Figure 6
From: Macrophages may promote cancer growth via a GM-CSF/HB-EGF paracrine loop that is enhanced by CXCL12
Angiogenic, proliferative and anti-apoptotic activities of HB-EGF. (A) HB-EGF or supernatants from CXCL12-stimulated mononuclear phagocytes (SN2) induced stromal (Balb/c 3T3) and endothelial (HUVEC) cells to proliferate, which shows that both HB-EGF and the evaluated supernatants share angiogenic potential. The supernatant-associated angiogenic signals were inhibited by 100 μg/mL anti-HB-EGF neutralising Abs (p < 0.05). (B) HB-EGF induced proliferation and anti-apoptotic effects (p < 0.05) in HeLa (blue) and DLD-1 (red) cells. Cultures were performed in serum free medium in the absence (△) or presence (□) of 25 ng/mL HB-EGF. Proliferation was evaluated by an MTT assay after 24, 48 and 72 hours in culture. Apoptosis was evaluated at 72 hours by the detection of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation by a specific ELISA. The ratio between absorbance of untreated and treated cells (enrichment factor, EF) was used as an index of rescue from apoptosis due to serum deprivation. The means ± SD of 5 experiments are depicted.