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 language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1379-1385 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Clinical Investigation |
Volume | 90 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1992 |
Keywords
- Cell density
- Epithelium
- Fibronectin
- Growth inhibition
- TGF-β
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine