M. Mali et al., INHIBITION OF BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR-INDUCED GROWTH PROMOTIONBY OVEREXPRESSION OF SYNDECAN-1, The Journal of biological chemistry, 268(32), 1993, pp. 24215-24222
The expression of syndecan-1, the prototype member of the cell surface
proteoglycan family, follows morphogenetic rather than histological b
oundaries during organ formation. As a heparan sulfate-containing cell
surface molecule, syndecan-1 can simultaneously bind various componen
ts of the extracellular matrix and members of the heparin-binding grow
th factors. Indeed, syndecan-1 may act as a co-receptor for basic fibr
oblast growth factor (bFGF) (Salmivirta, M., Heino, J., and Jalkanen,
M. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 17606-17610), allowing the growth factor
to bind the tyrosine kinase bFGF receptor. We have studied the role o
f syndecan-1 in growth factor response by growing 3T3 cells transfecte
d with syndecan-1 in the presence of bFGF. The enhanced expression of
syndecan-1 caused down-regulation of bFGF-induced cell proliferation a
nd, at the same time, enhancement of cell matrix interactions. Thus, t
he induced expression of the heparan sulfate co-receptor (syndecan-1)
may provide a mechanism to restrict FGF action and modulate cell-matri
x interactions to maintain co-ordinated growth of cells during organ f
ormation.