Abstract
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has recently been found in the aqueous humor. The present study was initiated to test whether the ciliary-body epithelium, the site of aqueous humor formation, is capable of producing TGF-beta. Human, rat and bovine ciliary epithelial cells were grown in tissue culture and their supernatants were tested for TGF-beta using a bioassay. After acid activation of the samples, TGF-beta activity was found in the supernatants of all three mammalian ciliary epithelial cells. Most of this activity could be blocked by a neutralizing antibody against TGF-beta type 2. Native supernatants did not contain detectable TGF-beta activity. Thus, the ciliary epithelium is capable of producing the inactive form of TGF-beta (mainly type 2) and may be a source of TGF-beta in the aqueous humor.
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Recipient of a scholarship of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
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Helbig, H., Kittredge, K.L., Coca-Prados, M. et al. Mammalian ciliary-body epithelial cells in culture produce transforming growth factor-beta. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 229, 84–87 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00172268
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00172268