[Functional expression of human GM-CSF receptor in NIH3T3 cells].

Objective: To characterize human GM-CSF receptor(GM-R) reconstituted in NIH3T3 cells.

Methods: Mouse NIH3T3 cells which do not express human GM-R were transfected with cDNAs encoding the alpha and beta subunit of the human GM-R, and then ligand-stimulated proliferative signal transduction and tyrosine phosphorylation of the positive transfectants were examined.

Results: The reconstituted functional receptor, GM-R alpha/beta, could mediate cell proliferation and colony formation in soft agar, and induce tyrosine phosphorylation of beta c, Jak2, Shc and Shc-associated P145(SHIP). However, human GM-CSF did not activate mitogenic signal expression of NIH3T3 cells transfected with GM-R alpha alone.

Conclusions: Introduction of both alpha and beta subunit of human GM-R into NIH3T3 cells can result in ligand-dependent cell growth and colony formation via phosphorylation of beta c and activation of Jak2, Shc and SHIP signal transduction pathway.