title: Human monocytes and neutrophils store transforming growth factor-alpha in a subpopulation of cytoplasmic granules.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) exerts several effects on target cells, such as neovascularization promotion and mitogenic signalling. Using immunoelectron microscopy, we show that monocytes and neutrophils, store TGF-alpha in cytoplasmic granules. In monocytes, TGF-alpha did not colocalize with components of peroxidase-positive granules or with albumin of secretory vesicles. Furthermore, no colocalization of TGF-alpha with components of azurophilic or specific granules or secretory vesicles was observed in neutrophils. Activated monocytes and tissue-macrophages contained much less TGF-alpha-positive granules, suggesting TGF-alpha release. Western blot analysis showed a protein of 10 kD in lysates of monocytes. TGF-alpha mRNA was detected in monocytoid cells from the bone marrow by in situ hybridization. This study shows for the first time that monocytes and neutrophils contain TGF-alpha in all stages of maturation and that TGF-alpha in monocytes is stored in a large population of peroxidase-negative granules suggesting a function for these granules. Monocytes and neutrophils are important effector cells in inflammatory reactions. The present finding that these cells contain TGF-alpha might explain complications such as fibrosis and neoplastic transformation, caused by chronic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calafat
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ståhle-Bäckdahl
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Zuurbier
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Knol
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Egesten
mesh_terms: D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000737:chemistry; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha