IGF-I production by adult rat hepatocytes is stimulated by transforming growth factor-alpha and transforming growth factor-beta(1)

Previously we have observed that epidermal growth factor (EGF), a potent mi togen for cultured hepatocytes, stimulates the production of IGF-I and IGF- binding proteins (IGFBPs) by cultured hepatocytes from adult rats. This stu dy was undertaken to investigate the possibility that other growth factors of hepatic origin could specifically be involved in the regulation of IGF-I and IGFBP expression, The effects of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF -alpha), through EGF receptors to induce a mitogenic response, and transfor ming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta(1)), produced by non-parenchymal liver ce lls and able to inhibit hepatocyte proliferation in vivo and in culture, ha ve been studied in cultured adult rat hepatocytes. Our results demonstrate that TGF-alpha and TGF-beta(1) significantly stimul ate IGF-I and IGFBP secretion by cultured hepatocytes but no change in the abundance of IGF-I and IGFBP mRNAs was observed with respect to controls. C ycloheximide is able to inhibit both basal and TGF-stimulated release of IG F-I and a similar effect was elicited by octreotide, the somatostatin analo g, known to directly affect hepatic IGF-I gene expression. Our findings show the role of the liver in the secretion of IGF-I and IGFBP s, not only under endocrine and nutritional control but also under autocrin e and paracrine control.