title: Interferon-alpha inhibits murine macrophage transforming growth factor-beta mRNA expression.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a multifunctional polypeptide is produced by a wide variety of cells and regulates a broad array of physiological and pathological functions. TGF-beta appears to play a central role in pulmonary fibrosis and may contribute to tumor-associated immunosuppression. Alveolar macrophages are a rich source of TGF-beta and are intimately involved in lung inflammation. We therefore chose to study TGF-beta regulation in murine alveolar macrophages as well as an immortalized peritoneal macrophage cell line (IC-21). Murine macrophages were incubated with cytokines to evaluate their role in regulating TGF-beta mRNA expression. We conclude that IFN-alpha downregulates TGF-beta mRNA expression in murine macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhanani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dubinett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta