The human neuroblastoma line, SK-N-SH, has been subcloned into SH-SY5Y, a neuroblast N cell line, and SH-EP, an epithelial Schwann S cell line. We have previously shown that SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells produce insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II), which acts by an autocrine mechanism to stimulate cell growth. In the current study, we examined the effect of IGF-II on SH-EP neuroblastoma cells. Northern blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses indicate that SH-EP cells do not produce IGF-I or IGF-II but express the type I and type II IGF receptors (IGF-IR and IGF-IIR). Cell surface expression of IGF-IR, assessed by fluorescence-activated sorting, was lower in SH-EP cells than in SH-SY5Y cells. Immunoprecipitation of IGF-IR, followed by anti-phosphotyrosine or anti-IGF-IR immunoblotting, demonstrated functional expression of these receptors in both cell types and confirmed the lower level of IGF-IR expression in SH-EP cells. IGF-II promoted SH-EP cell growth in the presence of low concentrations of calf serum (0.1-0.3%) or 10 ng/ml epidermal growth factor (EGF). IGF-II stimulation of SH-EP growth was eliminated by the IGF-IR blocking antibody (alpha IR-3) but not by an IGF-IIR blocking antibody. Stimulation of cell growth via this receptor was also indicated by the ligand specificity for IGF analogs and insulin (IGF-II approximately IGF-I approximately des(1-3)IGF-I >> insulin). These results indicate that in the presence of a permissive factor such as calf serum or EGF, IGF-II stimulates SH-EP cell growth via the IGF-IR. Collectively, these data suggest that within primary neuroblastomas, IGF-II may act as a paracrine factor to contribute to the promotion of S cell growth.