title: Transforming growth factor type beta is a specific inhibitor of 3T3 T mesenchymal stem cell differentiation.
abstract: In the current studies we examined the effects of transforming growth factor type beta (TGF-beta) on the control of differentiation of BALB/c 3T3 T stem cells. We report that TGF-beta is a potent, reversible inhibitor of adipocyte differentiation (50% inhibition at approximately 0.06-0.08 ng/ml), while other biologically active polypeptides, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), human growth hormone (hGH), and somatomedin C, have no specific effect on differentiation at even higher concentrations (200 ng/ml). We also report that TGF-beta inhibits differentiation in a cell cycle-dependent manner by its effect on a specific phase in the differentiation process. We therefore suggest that if TGF-beta is an important regulatory factor, one of its critical mechanisms of action may be its ability to inhibit the process of cell differentiation.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sparks
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors; D013006:Growth Hormone