Elevation of nerve growth factor synthesis by constitutive expression of v- src oncogene in cultured rat fibroblasts

Rat fibroblast 3Y1 cells transformed by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) or transfected with the v- src gene showed a highly constitutive v- src gene expression. Simultaneously, marked increases in the cellular level of nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA and NGF content in the culture medium were observed. The levels of NGF mRNA and NGF secreted into the medium were correlated with the expression level of v- src mRNA gene in both transformants and control 3Y1 cells. These results suggest that v- src gene expression is relevant to regulation of NGF synthesis in rat 3Y1 fibroblasts.