High chemotactic response to platelet-derived growth factor of a teratocarcinoma differentiated mesodermal cell line

Evidence is presented that a differentiated mesodermal line (MES-1) from P19 EC cells express a high chemotactic response to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) as assayed in a blind-well modified Boyden chamber. Compared to the NIH 3T3 fibroblasts the chemotactic response of MES-1 is increased by 10-fold at 0.3 ng/ml of PDGF, 4-fold at 1.25 ng/ml of PDGF, 2-fold at 2.5 ng/ml of PDGF. In contrast, PDGF induces the same increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation in both cell lines, made quiescent under reduced serum concentration. This high chemotactic response to PDGF seems specific for these mesodermal cells. Among the different teratocarcinoma cells tested, including stem cells (F9, PC 13, PCC4) and endodermal derivatives (PYS, F9 with retinoic acid, PSA 5E), only the visceral endodermlike cells (PSA5E) are slightly attracted by PDGF. This chemotactic response to PDGF is not related to the presence or characteristics of the type B PDGF receptors, which are less numerous in MES-1 cells (10(5) receptors/cell, KDa 1,2 mM) compared to NIH 3T3 cells (64 X 10(4) receptors per cell, KDa 1,8 nM). The MES-1 cell line might be of interest for studying the chemotactic effect of PDGF. These results also suggest a role for this soluble factor in cell migration during early embryogenesis.