INVOLVEMENT OF SONIC-HEDGEHOG IN THE CELL-GROWTH OF LK-2 CELLS, HUMANLUNG SQUAMOUS CARCINOMA-CELLS

Mutation of the Patched gene has been detected in human inherited basa l cell nevus syndrome (BCNS) and sporadic basal cell carcinomas (BCC), suggesting a strong relation between a Sonic hedgehog-Patched signal and cell proliferation. In the present study, we demonstrate that Soni c hedgehog is expressed in human lung squamous carcinoma (LK-2 and EBC -1) and some adenocarcinoma cell lines. The expression of Sonic hedgeh og is also detected in the human lung squamous carcinoma tissues, but not in the normal lung tissue of the same patient. The N-terminal regi on of Sonic hedgehog stimulates the incorporation of BrdU into LK-2 ce lls and stimulates their cell growth, while anti-Shh-N inhibits their cell growth. These results suggest that a Sonic hedgehog signal is inv olved in the cell growth of LK-2 cells. (C) 1997 Academic Press.