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An endothelial cell growth factor from bovine hypothalamus: identification and partial characterization
Summary
Bovine hypothalamus extracts contain mitogens that stimulate cell growth. One mitogen is fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-like, while another distinct factor promotes endothelial cell growth.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Bovine hypothalamus extracts exhibit significant mitogenic activity.
- This activity was observed in Swiss 3T3 and human umbilical vein endothelial cell assays.
Purpose of the Study:
- To purify and characterize mitogenic factors from bovine hypothalamus.
- To differentiate between mitogens affecting different cell types.
Main Methods:
- Swiss 3T3 cell [3H]dThd incorporation assay.
- Human umbilical vein endothelial cell growth assay.
- Gel exclusion chromatography and biochemical treatments (trypsin, heat, reducing agents).
Main Results:
- A fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-like mitogen was identified for 3T3 cells.
- A separate endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF) with a molecular weight of ~75,000 was isolated.
- ECGF activity was inactivated by reducing agents, unlike 3T3 mitogenic activity.
- Both activities were present in brain and pituitary gland extracts.
Conclusions:
- Bovine hypothalamus contains at least two distinct mitogenic factors.
- One factor is FGF-like, acting on 3T3 cells, and the other promotes endothelial cell growth.
- These factors differ in molecular weight and sensitivity to reducing agents.