Epidermal growth factor, but not hepatocyte growth factor, suppresses the apoptosis induced by transforming growth factor-beta in fetal hepatocytes in primary culture.

We studied whether the TGF-beta-induced apoptosis in fetal hepatocyte primary cultures may be modulated by the presence of mitogenic stimuli, such as EGF or HGF. EGF prevented cell death, showing a dose dependence that was identical to that observed for its effect on DNA synthesis stimulation. HGF, in contrast, had no effect, even at high concentrations. EGF blocked apoptosis, since in the presence of this factor cells did not show DNA fragmentation. Moreover, EGF, but not HGF, blocked c-fos induction associated with the apoptotic process induced by TGF-beta in these cells.