title: Transforming growth factor beta induces a beta-responsive calcium fluxes in neurons.
abstract: The beta-amyloid (a beta) peptide is a neurotoxic peptide that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer patients, but is also present in body fluids at subnanomolar levels. The potential effects of these low levels of a beta are unclear. We have recently shown that physiologic levels of a beta increase tyrosine phosphorylation and induce increases in cytosolic calcium. The basement membrane mixture, Matrigel, is required for observation of the a beta-induced calcium response. We now show that transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) is the active component in Matrigel eliciting the a beta/calcium response. The response to the type of TGF beta varies depending on the cell type with TGF beta 1 eliciting a beta responsiveness in olfactory neuroblasts, and TGF beta 2 eliciting a beta responsiveness in PC12 cells.
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009832:Olfactory Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D009498:Neurotoxins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D002118:Calcium