Role of endogenous transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta)1 in prostatic stromal cells.
BACKGROUND
In this study, defined culture conditions were used to examine the effects of recombinant TGFbeta1 on prostatic stromal cells and to determine the role of endogenous TGFbeta produced by these cells.


METHODS
Cells were grown +/- recombinant TGFbeta1 and cell population sizes in replicate cultures determined. In other experiments, TGFbeta1 production by prostatic stromal cells was examined and the effects of neutralization of this activity on cell population sizes and apoptosis evaluated.


RESULTS
At > 1 ng/ml, TGFbeta1 reduced cell population sizes while at 0.01 ng/ml cell numbers were increased cf. controls. Stromal cells produced up to 10 ng/ml/48 hr of latent TGFbeta1 of which < 0.2% was biologically active. When cells were treated with anti-TGFbeta1 antibodies, cell numbers decreased cf. controls and the proportion of apoptotic cells increased.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations suggest that TGFbeta1 is an autocrine factor made by prostatic stromal cells in which it inhibits apoptosis at the activity levels produced.
Bretland
A J
AJ
Human Metabolism and Clinical Biochemistry, University of Sheffield Medical School, United Kingdom.
Reid
S V
SV
Chapple
C R
CR
Eaton
C L
CL
D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D000906:Antibodies; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1