20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), a cytochrome P450 arachidonic acid metabolite, has been shown to modulate the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). We asked whether 20-HETE modulates the proliferation of R22D cells, a clonal VSMC from neonatal rats, by releasing transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Incubation of R22D cells with 20-HETE for 24 h attenuated [(3)H]thymi...

Experimental data suggest that dysregulation of growth factors and the cognate receptors may play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis. The objective of the present study was to characterize the expression of two hepatotrophic growth factor/receptor systems [transforming growth factor-alpha/epidermal growth factor receptor (TGF-alpha/EGFR) and hepatocyte growth factor/c-met receptor (HGF/c...

We screened genes responsive to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta 1) protein in a human hepatoma cell line (Hep3B) using a PCR-mediated differential display technique, in order to investigate the mechanisms involved in TGF-beta-induced growth suppression. We found a gene that was down-regulated by TGF-beta 1 to be completely identical in an approx. 620 bp segment to the gene for the enz...

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is the prototype of an increasingly complex superfamily of growth and differentiation factors. To date, a total of 74 TGF-beta-like sequences have been published, probably representing 23 distinct genes. These sequences were obtained from mammalian, avian, amphibian and insect species, thus emphasising the ancient nature of the TGF-beta superfamily...

The differentiation agent hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) increased expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) mRNA in HT29 colon carcinoma cells. The increase was evident after 24 h and was maintained at levels 4-5-fold the control levels for at least 5-13 days. No increase in expression of TGF beta 2 or TGF alpha mRNA was observed. Both TGF beta 1 and HMBA induced loss of ...

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) was originally identified, characterized, and named on the basis of its ability to induce anchorage-independent growth (phenotypic transformation). This effect has received little attention in recent years, probably because the induction of anchorage-independent growth by TGF-beta has been observed only in a few cell lines, of which NRK fibroblasts are...

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is secreted by fibroblasts stimulated with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). CTGF is a potent enhancer of fibroblast proliferation, chemotaxis, and extracellular matrix deposition, and it is thought to mediate some of the fibrogenic effects of TGF-beta. Here, we have elucidated signaling pathways involved in regulating the TGF-beta-induced produc...

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a regulator of cell growth and differentiation, is secreted by most cultured cells in latent form (L-TGF-beta). Activation of L-TGF-beta can be achieved by various physico-chemical treatments, including acidification, alkalinization, heating and chaotropic agents. Proposed physiological activators include proteinases and glycosidases, which, however, ...

The aim of this study was to examine if the growth factor, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1), could prevent induction of nitric oxide synthase and cytokine-mediated inhibitory effects in the insulin-containing, clonal beta cell line RINm5F. Treatment of RINm5F cells for 24 h with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) (100 pM) induced expression of nitric oxide synthase and inhibited glyce...

Background: Regulatory T cells have been suggested to have a protective role against acute rejection in allograft recipients. However, there is little information available about their contribution to chronic rejection process. The role of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF- β1) as a profibrogenic and/or immunoregulatory cytokine in renal allografts is also controversial. Objectives: To eva...