title: Expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta1) in human epithelial alveolar cells: a pro-inflammatory mediator independent pathway.
abstract: Regulation of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) expression remains unclear. Inflammation has been inferred to play a major role in stimulating TGF-beta1 production since high concentrations of TGF-beta1 have been found in the lungs of patients with various diffuse inflammatory lung diseases. To establish an association between inflammation and TGF-beta1 expression, human alveolar epithelial (A549) cells were co-cultured with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1beta) and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) for 12 hours. Total and bioactive TGF-beta1 protein were then measured. A549 cells transiently transfected with a plasmid containing the TGF-beta1 promoter linked to a luciferase reported gene were then co-cultured with the same inflammatory peptides for 12 hours and TGF-beta1 promoter activity determined. Nuclear transcription factors AP-1 (c-jun) or NF-kappa (p65, p50 and p105) were over expressed in A549 cells transiently transfected with the TGF-beta1 promoter and TGF-beta1 promoter activity subsequently measured. Stimulation with inflammatory signals LPS, TNFalpha, IL-1beta, IL-8 resulted in no increase of total or bioactive TGF-beta1 activity above constitutive concentrations in vitro. TGF-beta1 promoter activity was also unchanged from baseline levels in response to the same inflammatory peptides. Expression of c-jun however led to significant increases of TGF-beta1 promoter activity over constitutive levels. In contrast p65 and p105 expression resulted in inhibition of TGF-beta1 promoter activity below baseline levels. We conclude that in a human alveolar epithelial cell line, inflammation does not regulate TGF-beta1 expression. These studies suggest that in lung pathologies such as asthma, lung fibrosis and CLD, TGF-beta1 production may involve pathways independent of inflammatory mediators LPS, TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-8.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy-Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, LAC+USC Medical Center, Room 1G1 General Labs Building, 1801 E Marengo St, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. kkwongusc@yahoo.com
authors.forename: K Y C
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kwong
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Literat
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Minoo
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014162:Transfection; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007375:Interleukin-1; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1