Effect of epidermal growth factor on rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts

Objective To determine whether EGF affects DNA synthesis and activates intracellular MAPK in rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts.Methods Cultured rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts were stimulated with exogenous EGF,then investigated 3H-TdR incorporation;and Western blot analysis of cell lysates.Results The incorporation of 3H-TdR was significantly increased upon EGF treatment,meanwhile,immunoblotting revealed that MAPK phosphorylation was greatly increased.Conclusion MAPK is likely to recepter an important component in the cascade of signals that link EGF receptor to EGF eliciting the cellular proliferative response in rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts.