EFFECT OF GROWTH-FACTORS AND PROSTAGLANDIN E-2 ON RESTITUTION AND PROLIFERATION OF RABBIT ESOPHAGEAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS

Factors and mechanisms involved in esophageal mucosal injury and repai r are not well known. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of growth factors and prostaglandins on esophageal mucosal cell repair activities. Rabbit esophageal cells were isolated, cultured, and expo sed to different growth factors and prostaglandin E-2. Subconfluent ce ll cultures were used to study proliferative responses determined by [ H-3]thymidine incorporation into DNA, Restitution was studied in confl uent monolayers wounded by mechanical denudation, Restitution was the main mechanism involved in wound repair within the first 24 hr. HGF, I GF-I, and EGF dose-dependently stimulated cell proliferation but did n ot affect restitution. TGF-beta(1) inhibited both proliferation and re stitution while PDGF-BB and prostaglandin E-2 had no effect. Esophagea l epithelial cell restitution and proliferation are affected by growth factors. HGF, IGF-I, EGF (stimulation), and TGF-beta(1) (inhibition) are major growth factors affecting in vitro esophageal wound repair ac tivities, which, unlike those of other areas of the digestive tract, a re not affected by prostaglandins.