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. 1995 Jun;48(3):M153–M157. doi: 10.1136/mp.48.3.m153

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

M Granerus 1,2, P Bierke 1,2, W Zumkeller 1,2, J Smith 1,2, W Engström 1,2, P N Schofield 1,2
PMCID: PMC407949  PMID: 16695997

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Insulin-like growth factor

Keywords: teratoma cells

Keywords: testicular tumours

Keywords: apoptosis

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Selected References

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