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Expression and regulation of transforming growth factor β1 in cultured normal and neoplastic rat pituitary cells

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Abstract

Pituitary prolactin (PRL) cell gene expression and proliferation are regulated by various hormones and growth factors. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) have been implicated in the regulation of anterior pituitary function. To study the roles of TGFβ and bFGF in anterior pituitary cell function, we analyzed normal and neoplastic pituitary cells in serum-free media. The various isoforms of TGFβ and TGFβ receptor types I, II, and III were also analyzed by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in pituitary cells.

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) stimulated PRL expression and PRL cell proliferation in normal pituitary. TGFβ1 stimulated PRL expression, but inhibited proliferation in the growth hormone (GH) and PRL-producing GH3 cells. Estradiol 17β (E2) and bFGF stimulated PRL gene expression in normal pituitary and GH3 cells, whereas E2 inhibited and bFGF stimulated TGFβ1 mRNA levels in normal pituitary PRL cells, but not in GH3 cells. Both normal pituitary and GH3 cells expressed the mRNAs for TGFβ1, TGFβ2, and TGFβ3 isoforms and for TGFβ receptors I, II, and III. These results indicate that there is a relative loss of regulatory control by growth factors in neoplastic GH3 cells compared to normal pituitary PRL cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, 200 First Street SW, 55905, Rochester, MN

    Xiang Qian MD, PhD, Long Jin MD & Ricardo V. Lloyd MD, PhD

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  1. Xiang Qian MD, PhD
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  2. Long Jin MD
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  3. Ricardo V. Lloyd MD, PhD
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Qian, X., Jin, L. & Lloyd, R.V. Expression and regulation of transforming growth factor β1 in cultured normal and neoplastic rat pituitary cells. Endocr Pathol 7, 77–90 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02739918

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