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Cultured Kaposi's sarcoma-derived cells express functional PDGF A-type and B-type receptors
S Werner1, P H Hofschneider, C H Heldin
1Department of Virus Research, Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, Martinsried, Federal Republic of Germany.
Abstract:
We have investigated the role of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) for the growth of cultured Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-derived cells. They were found to bind 125I-PDGF-AA and 125I-PDGF-BB in a manner which is consistent with the presence of both PDGF A-type and PDGF B-type receptors. Furthermore, KS cells responded mitogenically to both PDGF homodimers. This shows that KS cells have functional A- and B-type PDGF receptors, suggesting an important role of PDGF for the growth of KS cells in vitro. In addition we found that KS cells produce PDGF-A chain mRNA in response to PDGF stimulation. This suggests that a PDGF-induced autocrine stimulation involving PDGF-AA which could amplify the response to PDGF occurs in these cells.