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Saturday, August 8, 2009

Heparin binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor reduces ethanol-induced apoptosis and differentiation in human embryonic stem cells
Growth Factors 4 August 2009

Alcohol affects approximately 1% (40,000) of new born infants each year and is the main preventable cause of mental retardation in the US. Ethanol alters cell signaling and promotes apoptosis and differentiation. Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), a member of the EGF family of growth factors, has been reported to prevent apoptosis and differentiation.

We treated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) with ethanol (20 mM) to reflect casual drinking, with and without HB-EGF to measure its ability to prevent ethanol-induced apoptosis and differentiation.

This data suggests that ethanol-induced apoptosis was reduced by HB-EGF, while hESC pluripotency was maintained.


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