EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR SUPPRESSES INVITRO SENESCENCE IN THE ABILITY OF HUMAN UMBILICAL VEIN ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS TO PROLIFERATE, BUT NOT IN THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE PROSTACYCLIN

Addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to culture medium extended the replicative life span of human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells in culture. In brief, EGF suppresses the age-related decrease (in vitro senescence) in cell proliferative ability. However, the addition of EGF did not extend the culture period in which prostacyclin (PGI2) is actively produced by the cells. Therefore, EGF does not suppress the age-related decrease (in vitro senescence) in the ability of cultured HUVE cells to produce PGI2. These results suggest that the process of in vitro senescence in the cell proliferative ability is not necessarily correlated with that of in vitro senescence in the ability to produce PGI2.