Variables controlling somatomedin production by cultured human fibroblasts

Somatomedin is secreted by multiple types of cultured cells including human fibroblasts. Since the control of somatomedin (Sm) production by fibroblasts may be an important regulatory step in cell division, we undertook studies to define the variables in tissue culture experimental design that may have significant effects on the secretion of Sm. Cell density was an important parameter in determining basal Sm production rates. Cultures plated at 2.5 X 10(4) cells/well produced 0.38 +/- 0.06 U/ml/10(5) cells whereas an increase in culture density to 6.2 X 10(4) cells/well was associated with a decrease in Sm production per cell to 0.23 +/- 0.04 U/ml/10(5) cells (P less than .01). Cultures stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) showed a similar reduction in Sm production with increasing cell density. Epidermal growth factor was stimulatory (5.4-fold increase) in low-density cultures but had no effect when high-density cultures were used. If the experiments were initiated between 2 and 4 days after the last media change there were no significant differences in basal or PDGF-stimulated Sm concentrations. Between days 5 and 9 however, there was a progressive increase in the basal Sm production rate. The duration of incubation was an important variable since Sm production increased during the first 12 h in noncycling cells and showed an accelerated increase between 4 and 8 h in cycling cells. Cells between the eighth and 12th passage had similar basal Sm production (0.22 +/- 0.04 U/ml/10(5) cells) rates; cells between the 19th and 20th passages had significantly higher basal Sm production rates (0.41 +/- 0.05 U/ml/10(5) cells) (P less than .01). These results suggest that several variables, particularly cell density and passage number, are critical variables when quantitating the effect of hormones and growth factors on Sm production by cultured fibroblasts.