Abstract
Interactions between undifferentiated and differentiated cells may be important in regulating the growth of the embryo. Undifferentiated stem cells of the embryonal carcinoma cell (ECC) line called H6 can be induced to differentiate to parietal endoderm-like cells by retinoic acid (3×10−6 M). We have now found that these endoderm-like cells secrete a factor which stimulates the growth of stem cells.
A dilute inoculum of H6 stem cells grew very poorly in 0.5-1.0% fetal calf serum-supplemented Eagle's MEM (a few small, unhealthy colonies), but in the presence of H6 endoderm-like cells they grew as well as in 5% serum-supplemented medium (39% plating efficiency). There was no reciprocal stimulation of endoderm by stem cells, unlike a recently defined factor of the PCl3 ECC line (Heath and Isacke, CSH abst., 9/84). Furthermore, the incorporation of 3H-thymidine into the DNA of stem cells growing on a coverslip in 0.5-1.0% serum-supplemented medium was stimulated up to 40-fold by the presence of endoderm underneath the coverslip. Considerably less stimulation occurred when stem cells or fibroblasts were substituted for endoderm. Finally, 0.5-1.0% serum-supplemented medium conditioned by exposure to endoderm for 20 hours gave a 2-fold stimulation of 3H-thymidine incorporation into stem cells as compared to unconditioned media. Again, less stimulation occurred with medium conditioned by stem cells or fibroblasts.
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Germain, E., Littlefield, J. 261 ENDODERM-SECRETED FACTOR WHICH STIMULATES GROWTH OF STEM CELLS OF THE H6 EMBRYONAL CARCINOMA CELL LINE. Pediatr Res 19, 154 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00291
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00291
