Studies of growth regulation in a neuroendocrine cell line

Courtney M. Townsend, Jin Ishizuka, James C. Thompson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Studies of growth-regulation of neuroendocrine cells have been hampered by a lack of suitable in vitro models. We established and have maintained a functioning human pancreatic carcinoid cell (BON) line. BON cells synthesize and secrete several growth factors. Among those, we have found that serotonin stimulates growth of BON cells through specific receptors linked to cyclic AMP pathway. In this study, effects of other growth factors on growth and serotonin release, and the effects of serotonin and TGF-β1 on the polyamine biosynthetic pathway, were examined. TGF-β1 inhibited both growth and serotonin release in a dose-dependent fashion. Basic FGF stimulated growth, but failed to affect serotonin release. Other peptide growth factors had no effect on either growth or serotonin release. Serotonin stimulated ODC enzyme activity, but TGF-β1 failed to affect ODC enzyme activity. These findings suggest that growth of neuroendocrine cells can be delicately regulated by their own products in an autocrine fashion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)125-130
Number of pages6
JournalActa Oncologica
Volume32
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1993
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Studies of growth regulation in a neuroendocrine cell line'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this