Epidermal growth factor promotes the chemotactic migration of cultured rat intestinal epithelial cells

The RIE‐1 cell line is an untransformed, epithelial cell line derived from the rat small intestine. We report that epidermal growth factor (EGF), which regulates the proliferation of RIE‐1 cells, also directs their movement. We measured cell migration through gelatin‐coated filters in blind‐well Boyden chambers. The migration of RIE‐1 cells was stimulated up to ˜ 100‐fold by EGF, with a half‐maximal response at 1–2 ng/ml and a maximal effect at 10 ng/ml. Further analysis showed that the RIE‐1 cells responded directionally to a gradient of EGF in solution. Other growth factors tested did not stimulate RIE‐1 cell migration, and EGF did not stimulate the migration of fibroblasts in this assay. We conclude that EGF is a potent and specific chemo‐attractant for RIE‐1 intestinal epithelial cells and suggest that EGF might influence epithelial cell migration in vivo.