in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells using Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-targeted Gelatin Nanoparticles

Published on: January 4, 2012

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces apoptosis in a transfected cell line expressing EGF receptor on its membrane

Xiaorong Zhao1, Wentao Dai, Huifen Zhu

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular and Immuno-Pharmacology, Department of Immunology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13#, Wuhan, Hubei, China.

Cell Biology International
|June 6, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) can promote or inhibit cell proliferation by binding to the EGF receptor (EGFR). High EGF concentrations paradoxically induce apoptosis and inhibit growth, correlating with EGFR expression levels.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) interaction typically promotes cell growth.
  • However, EGF can paradoxically inhibit proliferation in certain cell lines.
  • Understanding this dual role is crucial for cancer research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the dose-dependent effects of EGF on cell proliferation in a cell line engineered to express varying levels of EGFR.
  • To elucidate the relationship between EGF concentration, EGFR expression, and cellular responses like proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion.

Main Methods:

  • Established a cell line with a GFP-tagged human EGFR construct.
  • Treated the transfected cell line with varying concentrations of EGF.
  • Monitored cell proliferation, adhesion, cell cycle, and apoptosis.
  • Correlated cellular responses with EGFR expression levels.

Main Results:

  • Low EGF concentrations promoted cell proliferation.
  • High EGF concentrations induced loss of adhesion, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis.
  • EGF effects on proliferation correlated with EGFR expression levels.
  • High EGF concentrations upregulated EGFR expression and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusions:

  • Demonstrated a direct relationship between EGF concentration, EGFR expression, and cellular outcomes in a single cell line.
  • High EGF levels can paradoxically inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis, linked to increased EGFR expression.
  • Findings offer insights into EGF signaling, cell proliferation control, and potential therapeutic strategies for tumor metastasis.

More Related Videos

Preparation of Cell-lines for Conditional Knockdown of Gene Expression and Measurement of the Knockdown Effects on E4orf4-Induced Cell Death13:54

Preparation of Cell-lines for Conditional Knockdown of Gene Expression and Measurement of the Knockdown Effects on E4orf4-Induced Cell Death

Published on: October 21, 2012

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death09:18

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Published on: December 27, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs01:15

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that  lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR  stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive  EGFR activation may...
Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
Overview of Cell Death01:30

Overview of Cell Death

Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...