Biomaterial Database

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and free alpha subunit secreted by cultured human choriocarcinoma (JEG-3) cells. 1981

R Benveniste, and A Scommegna

The cultured human choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cells secrete biologically active HCG and free HCG alpha-subunit. When compared with the alpha-subunit dissociated from HCG obtained either from pregnancy urine or JEG-3 cells, free alpha-subunit has a larger molecular weight, is more acidic and is non-functional, lacking the property to recombine with the HCG beta-subunit. The understanding of the biochemical differences observed between free alpha-subunit and alpha-subunit found in HCG is important and should help to unravel the biosynthesis of gonadotrophins. Two proteins which bind to the cell membrane, epidermal growth factor and concanavalin A, are capable of stimulating JEG-3 cell secretion. Epidermal growth factor stimulates the secretion of HCG while concanavalin A stimulates both HCG and HCG alpha-subunit secretion. Amphotericin B, an antifungal agent commonly used in tissue cultures, which also affects the cell membrane, was shown to stimulate HCG and HCG alpha-subunit secretions. The use of these agents should contribute to the understanding of membrane-related events which lead to the secretion of HCG and alpha-subunit.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D002822	Choriocarcinoma	A malignant metastatic form of trophoblastic tumors. Unlike the HYDATIDIFORM MOLE, choriocarcinoma contains no CHORIONIC VILLI but rather sheets of undifferentiated cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts (TROPHOBLASTS). It is characterized by the large amounts of CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN produced. Tissue origins can be determined by DNA analyses: placental (fetal) origin or non-placental origin (CHORIOCARCINOMA, NON-GESTATIONAL).	Choriocarcinomas
D003208	Concanavalin A	A MANNOSE/GLUCOSE binding lectin isolated from the jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis). It is a potent mitogen used to stimulate cell proliferation in lymphocytes, primarily T-lymphocyte, cultures.
D004815	Epidermal Growth Factor	A 6-kDa polypeptide growth factor initially discovered in mouse submaxillary glands. Human epidermal growth factor was originally isolated from urine based on its ability to inhibit gastric secretion and called urogastrone. Epidermal growth factor exerts a wide variety of biological effects including the promotion of proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal and EPITHELIAL CELLS. It is synthesized as a transmembrane protein which can be cleaved to release a soluble active form.	EGF,Epidermal Growth Factor-Urogastrone,Urogastrone,Human Urinary Gastric Inhibitor,beta-Urogastrone,Growth Factor, Epidermal,Growth Factor-Urogastrone, Epidermal,beta Urogastrone
D005260	Female		Females
D006063	Chorionic Gonadotropin	A gonadotropic glycoprotein hormone produced primarily by the PLACENTA. Similar to the pituitary LUTEINIZING HORMONE in structure and function, chorionic gonadotropin is involved in maintaining the CORPUS LUTEUM during pregnancy. CG consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is virtually identical to the alpha subunits of the three pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH, LH, and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity (CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN, BETA SUBUNIT, HUMAN).	Chorionic Gonadotropin, Human,HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin),Biogonadil,Choriogonadotropin,Choriogonin,Chorulon,Gonabion,Human Chorionic Gonadotropin,Pregnyl,Gonadotropin, Chorionic,Gonadotropin, Human Chorionic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000666	Amphotericin B	Macrolide antifungal antibiotic produced by Streptomyces nodosus obtained from soil of the Orinoco river region of Venezuela.	Amphocil,Amphotericin,Amphotericin B Cholesterol Dispersion,Amphotericin B Colloidal Dispersion,Fungizone
D014594	Uterine Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the UTERUS.	Cancer of Uterus,Uterine Cancer,Cancer of the Uterus,Neoplasms, Uterine,Neoplasms, Uterus,Uterus Cancer,Uterus Neoplasms,Cancer, Uterine,Cancer, Uterus,Cancers, Uterine,Cancers, Uterus,Neoplasm, Uterine,Neoplasm, Uterus,Uterine Cancers,Uterine Neoplasm,Uterus Cancers,Uterus Neoplasm