Transforming growth factors and related peptides in gastrointestinal neoplasia.
Transforming growth factor alpha and beta 1 (TGF alpha and TGF beta 1) are representative members of two distinct and expanding families of polypeptide growth factors. TGF alpha is an epithelial cell mitogen, whereas TGF beta 1 inhibits epithelial cell growth; the role of these factors in contributing to the transformed phenotype is uncertain. Steady state mRNA expression for these growth factors and their receptors in a panel of human colon cancers and adjacent normal mucosa is presented. Based in part on results from transgenic mice in which TGF alpha is selectively overproduced in the mammary gland, a possible role for TGF alpha as a tumor promoter in the process of transformation is discussed.
Coffey
R J
RJ
Department of Medicine (Gastroenterology) and Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232.
McCutchen
C M
CM
Graves-Deal
R
R
Polk
W H
WH
D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D005810:Multigene Family; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta