Spontaneous production of transforming growth factor-β2 by primary cultures of bronchial epithelial cells: Effects on cell behavior in vitro

Oliviero Sacco, Debra Romberger, Angie Rizzino, Joe D. Beckmann, Stephen I. Rennard, John R. Spurzem

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

82 Scopus citations

Abstract

The ability of airway epithelial cells to produce transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) may be an important mechanism for the control of growth, differentiation, and repair of the airway epithelium. To determine whether airway epithelial cells are capable of producing TGF-β, we examined primary cultures of bovine bronchial epithelial cells. Using a bioassay, TGF-β activity was detected readily in media conditioned by bovine bronchial epithelial cells. Neutralizing antisera to TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 were used to demonstrate that the majority of the activity was of the TGF-β2 isoform. Interestingly, some of the TGF-β activity was present in the conditioned media as "active" TGF-β, not requiring acid activation. The production of TGF-β was variable, depending on cell density and the presence of retinoic acid. The presence of endogenously produced active TGF-β in the culture media was shown to modulate the behavior of the cell cultures as evidenced by the effects of TGF-β-neutralizing antisera on cell size and fibronectin production. Our results suggest that active TGF-β produced by airway epithelial cells may function in an autocrine or paracrine manner to modulate epithelial cell behavior.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1379-1385
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation
Volume90
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1992

Keywords

  • Cell density
  • Epithelium
  • Fibronectin
  • Growth inhibition
  • TGF-β

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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