title: Transforming growth factor-beta 1 induces morphological changes accompanied by extracellular matrix reconstitution in cultures of avian retinal pigmented epithelial cells.
abstract: The mechanisms of cell differentiation have been extensively studied with an avian retinal pigmented epithelial cell (PEC) culture system. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been reported to have stimulatory or inhibitory effects on differentiation depending on tissue type. Although the mechanism by which TGF-beta exerts diverse effects is unknown, changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) are believed to be related to the effects of TGF-beta. Therefore, the effects of TGF-beta 1 on the cellular morphology and the distribution of ECM components such as laminin, tenascin, fibronectin, and types I and IV collagens were investigated in confluent cultures of differentiated PECs during a period of 6 days. We found that differentiated PECs with polygonal morphology and pigmented granules changed to pleomorphic and less pigmented cells 4 days after the addition of TGF-beta 1. These changes were preceded by changes in the distribution of ECM components, particularly laminin and tenascin after 2 days. The effects of TGF-beta on the differentiation of PECs are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomoda
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003470:Culture Media; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta