Epidermal growth factor is a positive in vivo regulator of CTP:cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase

CTP:cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase (CT) is a key enzyme required for surfactant phosphatidylcholine synthesis, and its activity is regulated by lung lipids. This study evaluated the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the phospholipid content and the expression of CT in the lung following direct in vivo administration to the newborn rat. EGF caused an increase in cytidylyltransferase activity by 58% in lung cytosol. The increase in cytosolic activity was not mediated by a corresponding increase in enzyme mass. Further, these changes in cytidylyltransferase activity were associated with a significant increase in total lung phospholipid and phosphatidylcholine content. The results suggest that EGF may have important maturational effects on lung surfactant metabolism.