Fibroblast growth factor increases TNF alpha-mediated prostaglandin E2 production and TNF alpha receptor expression in human fibroblasts.

To examine the possible role of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) in regulating the effects of TNF alpha, we tested the effect of FGF on TNF alpha-mediated PGE2 production and TNF alpha receptor expression in human fibroblasts. We found that, while FGF alone had no effect on PGE2 production, it enhanced the amount of PGE2 produced in response to TNF alpha between 3 and 11-fold. FGF stimulated TNF alpha-induced PGE2 production independent of potential TNF alpha-mediated IL-1 production, as neither anti-IL-1 mAbs nor IL-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) inhibited TNF alpha induced-PGE2 production or the stimulatory effect of FGF. A one minute exposure of cells to FGF prior to removal was sufficient to significantly enhance TNF alpha-induced PGE2 production; the maximal FGF effect was reached after a 6 h preincubation. We also found that FGF significantly enhanced TNF alpha receptor expression. Untreated fibroblasts expressed approximately 3,900 receptors/cell, while cells treated with FGF for 6 h expressed approximately 9,500 receptors/cell, a 2.4-fold increase in receptor number; there was no apparent change in affinity for TNF alpha (Kd 3.8 x 10(-11) M). The FGF-mediated increase in TNF alpha receptor expression and TNF alpha-mediated PGE2 production could be abolished by FGF mAbs, indicating a specific FGF effect. These results show that FGF increases TNF alpha receptor expression and suggest that this may account, at least in part, for the ability of FGF to enhance TNF alpha-mediated PGE2 production in human fibroblasts.