Mammalian ciliary-body epithelial cells in culture produce transforming growth factor-beta.
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has recently been found in the aqueous humor. The present study was initiated to test whether the ciliary-body epithelium, the site of aqueous humor formation, is capable of producing TGF-beta. Human, rat and bovine ciliary epithelial cells were grown in tissue culture and their supernatants were tested for TGF-beta using a bioassay. After acid activation of the samples, TGF-beta activity was found in the supernatants of all three mammalian ciliary epithelial cells. Most of this activity could be blocked by a neutralizing antibody against TGF-beta type 2. Native supernatants did not contain detectable TGF-beta activity. Thus, the ciliary epithelium is capable of producing the inactive form of TGF-beta (mainly type 2) and may be a source of TGF-beta in the aqueous humor.
Helbig
H
H
Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Kittredge
K L
KL
Coca-Prados
M
M
Davis
J
J
Palestine
A G
AG
Nussenblatt
R B
RB
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta