Expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 by human endometrial carcinoma cell lines: inverse correlation with effects on growth rate and morphology.
We examined the effects of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on various aspects of the cell biology of human endometrial carcinoma (HEC) cell lines in vitro, as well as the expression of TGF-beta 1 mRNA by these cell lines. Cell lines from eight HEC tumors, representing a variety of histological subtypes, were studied in order to test the generality of conclusions regarding the effects of TGF-beta 1 on this particular tumor cell type. The growth of five HEC cell lines was inhibited by TGF-beta 1 (10 ng/ml), while growth of three cell lines was not inhibited. The effects on growth correlated with morphological alterations induced by TGF-beta 1; the cell lines with inhibited growth displayed a larger, flatter, more contact-inhibited phenotype, while the cell lines whose growth ws not inhibited showed few discernible morphological alterations in response to TGF-beta 1. Northern analysis of TGF-beta 1 mRNA levels revealed that the three HEC cell lines unresponsive to TGF-beta 1 treatment expressed relatively large amounts of TGF-beta 1. Correspondingly, the five HEC cell lines which responded to TGF-beta 1 with growth and morphological changes expressed much lower levels of TGF-beta 1 mRNA. These results suggest that the sensitivity of human HEC cell lines to TGF-beta 1 is variable and that this sensitivity is inversely correlated with the level of expression of TGF-beta 1.
Boyd
J A
JA
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599.
Kaufman
D G
DG
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors