Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor from Human Keratinocytes Is a Natural Mitogen for Melanocytes

To survive and proliferate in pure culture, human melanocytes require basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and cAMP. Without these factors, even in the presence of serum, the cells die. Melanocytes cultured in the presence of keratinocytes, however, survive for weeks without added bFGF and cAMP. We...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of cell biology 1988-10, Vol.107 (4), p.1611-1619
Main Authors: Halaban, R., Langdon, R., Birchall, N., Cuono, C., Baird, A., Scott, G., Moellmann, G., McGuire, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cell cycle, cell proliferation
Cell Division - radiation effects
Cell growth
Cell physiology
Cells
Cells, Cultured
DNA
Endothelial cells
Epidermal Cells
Epidermis - radiation effects
Fibroblast growth factors
Fibroblast Growth Factors - physiology
Fibroblasts
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Irradiation
Keratinocytes
Keratins
Melanocytes
Melanocytes - cytology
Melanocytes - radiation effects
Mitogens
Molecular and cellular biology
Ultraviolet Rays
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Summary:To survive and proliferate in pure culture, human melanocytes require basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and cAMP. Without these factors, even in the presence of serum, the cells die. Melanocytes cultured in the presence of keratinocytes, however, survive for weeks without added bFGF and cAMP. We show here that the growth factor for melanocytes produced by human keratinocytes is bFGF because its activity can be abolished by neutralizing antibodies to bFGF and by a bFGF synthetic peptide that inhibits the binding of the growth factor to its receptor. The melanocyte mitogen in keratinocytes is cell associated and increases after irradiation with ultraviolet B. Northern blots reveal bFGF gene transcripts in keratinocytes but not melanocytes. These studies demonstrate that bFGF elaborated by keratinocytes in vitro sustains melanocyte growth and survival, and they suggest that keratinocyte-derived bFGF is the natural growth factor for normal human melanocytes in vivo.
ISSN:0021-9525
1540-8140
DOI:10.1083/jcb.107.4.1611