Production of platelet-derived growth factorlike protein(s) by a human carcinoma cell line.

Human adrenal carcinoma cells (SW-13) produce and secrete autocrine growth factors. We now report that these cells secrete a factor that is biologically related to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Serum-free medium conditioned by SW-13 cells stimulated incorporation of tritiated thymidine into DNA by quiescent Balb/c 3T3 cells in the presence of platelet-poor plasma. The conditioned media also competed with 125I-labeled PDGF for binding to PDGF receptors on human fibroblasts. Hybridization studies identified mRNA transcripts for PDGF-2/sis chains in logarithmically growing SW-13 cells. These data suggest secretion of PDGF-like mitogens by SW-13 cells.