Insulin-like growth factor Ⅱ prevents apoptosis in a human teratoma derived cell line

摘要

Aim—To study how insulin-like growth factor Ⅱ (IGF-Ⅱ) affects the behaviour of human teratoma cells. Methods—The human pluripotential teratoma cell line Tera 2 was cultured under serum-free conditions in the presence or absence of IGF-Ⅱ. Effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis as well as on the expression of the proto-oncogene c-myc were studied. Results—In this study we show that Tera 2 cells deprived of serum undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis). The onset of nuclear fragmentation was observed 12 hours after serum withdrawal. The morphological changes of the Tera 2 cell nuclei were confirmed by the occurrence of a nucleosome ladder. However, the constitutive expression of the proto-oncogene c-myc was not decreased in parallel with initiation of apoptosis. The apoptotic response to serum withdrawal could be counteracted by simultaneous addition of IGF-Ⅱ. In addition it was found that human testicular tumours (seminoma and embryonal carcinoma) contain raised levels of insulin-like growth factors. Conclusions—The precise roles of IGF-Ⅰ and IGF-Ⅱ have been unclear, and there is overwhelming evidence against these factors as primarily transforming agents. The finding that IGF-Ⅱ apparently counteracts apoptosis in vitro may well explain its effects on tumours in vivo.