Putative mesothelial cell growth-promoting activity of a cytoplasmic protein expressed by the mesothelial cell. A preliminary report.

Mesothelioma cells produce a cytoplasmic protein unique to primary tumours of the mesothelium which induces the in vitro proliferation of human mesothelial cells in a dose-dependent fashion. When a polyclonal antibody to this protein was added to cultures of human mesothelioma cells, inhibition of their growth occurred. These results provide evidence for a growth-factor-like role of this mesothelial protein that may act through an autocrine mechanism.