title: TGF-beta 1 is a potential regulator of vaginal tropoelastin production.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aims were to correlate transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and elastin mRNA expression in the vagina of women and to measure the effects of TGF-β1 on vaginal smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and tropoelastin production.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vaginal walls were sampled in women (n = 20). TGF-β1 and elastin mRNA expression was assessed by RT-PCR. SMC cultures were performed from vaginal wall biopsies. SMC were incubated with TGF-β1, and cell proliferation was assessed by MTT-assay. Tropoelastin production was measured by the Fastin Elastin Assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant positive correlation between TGF-β1 and elastin mRNA (r = 0.784, P < 0.01). SMC proliferation was significantly increased by 10 ng/mL TGF-β1 [relative cell number, mean ± SD, 198% ± 32% of control (P = 0.01)]. Tropoelastin production was significantly increased by TGF-β1 [mean ± SD, 645% ± 180% of control (P = 0.01)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a positive correlation between TGF-β1 and elastin mRNA expression in the vaginal wall. In vitro, TGF-β1 increases vaginal tropoelastin production in vaginal SMC.
authors: Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital, PO Box 016960, Miami, FL 33010, USA. ptakacs@med.miami.edu
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Takacs
authors: Yanping
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Sujata
authors: S
authors: Yavagal
authors: Keith
authors: K
authors: Candiotti
authors: Nahida
authors: N
authors: Chakhtoura
authors: Carlos A
authors: CA
authors: Medina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014333:Tropoelastin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014333:Tropoelastin; D004549:Elastin