The presence of epidermal growth factor receptors in cultured human adipocyte precursors

Abstract

The characteristics of ¹²⁵I-epidermal growth factor urogastrone (¹²⁵I-EGF) binding to human omental adipocyte precursors over a period of early differentiation in culture, is reported. The results show the presence of cell surface EGF receptor sites (38,000 per cell) that bind ¹²⁵I-EGF with a high affinity (K_a = 2.7 × 10⁹ 1/mol). Their presence is not appreciably altered during a 28-day growth period in culture. The existence of such receptors suggests the possibility that growth factors might intervene in the regulatory processes involved in adipose tissue development.

Key-words:

• adipocyte precursor
• epidermal growth factor
• human adipose tissue
• hypercellular obesity