Binding and growth‐inhibitory effect of heparin and oligo‐heparin (2 kDa) in Balb/c 3T3 cells: lack of effect on PDGF‐ or serum‐induced inositol lipid turnover

Abstract

1 The ability of heparins (bovine heparin sm 1026, Av. mol. wt. 36.9 kDa and bovine heparin EP 756, Av. mol. wt. 12.9 kDa) and heparin fractions of different molecular weights (low molecular weight heparin, LMW 2123/OP, Av. mol. wt. 4.5 kDa and oligo-heparin, Av. mol. wt. 2 kDa) to inhibit the proliferation and signalling of Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts was investigated. 6 Both heparin and oligo-heparin exert their inhibitory effects on Balb/c 3T3 DNA synthesis stimulated by PDGF or serum. However these molecules did not affect the inositol lipid turnover triggered by PDGF at a concentration which did not produce maximal response. The increase of inositol phosphate metabolism produced by 20% serum was also unaffected by heparin. This concentration of serum elicited a response comparable to that induced by a submaximal concentration of PDGF.