Expression of c-myc protooncogene in primary cultures of human corneal stromal cells.

We have determined steady-state levels of c-myc mRNA in quiescent and serum-stimulated human corneal stromal cells. Steady-state levels of c-myc mRNA increased 6-fold following 2 hours of serum stimulation over levels observed at quiescence. A parallel increase in the rate of c-myc gene transcription was observed in serum-stimulated cells as compared to quiescent cells, indicating that the abundance of c-myc transcripts in corneal stromal cells during the transition from quiescence to proliferation is regulated mainly at the transcriptional level. These findings indicated that the expression of c-myc gene in human corneal stromal cells is regulated in a cell growth dependent manner in response to serum induction.