title: Regulation of mesenchymal extracellular matrix protein synthesis by transforming growth factor-beta and glucocorticoids in tumor stroma.
abstract: We have here studied the composition and regulation of stromal extracellular matrix components in an experimental tumor model. Nude mice were inoculated with WCCS-1 cells, a human Wilms' tumor cell line. In the formed tumors the stroma was found to contain mesenchymal extracellular matrix proteins such as tenascin-C, fibulins-1 and 2 and fibronectin, but no nidogen. Nidogen was confined to basement membranes of tumor blood vessels. Since glucocorticoids have been shown to downregulate tenascin-C expression in vitro, we tested whether dexamethasone can influence biosynthesis of extracellular matrix components during tumor formation in vivo. A downregulation of tenascin-C mRNA and an upregulation of fibronectin mRNA expression by dexamethasone was noted. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 mRNA levels were unaffected by the dexamethasone treatment. Glucocorticoids can thus downregulate tenascin-C synthesis although local stimulatory growth factors are present. The competition between a negative and a positive extrinsic factor on synthesis of stromal extracellular matrix components was studied in a fibroblast/preadipocyte cell line. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 stimulated tenascin-C synthesis but did not affect fibronectin or fibulin-2 synthesis. Dexamethasone at high concentrations could completely suppress the effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 on tenascin-C mRNA expression. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 could in turn overcome the downregulation of tenascin-C mRNA expression caused by a lower concentration of dexamethasone. We therefore suggest that the limited expression of tenascin-C in part is due to a continuous suppression by physiological levels of glucocorticoids, which can be overcome by local stimulatory growth factors when present in sufficient amounts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology, Uppsala University, Sweden.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Talts
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Timpl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ekblom
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ekblom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta