title: Co-stimulation of T cell proliferation by transforming growth factor-beta 1.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) exhibits diverse regulatory roles in the immune system and has been described as a potent inhibitor of lymphocyte and hemopoietic progenitor cell growth. The present studies investigated the effects of TGF-beta 1 on murine T cell proliferation triggered through the T cell receptor/CD3 complex. In contrast to previously reported T cell growth inhibition, TGF-beta 1 costimulated splenic T cell proliferation in the presence of immobilized anti-CD3 antibody 2C11, with maximal effect at anti-CD3 concentration of 50 micrograms/ml. Although TGF-beta 1 induced a modest increase in IL-2R display, TGF-beta 1 co-stimulated proliferation was largely independent of IL-2 and/or IL-4. Anti-IL-2 and/or anti-IL-4 antibody did not significantly block the TGF-beta 1 co-stimulated T cell growth, and no IL-2 or IL-4 bioactivity was detected in TGF-beta 1 co-stimulated cultures. TGF-beta 1 did not enhance IL-2 mRNA expression beyond control levels. However, TGF-beta 1 co-stimulation caused an accelerated evolution of a memory or mature T cell population phenotype. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets were significantly enriched for cells of the mature CD45RBloPgp-1hi phenotype, in comparison with T cells stimulated by anti-CD3 alone or with PMA, and CD8+ T cells predominated. These results thus provide initial evidence that TGF-beta 1 is capable of bifunctional T cell growth regulation, which occurs largely via an IL-2- and IL-4-independent pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D015847:Interleukin-4; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens