IMMUNOREACTIVE FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR IN CELLS OF PERITONEAL-EXUDATE SUGGESTS ITS IDENTITY WITH MACROPHAGE-DERIVED GROWTH-FACTOR

Peritoneal exudate cells were collected from thioglycollate stimulated mice, extracted and examined for the presence of immunoreactive and bioactivity fibroblast growth factor (FGF). The crude extract stimulated in a dose dependent fashion the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells derived from the bovine aortic arch. The extract also showed a parallel and dose-dependent inhibition of binding is a highly specific radioimmunoassay for FGF. The immunoreactive FGF (ir-FGF) contained in the extract was retained on a heparin-sepharose affinity column as is characteristic of pituitary FGF. Reverse-phase [high performance liquid chromatography] of the macrophage-derived material reveals 1 biologically active form of FGF which coelutes with the major form of immunoreactivity. The presence of FGF in these cells was demonstrated; at least 1 of the previously unidentified mitotic activities in these extracts apparently is due to a mitogen indistinguishable from FGF.