title: Modulation of transforming growth factor-beta 1 antiproliferative effects on endothelial cells by cysteine, cystine, and N-acetylcysteine.
abstract: Early passaged bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells exposed to 0.1-2.0 ng/ml transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) showed concentration-dependent growth inhibition, as assessed by [3H]thymidine labeling and cell counts, over a 96-h interval. Most of the inhibition of [3H]thymidine labeling measured at 96 h persisted when the medium was replaced with TGF-beta 1-free medium after 24 h, but the inhibition of labeling was prevented by the presence of anti-TGF-beta 1 antibody in the replacement medium. Additions of 2 mM cysteine, 1 mM cystine, or 2 mM N-acetylcysteine at the time of the initial addition of TGF-beta 1 blocked the inhibitory effect of TGF-beta 1 on [3H]-thymidine labeling when this was assessed after 72-96 h, but not at earlier times. Prevention of the inhibitory effect on cellular proliferation produced by cysteine, cystine and N-acetylcysteine was associated with elevation of cellular glutathione that was present at 48-96 h. There was no evidence for direct inactivation of TGF-beta 1 by the thiol-amino acids. Conditioned medium from TGF-beta 1-treated endothelial cells inhibited proliferation of mink lung carcinoma (CCL64) cells, supporting a previously reported concept of autocrine production of TGF-beta 1 by the endothelial cells. The inhibitory action of the conditioned medium was partially prevented when 1 mM cysteine was added during conditioning. Thus, TGF-beta 1 treatment of endothelial cells appears to set off autocrine production by these cells of TGF-beta 1 that perpetuates the inhibition of cellular proliferation. Replenishment of cellular glutathione with thiol-amino acids counteracts the growth-inhibitory effect of TGF-beta 1 through a currently undefined mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Division, New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Fanburg
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003545:Cysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003553:Cystine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D003553:Cystine; D005978:Glutathione; D003545:Cysteine; D000111:Acetylcysteine