KERATINOCYTE GROWTH-FACTOR (KGF FGF-7) HAS A PARACRINE ROLE IN CANINEPROSTATE - MOLECULAR-CLONING OF MESSENGER-RNA ENCODING CANINE KGF/

cDNA encoding the canine keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) was cloned f rom normal canine prostate tissue. The authentic canine KGF cDNA seque nce, 686 bp in length, spans the protein-coding region and 88 bp of th e 5' and 19 bp of the 3' untranslated regions of canine KGF. The predi cted amino acid sequence of canine KGF is composed of 194 amino acid r esidues. Canine KGF exhibits highest homology with the human KGF cDNA and amino acid sequences (95.8% and 97.4%, respectively), while it dem onstrates the Lowest homology with the rat sequences at 88.0% anti 92. 3%, respectively. The degrees of homology with mouse cDNA and amino ac id sequences are 91.8% and 95.9%, respectively. By using RNase protect ion assay, KGF was shown to be expressed in normal prostate tissues of both mature and young (5-month-old) dogs, In vitro, the recombinant c anine KGF has mitogenic activity on cultured canine epithelial cells, whereas it has no effect on cultured canine prostatic stromal cells. T his novel canine KGF cDNA may be a valuable tool in the study of human benign prostatic hyperplasia using the canine prostate as a model.