Transforming growth factor-βs inhibit mitogen-stimulated proliferation of astrocytes

✍ Scribed by Kim E. Hunter; Michael B. Sporn; Dr. Alun M. Davies

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 937 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0894-1491
• DOI: 10.1002/glia.440070303

✦ Synopsis

We have studied the influence of three members of the transforming growth factor-p (TGF-p) family of multifunctional growth factors on the proliferation of cultured astrocytes isolated from newborn mouse cerebral cortex. Although TGF-ps 1,2, and 3 cause only a small reduction in the low level of astrocyte proliferation occurring in chemically defined medium, they each inhibit the effects of five astrocyte mitogens (bFGF, EGF, PDGF, IL-la, and IL-2). Inhibition is observed when astrocytes are exposed to mitogen and TGF-P at the same time and when they are exposed to TGF-P prior to, and separately from, mitogen. This latter effect appears to be due to the binding of TGF-Ps to astrocyte-secreted extracellular matrix. These findings raise the possibility that TGF-P may co-operate with other growth factors to control astrocyte proliferation in vivo.