Human melanoma cell lines of primary and metastatic origin express the genes encoding the chains of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and produce a PDGF-like growth factor.

Normal human melanocytes and five human melanoma cell lines were analyzed for production of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-like activity. Three of the melanoma cell lines released an activity that inhibited binding of 125I-labeled PDGF to human foreskin fibroblasts and stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation in such cells. These activities were inhibited by the addition of anti-PDGF antibodies. All three factor-producing cell lines were derived from the same patient--one originated from the primary tumor (WM 115), and two were from individual lymph-node metastases (WM 239A and WM 266-4). The factor produced by WM 266-4 cells was characterized biochemically in detail. Immunoprecipitated, the metabolically labeled factor migrated in NaDod-SO4/gel electrophoresis as a homogeneous Mr 31,000 species, which under reducing conditions was resolved into two species of Mr 16,500 and Mr 17,000, implying a dimeric structure of the molecule. The factor was purified to homogeneity. Analysis by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography of reduced and alkylated factor revealed an elution pattern identical to that of PDGF A chains. Thus, the native molecule appears to be a homodimer of PDGF A chains. Blot-hybridization analysis of poly(A)+ RNA from the cell lines with 32P-labeled PDGF A chain and B chain (SIS product) cDNA probes revealed a relative abundance of B chain transcripts in the cell line originating from the primary tumor tissue only but expression of A chain in all three cell lines. We conclude that the two structural genes encoding each of the subunit chains of PDGF can be expressed in human melanoma cells and that the two genes can be independently expressed in such cells.