title: TNF-α and TGF-β synergistically stimulate elongation of human endothelial cells without transdifferentiation to smooth muscle cell phenotype.
abstract: We earlier reported synergy between tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) for apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelium (HUVEC). Here, we study morphological change by circularity measurement of HUVEC surviving this cytokine induced synergistic apoptosis. Contrasting with reports by others studying bovine endothelium, HUVEC did not change morphology in response to TGF-β1. TNF-α markedly elongated cells (p<0.001) and this further increased with combination of the two cytokines (p<0.001), while elongation was accompanied by increased actin stress fibres. Transdifferentiation of HUVEC to a smooth muscle cell phenotype as reported elsewhere was excluded in the current study.
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Pathology Research Unit, Department Oral Pathology, Westmead Centre for Oral Health, Westmead Hospital, The University of Sydney, NSW 2145 Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Emmanuel
authors.forename: Minh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zoellner
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism; D022502:Stress Fibers / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha