Release of stem cell factor from a human keratinocyte line, HaCaT, is increased in differentiating versus proliferating cells.

Stem cell factor, a recently discovered growth factor for hematopoietic stem cells, mast cells, and melanocytes, was initially reported to be produced by fibroblasts. In this study, we investigated the secretion of this factor from human HaCaT cells during in vitro culture and compared it to synthesis by cells in the skin. Release of stem cell factor from freshly cultured keratinocytes was comparable to that of HaCaT cells and was nearly half that produced by fibroblasts and umbilical vein endothelial cells. No stem cell factor was detectable in culture supernatants of melanocytes. HaCaT cells underwent spontaneous differentiation after a period of proliferation until confluency. Depending on duration of culture, they released increasing amounts of stem cell factor (approximately 150 pg/10(6) cells on day 3 (proliferating cells) vs approximately 450 pg/10(6) cells on day 14 (differentiating cells) measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Stimulation for 24 h with the calcium ionophore A 23187 (10(-6) to 10(-8) M) further enhanced release. Western blot analysis of HaCaT cell lysates with a stem cell factor antibody revealed two proteins with the known molecular weights of membrane-bound and soluble stem cell factor. By semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, full-length as well as spliced type stem cell factor mRNA was found to be increased in differentiating versus proliferating HaCaT cells. Keratinocytes are thus potentially important sources of stem cell factor in human skin, and HaCaT cells provide a useful model for further studies of stem cell factor from keratinocytes.