Induction of human choriogonadotropin and follitropin in HeLa cell cultures by hyperosmolality

✍ Scribed by Robert J. Fallon; Rody P. Cox; Nimai K. Ghosh

• Book ID: 102310316
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1979
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 424 KB
• Volume: 98
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9541
• DOI: 10.1002/jcp.1040980319

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The growth of cervical carcinoma cell (HeLa) cultures in a hyperosmolar environment stimulates increased production of the onco‐developmental peptides human choriogonadotropin (hCG) and follitropin (FSH). This effect was observed in two sublines examined in this study, HeLa~65~ and HeLa~71~. hCG and FSH were measured by radioimmunoassay using antiserum against the β‐subunit of the hormone dimer, thus insuring immunochemical specificity. The amounts of hCG and FSH produced by HeLa~65~ and HeLa~71~ cells cultured in hyperosmolar medium were 2‐ to 50‐fold higher than corresponding hormone levels in basal cultures. Synthesis of gonadotropins depended on concentration and duration of exposure to hyperosmolar medium. Levels of culture medium osmolality effective in inducing hormone production also inhibit the incorporation of ^14^C‐thymidine into acid‐insoluble macromolecules. Hyperosmolality thus stimulates the ectopic production of gonadotropic hormones while retarding cellular growth and nucleic acid synthesis.