Androgen influences transforming growth factor-beta1 gene expression in human adrenocortical cells

Sex steroid hormones have been shown to affect adrenocortical function and trophism, yet little is known about androgen action in human adrenocortical gland. In this study we examined the effects of androgens on transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF/beta1) production by the human adrenocortical cell line, NCI-H295, which we recently demonstrated to express androgen receptor and whose growth is significantly reduced by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) treatment. TGFbeta1 is an important regulator of human adrenal development, with marked effects on steroid-producing cell function, and the production of distinct TGFbeta subtypes has been suggested to be regulated by steroid hormones in several tissues. To address potential TGFbeta1 induction by DHT, quantitative PCR and enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay were performed in NCI-H295 cells treated with DHT (from 10(-12)-10(-9) mol/L). DHT led to a significant dose-dependent increase in TGFbeta1 messenger ribonucleic acid expression and in biologically active TGFbeta1 protein levels in the conditioned media of NCI-H295 cells, demonstrating that androgen can induce TGFbeta1 expression and production. TGFbeta1 (10(-7)-10(-6) mol/L) was capable of significantly reducing cell proliferation (P < 0.05) after 24 h of treatment, as assessed by measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation in NCI-H295 cells. The addition of TGFbeta1-neutralizing antibody to cell cultures treated with different DHT concentrations (10(-9) and 10(-10) mol/L) blocked the inhibitory effect of TGF/beta1 on adrenocortical cell proliferation. These findings suggest that TGFbeta1 exerts an inhibitory action on adrenocortical cell proliferation. Therefore, it might be reasonable to suppose that DHT could also influence human adrenocortical cell growth by involving TGFbeta1.     

Increased type II transforming growth factor-beta receptor expression in liver cells during cholesterol challenge

A large body of evidences implicates transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this context, TGF-beta receptor dysfunction has been suggested to be relevant. We tested the effect of hypercholesterolemia, a well-known risk factor for atherosclerosis, on liver type II TGF-beta receptor (TbetaR-II) expression in atherosclerosis-susceptible C57BL/6 mouse strain fed atherogenic diet. In addition, the relationship between cholesterol and TbetaR-II expression was verified by cholesterol challenge on human hepatoma cell (HepG2) cultures. The susceptible C57BL/6 mice fed atherogenic diet exhibited significant mRNA and immunohistochemical TbetaR-II liver expression at 2, 5, 9 and 15 weeks as compared to animals fed a regular diet. The TbetaR-II profile on HepG2 resulted in a time-dependent increased expression when the cells were incubated with soluble free cholesterol, associated with an increased TGF-beta-dependent biological activity as detected by luciferase assay of reporter gene. These data provide evidence for a cholesterol-dependent TbetaR-II induction that may play a potentially relevant role in the development of hypercholesterolemia and atherogenesis.     

Increased levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 in essential hypertension

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a multifunctional cytokine that has been linked to vascular remodeling processes, myocardial hypertrophy, and renal fibrosis. Recently a correlation between serum levels of TGF-beta1 and blood pressure (BP) levels in patients with end-stage renal disease was shown. In addition, it is not clear whether TGF-beta1 is a causative factor in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension and associated with hypertensive target organ damage (TOD). METHODS: Using a TGF-beta1-specific sandwich ELISA, we compared plasma levels of active and total TGF-beta1 of 30 normotensive persons and 85 patients with essential hypertension with and without TOD, as measured by microalbuminuria or left ventricular hypertrophy. RESULTS: Active and total TGF-beta1 levels were significantly higher in plasma of patients with essential hypertension than in normotensive controls (P < .05 and P < .01, respectively). However, neither active nor total TGF-beta1 correlated with systolic or diastolic BP (R2 < 0.14 for all parameters). Levels of active and total TGF-beta1 were significantly higher in hypertensive patients with than without TOD (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Active and latent TGF-beta1 levels are markedly increased in plasma of hypertensive patients. We assume that TGF-beta1 contributes substantially to the development of TOD in essential hypertension, independent of BP levels.     

Immunohistochemical detection of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in fibrotic liver diseases.

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 was localized by means of immunohistochemical reaction in liver biopsy specimens taken from patients having different chronic liver diseases with extending fibrosis. Two polyclonal antibodies that were produced in rabbits were directed against the amino terminal of transforming growth factor-beta 1. Staining by anti-CC(1-30) was primarily extracellular and located in the portal and periportal fibrotic areas of all seven cases with chronic active hepatitis. No staining was noted in the four chronic persistent cases studied. A strong reaction was seen with the antibody in nine of the ten cirrhotic samples, whereas it was negative in one inactive cirrhosis case and in all five cases with normal liver histological findings. No positive staining could be detected by the anti-LC(1-30) in any of the liver tissues. Detection of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in active liver diseases at the site of fibrosis suggests that transforming growth factor-beta 1 might have a role in the process and progression of fibrosis during the development of the disease.     

Implication of transforming growth factor-beta1 in Chagas disease myocardiopathy

Cardiac dysfunction with progressive fibrosis is a hallmark of Chagas disease. To evaluate the involvement of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 in this disease, TGF-beta1 levels in patients were measured at 3 stages: asymptomatic indeterminate (IND), cardiac with no or slight heart dysfunction (Card 1), and cardiac with moderate or severe heart dysfunction (Card 2). All patients had significantly higher circulating levels of TGF-beta1 than did healthy persons, and 27% of patients in the Card 1 group had higher TGF-beta1 levels than did patients in the IND group. Immunohistochemical analysis of cardiac biopsy specimens showed strong fibronectin staining in the extracellular matrix and staining for phosphorylated Smad 2 (activation of the TGF-beta1 signaling pathway) in cell nuclei. The higher levels of latent TGF-beta1 observed in patients with myocardiopathy, together with intracellular activation of the TGF-beta1 pathway and tissue fibrosis, suggest that TGF-beta1 plays an important role in Chagas disease. TGF-beta1 may represent a new target for preventive and curative treatments of Chagas disease.     

Activation of transforming growth factor-beta1 in diabetic kidney disease

Recent data have suggested that certain growth factors and cytokines are involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether circulating transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) are associated with diabetic kidney disease. Serum levels of active and total TGF-beta1 and TNF-alpha were measured in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy (n = 23) or without (n = 35) and normoglycemic controls (n = 12). Serum levels of circulating active TGF-beta1 were significantly higher in patients with diabetic nephropathy (0.43 +/- 0.06 ng x mL(-1)) compared with diabetic patients without renal involvement (0.23 +/- 0.03 ng x mL(-1), P = .002) and healthy controls (0.24 +/- 0.03 ng x mL(-1), P= .001), whereas the levels of total (active + latent) TGF-beta1 were not different between the subgroups. Active TGF-beta1 concentrations were correlated with urinary albumin excretion (r = .49, P < .003) and serum creatinine (r= .55, P < .01). Sera from patients with type 2 diabetes contained significantly more TNF-alpha than sera from normoglycemic controls (3.07 +/- 0.24 v 1.65 +/- 0.20 pg x mL(-1), P = .001). However, the comparison of serum TNF-alpha concentrations between microalbuminuric and normoalbuminuric diabetic patients showed no significant difference (3.21 +/- 0.28 v 2.97 +/- 0.34 pg x mL(-1), P = .12). In conclusion, type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy exhibit increased activation of TGF-beta1, in serum, suggesting an association between circulating TGF-beta1 activity and the development of renal disease.     

Polymorphisms in the transforming growth factor-beta gene (TGF-beta) and the risk of advanced alcoholic liver disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There are wide interindividual differences in the risk of developing alcoholic cirrhosis. Transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) is the main cytokine involved in liver fibrogenesis. The TGF-beta(1) gene is polymorphic at several sites and these polymorphisms are probably related to differences in the rate of TGF-beta(1) synthesis. Our aim has been to analyse the influence of the TGF-beta(1) gene polymorphisms in the predisposition to advanced alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in ethanol abusers. METHODS: TGF-beta(1) single nucleotide polymorphisms at positions -509 (C or T), +869 (C or T, codon 10), and +915 (C or G, codon 25) were examined in 165 alcoholics with advanced ALD and in 185 healthy controls. RESULTS: Among the 94 male patients with oesophageal varices, those carrying the GG genotype at position +915 were diagnosed at an older age than the remaining patients (age 52.1 years, standard deviation (SD) 9.9 vs. 45 SD 13.4, P=0.012). No other statistically significant differences were found in the distribution of the three TGF-beta(1) polymorphisms analysed individually or as combined haplotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The polymorphisms at the TGF-beta(1) gene analysed in this study are probably not related to the risk of advanced ALD.     

Increased presence of eosinophilic granulocytes expressing transforming growth factor-beta1 in collagenous colitis

BACKGROUND: Collagenous colitis is a disease characterized by chronic watery diarrhea, and on microscopic examination of colonic tissue, a typical thickening of the subepithelial collagen layer is seen. The etiology and pathophysiology behind this disease state are largely unknown. METHODS: We have used in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to study the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF) -beta1, a growth factor with the capacity to cause accumulation of collagen in tissues, in collagenous colitis. Colonic pinch biopsy specimens from a total of 34 patients were investigated: 17 patients with collagenous colitis and 17 controls. RESULTS: In patients with collagenous colitis there was increased expression of the TGF-beta1 gene compared with controls, as visualized by in situ hybridization. The vast majority of the TGF-beta1-expressing cells were eosinophils, both in collagenous colitis and controls, but there were also scattered fibroblastic and histiocytic stromal cells. Immunohistochemistry showed the presence of TGF-beta1, mainly in eosinophils, in the colonic mucosa. Morphometric quantification showed 603 +/- 192 eosinophils/mm2, (mean +/- standard error of the mean) in the colonic mucosa of patients with collagenous colitis compared with 30 +/- 7 eosinophils/mm2 in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that eosinophils expressing TGF-beta1 may be of pathophysiologic importance in the connective tissue remodeling seen in collagenous colitis.     

CHB患者不同分级、分期肝组织中TGF-β1的表达研究

目的 观察慢性乙型病毒性肝炎(CHB)患者,不同G、S分级、分期的肝穿刺组织中,细胞转化生长因子β1(TGF-β1)的表达,及与Knodell评分系统的相关性。方法 采用免疫组化技术,观察107例不同程度CHB患者肝穿刺组织中TGF-β1的蛋白表达定位,并行半定量评分,半定量结果分别与现行病理诊断标准慢性肝炎分级、分期及Knodell评分系统进行统计学分析。结果 随着患者病变程度的加重,肝组织中TGF-β1的表达定位,由肝小叶内窦周隙表达为主趋向于汇管区和纤维隔表达为主;且这种肝组织内阳性表达量与Knodell评分呈显著正相关。结论TGF-β1是肝纤维化发生的重要致病因子之一,炎症可诱发TGF-β1的表达。     

风湿性心脏病心房颤动患者心房组织胶原及转化生长因子β基因表达的研究

目的　观察风湿性心脏病 (风心病 )心房颤动 (房颤 )患者心房组织中Ⅰ型和Ⅲ型胶原和转化生长因子 β(TGF β1、TGF β2 )基因表达的改变。方法　将 4 9例风心病二尖瓣病变接受换瓣手术者于术中获取的右心耳 (约 10 0mg)分为三组 ,其中窦性心律组 2 0例 ,阵发性房颤组 8例 ,持续性房颤组2 1例 (≥ 6个月 ) ,以 β肌动蛋白为内参照基因 ,通过半定量逆转录 聚合酶链反应 (RT PCR)技术 ,测定各组心房组织中Ⅰ型和Ⅲ型胶原和TGF β1、TGF β2 的mRNA的含量。结果　与风心病窦性心律组相比 ,Ⅰ型胶原、Ⅲ型胶原、TGF β1mRNA表达在阵发性和持续性房颤组均显著增加 ;与阵发性房颤组相比 ,持续性房颤组中这三种基因的表达继续明显增加 ;三组间TGF β2 mRNA表达差异无显著性。结论　风心病患者心房组织中Ⅰ型胶原、Ⅲ型胶原和TGF β1mRNA表达上调可能是心房纤维化发生的分子机制之一 ,为风心病患者房颤的发生和维持提供了结构基础     

Hypoxia potentiates transforming growth factor-beta expression of hepatocyte during the cirrhotic condition in rat liver.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Many studies have reported that hypoxia might be associated with angiogenesis and fibrogenesis, and the level of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) was increased in fibrotic liver and maximal at cirrhosis. Therefore, we examined the expression of TGF-beta1, phosphorylated-Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3) of the TGF-beta immediate down stream signaling system and hypoxic status during hepatic fibrogenesis. METHODS: Fibrosis of rats was induced by carbon tetrachloride. Collagens were detected with Azan stain. Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting was used. RESULTS: TGF-beta1 was mainly produced by hypoxic hepatocytes at cirrhosis although myofibroblasts (MFBs) and macrophages producing TGF-beta1 were decreased. Moreover, distribution of p-Smad2/3 in hepatocytes was consistent with those of hypoxic hepatocytes regardless of MFBs. Furthermore, in recovery, most MFBs disappeared, whereas positive reactions of p-Smad2/3 still existed in the hepatocytes of hypoxic areas. Therefore, TGF-beta1 expression in hepatocytes might have been associated with hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS: We put forward the hypothesis that TGF-beta1 is mainly produced by MFBs and macrophages at early and middle stages of fibrotic processes, but it is predominantly released by hypoxic hepatocytes in the last fibrotic stage or cirrhosis.     

日本血吸虫病小鼠肝纤维化肝脏CTGF、TGF-β1的表达及意义

目的 研究结缔组织生长因子（connective tissue growth factor，CTGF）与转化生长因子β1（transforming growth factor-betal，TGF-β1）在日本血吸虫病小鼠肝纤维化肝脏中的表达状况及意义。方法 用昆明小鼠感染尾蚴建立日本血吸虫病小鼠肝纤维化模型，随机分为模型组和对照组，感染后6、10、14、18周杀鼠；HE染色观察肝脏病理变化，免疫组化法检测肝内CTGF、TGF-β1蛋白的表达水平。结果 模型组小鼠10周时形成血吸虫病肝纤维化，此时肝内CTGF表达达高峰。且10、14、18周时的表达量均显著高于同期对照组（P〈0．01）；模型组TGF-β1蛋白定量和CT—GF有相同的变化趋势，但18周时与同期对照组比较差异无显著性（P〉0．05）；模型组CTGF和TGF-β1蛋白表达水平具有直线相关性。结论 CTGF与TGF-β1的表达与日木血吸虫病小鼠肝纤维化形成有密切关系，TGF-β1的致纤维化作用可能部分通过CTGF的生物学作用介导，阻断CTGF的传导通路可能是血吸虫病肝纤维化治疗的有效靶点。     

心房颤动患者心房组织碱性成纤维细胞生长因子及转化生长因子-β_1基因表达与心房纤维化的关系

目的探讨心房颤动(简称房颤)患者心房纤维化的分子机制。方法75例风湿性心脏瓣膜病(简称风心病)接受换瓣手术者按术前心脏节律分为窦性心律组(n=34),阵发性房颤组(n=11),持续性房颤组(n=30);分别采用半定量逆转录聚合酶链反应和免疫组化技术测定Ⅰ型胶原(ColⅠ)、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)和转化生长因子-β1(TGFβ-1)的mRNA和蛋白含量。结果阵发性房颤组、持续性房颤组心房组织胶原容积分数明显高于窦性心律组;持续性房颤组增加更明显(P均<0.05)。心房组织胶原容积分数与左房内径、房颤持续时间呈正相关。与窦性心律组比较,ColⅠ、bFGF和TGFβ-1的mRNA和蛋白表达水平在阵发性房颤组、持续性房颤组均显著上调,持续性房颤组相对于阵发性房颤组亦明显增高(P均<0.05)。同时ColⅠ、bFGF的mRNA、蛋白表达均与房颤持续时间及左房内径呈正相关。结论心房组织中bFGF和TGFβ-1的基因表达上调可能是成纤维细胞增殖导致胶原增加和心房纤维化的分子机制之一。     

Promoter polymorphism of transforming growth factor-β1 gene and ulcerative colitis

AIM： To elucidate the possible difference in two promoter polymorphisms of the transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） gene （-800G 〉 A, -509C 〉 T） between ulcerative colitis （UC） patients and normal subjects.
METHODS： A total of 155 patients with established ulcerative colitis and 139 normal subjects were selected as controls. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms within the promoter region of TGF-β1 gene （-509C 〉 T and -800G 〉 A） were genotyped using PCR-RFLP. RESULTS： There was a statistically significant difference in genotype and allele frequency distributions between UC patients and controls for the -800G 〉 A polymorphism of the TGF-β1 gene （P 〈 0.05）. The frequency of the TGF-β1 gene polymorphism at position -800 showed that the AA genotype and the allele A frequencies significantly differed between the patients and healthy controls （P 〈 0.05）. At position -509, there was no statically significant difference in genotype and allele frequency between the patients and control subjects.
CONCLUSION： The results of our study indicate that there is a significant difference in both allele and genotype frequency at position -800G 〉 A of TGF-β1 gene promoter between Iranian patients with UC and normal subjects.     

Activation of human vascular cells decreases their expression of transforming growth factor-beta

Objective

Despite pro-fibrotic effects, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β prevents arteriosclerosis by suppressing effector leukocytes and promoting smooth muscle differentiation. However, previous observations of increased TGF-β expression in arteriosclerotic plaques are not consistent with that of an effective protective factor. We investigated the expression, regulation, and responses of TGF-β in human arterial tissues and cells.

Methods and results

The expression of TGF-β by intrinsic vascular cells was lower in arteriosclerotic than non-diseased coronary arteries. Activation of resident and infiltrating leukocytes did not elicit TGF-β production from coronary artery segments in organ culture. Instead, the basal expression of TGF-β by coronary arteries decreased after vessel procurement and ex vivo culture. Activation of cultured smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells with phorbol ester and ionophore also decreased TGF-β expression. Isolated cell types representing those found in the artery wall were all capable of signaling in response to TGF-β, however production of the cytoprotective molecule, interleukin-11 was cell type-dependent and restricted to smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. Interleukin-11 reduced smooth muscle cell apoptosis to T cell effectors.

Conclusions

Inflammation and cellular activation diminish the basal expression of TGF-β by quiescent human vascular cells. Induction of interleukin-11 may contribute to the anti-arteriosclerotic actions of TGF-β.