title: Production of transforming growth factor beta by human T lymphocytes and its potential role in the regulation of T cell growth.
abstract: This study examines the potential role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in the regulation of human T lymphocyte proliferation, and proposes that TGF-beta is an important autoregulatory lymphokine that limits T lymphocyte clonal expansion, and that TGF-beta production by T lymphocytes is important in T cell interactions with other cell types. TGF-beta was shown to inhibit IL-2-dependent T cell proliferation. The addition of picograms amounts of TGF-beta to cultures of IL-2-stimulated human T lymphocytes suppressed DNA synthesis by 60-80%. A potential mechanism of this inhibition was found. TGF-beta inhibited IL-2-induced upregulation of the IL-2 and transferrin receptors. Specific high-affinity receptors for TGF-beta were found both on resting and activated T cells. Cellular activation was shown to result in a five- to sixfold increase in the number of TGF-beta receptors on a per cell basis, without a change in the affinity of the receptor. Finally, the observations that activated T cells produce TGF-beta mRNA and that TGF-beta biologic activity is present in supernatants conditioned by activated T cells is strong evidence that T cells themselves are a source of TGF-beta. Resting T cells were found to have low to undetectable levels of TGF-beta mRNA, while PHA activation resulted in a rapid increase in TGF-beta mRNA levels (within 2 h). Both T4 and T8 lymphocytes were found to make mRNA for TGF-beta upon activation. Using both a soft agar assay and a competitive binding assay, TGF-beta biologic activity was found in supernatants conditioned by T cells; T cell activation resulted in a 10-50-fold increase in TGF-beta production. Thus, TGF-beta may be an important antigen-nonspecific regulator of human T cell proliferation, and important in T cell interaction with other cell types whose cellular functions are modulated by TGF-beta.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kehrl
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wakefield
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jakowlew
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Mon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Derynck
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sporn
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Fauci
mesh_terms: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D010452:Peptide Biosynthesis; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors