Abstract |
Inhibins and activins are members of the transforming growth factor-beta ( TGF-beta) superfamily. Since TGF beta has been shown to be a potent proliferation-inhibiting agent for the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, we determined whether this cell line (a) transcribes messenger RNAs coding inhibin/ activin alpha-, beta A-, and beta B-subunits and activin receptors, and (b) produces inhibin and/or activin proteins. Messenger RNAs for alpha- and beta-subunits of inhibin/ activin and activin receptor II in MCF-7 cells were detected and localized using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis and in situ hybridization, respectively. The identity of the RT-PCR products was confirmed by DNA sequencing of PCR products. Immunocytochemically, inhibin and activin were localized in these cells. Our findings that messenger RNAs encoding inhibin alpha-subunit, inhibin/ activin beta A-subunit, and activin receptor II were expressed, and inhibin/ activin proteins were produced by MCF-7 cells, imply that these gonadal growth factors may have paracrine/autocrine functions in human breast cancer. Further, these observations suggest that these growth factors may be involved in regulating the growth and differentiation of human breast cancer cells.
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Authors | S Y Ying, Z Zhang |
Journal | Breast cancer research and treatment
(Breast Cancer Res Treat)
Vol. 37
Issue 2
Pg. 151-60
( 1996)
ISSN: 0167-6806 [Print] Netherlands |
PMID | 8750582
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
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Chemical References |
- RNA, Messenger
- Receptors, Growth Factor
- Activins
- Inhibins
- Activin Receptors
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Topics |
- Activin Receptors
- Activins
- Adenocarcinoma
(metabolism)
- Base Sequence
- Breast Neoplasms
(metabolism)
- Female
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- In Situ Hybridization
- Inhibins
(isolation & purification, metabolism)
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- RNA, Messenger
(isolation & purification, metabolism)
- Receptors, Growth Factor
(isolation & purification, metabolism)
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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