Regulation and expression of transforming growth factor type-beta during early mammalian development.
We have examined the effect of differentiation on the expression of different members of the transforming growth factor type-beta (TGF-beta) family using embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells and early mammalian embryos. We determined that TGF-beta activity increases approximately 25-100% when the mouse EC cell line, F9, is induced to differentiate with retinoic acid (RA). Interestingly, the increased TGF-beta activity reflects the induction of TGF-beta 2 secretion following differentiation of both F9 EC cells and the human EC cell line, NT2/D1. Using the technique of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we have verified that differentiation induces the expression of TGF-beta 2 as well as a distant member of the TGF-beta family, Vgr-1. Transcripts for TGF-beta 2 and Vgr-1 were readily detected in the differentiated cells of F9 and PC-13 but not in their undifferentiated counterparts. Moreover, TGF-beta 2 mRNA was readily detected in NT2/D1 cells following differentiation. In addition, transcripts for TGF-beta 2 were detected by RT-PCR in mouse morulae, preimplantation blastocysts and cultured blastocysts. Based on the data presented, it appears that the expression of both TGF-beta 2 and Vgr-1 is closely associated with the induction of differentiation during early development.
Eppley Institute for Cancer Research and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198-6805.
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Kelly
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Campbell
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Tiesman
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Rizzino
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta