Enhancement of apoptotic susceptibility in human endometrial epithelial cell line HHUA by transforming growth factor-beta 1.
Although reports have been published on the generation of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and expression of TGF-beta receptors in human endometrial tissues, the biological functions of endometrial TGF-beta 1 have remained unclear. In this study, the effects of TGF-beta 1 on endometrial apoptosis were examined by using an endometrial epithelial cell line HHUA which is susceptible to Fas-mediated apoptosis. TGF-beta 1 alone did not affect the cell growth of HHUA, but pretreatment of HHUA with TGF-beta 1 enhanced Fas-mediated growth suppression and DNA fragmentation of the cells. Flow cytometric analyses showed that TGF-beta 1 did not affect Fas expression on the cell surface. These findings lead to the conclusion that TGF-beta 1 enhances susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis in the endometrial epithelial cell. Modulation of Fas-mediated endometrial apoptosis by TGF-beta 1 may thus be a tissue-specific effect which is distinct from other TGF-beta 1 effects on Fas-mediated apoptosis in activated T-cells and rheumatoid synovial cells. The biological functions of endometrial TGF-beta 1 and endometrial apoptosis are also discussed.
Tanaka
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.
Umesaki
N
N
Mizuno
K
K
Chang
L
L
Miyama
M
M
Ohtaki
S
S
Ogita
S
S
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D019014:fas Receptor