title: Transforming growth factor beta as a potent promoter in two-stage BALB/c 3T3 cell transformation.
abstract: We have tested transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) in the two-stage BALB/c 3T3 cell transformation assay for possible tumor-promoting activity, since it has several effects similar to those of tumor-promoting phorbol esters. After initiation of BALB/c 3T3 cells with 3-methylchol-anthrene, treatment with TGF beta at 1 ng/ml alone or in combination with epidermal growth factor (EGF) for 4 weeks enhanced the number of transformed foci by 5- to 6-fold in comparison with uninitiated cells. Initiation treatment alone induced no or very few transformed foci in several assays. Treatment with phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (PDD) at 100 ng/ml for 4 weeks enhanced the number of transformed foci in initiated BALB/c 3T3 cells by 4- to 5-fold in comparison with uninitiated cells. Thus, TGF beta at 1 ng/ml is as potent as PDD at 100 ng/ml for tumor-promoting activity in the two-stage BALB/c 3T3 cell transformation assay. The enhancing effect of TGF beta was dose-related in the dose range tested (0.03-1 ng/ml) and was not reversible. Some of the foci induced by combined MCA-TGF beta-EGF treatment were cloned, and eight out of nine clones tested produced tumors in nude mice. TGF beta (1 ng/ml) plus EGF (2 ng/ml) increased the saturation density to a similar extent as PDD (100 ng/ml) but did not affect the growth of BALB/c 3T3 cells. We observed no change in junctional intercellular communication, as measured by the dye transfer method, when cells were treated with TGF beta during the two-stage BALB/c 3T3 cell transformation assay. Nevertheless, there was selective communication between transformed and surrounding nontransformed cells; MCA-TGF beta transformed cells intercommunicated among themselves but not with surrounding nontransformed cells. Our results indicate that TGF beta has potent tumor-promoting activity in vitro, but that this activity is not mediated by a complete blockage of intercellular communication, as is suggested for phorbol ester tumor promoters.
authors.affiliation: International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hamel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Katoh
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Birchmeier
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D051379:Mice; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate; D010703:Phorbol Esters / Q000494:pharmacology; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D010703:Phorbol Esters; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors