title: Effects of transforming growth factor-beta on collagen synthesis by fetal rat lung epithelial cells.
abstract: Studies were performed to characterize the effects of acute and chronic exposure to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on collagen biosynthesis by fetal rat lung epithelial (FRLE) cells, a cell line established from the fetal rat lung alveolar epithelial cell. Neither condition of exposure to TGF-beta stimulated cell growth, but both conditions increased total protein synthesis. Quantitative evaluation by carboxymethyl-Trisacryl chromatography revealed that FRLE cells synthesized types I, III, IV, and V collagen under all circumstances. Acute and chronic exposure to TGF-beta increased total collagen production approximately 50% and 300%, respectively, with the increases in total collagen production exceeding those of total protein synthesis. In addition, these analyses indicated that the production of types I and III molecules was stimulated to a greater extent than was the synthesis of types IV and V molecules. Both experimental conditions increased the ratio of secreted to cell-associated molecules for types I and III molecules, decreased this ratio for type IV collagen, but minimally affected the culture distribution of type V collagen. Additionally, both conditions of exposure to TGF-beta were found to increase the proportion of the homotrimeric forms of types I and V molecules relative to their heterotrimeric counterparts. Thus, these studies establish that TGF-beta selectively and type-specifically alters collagen production without affecting growth in an epithelial cell line of fetal rat lung origin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: DiMari
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Haralson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D002845:Chromatography; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA