Transforming growth factor-beta promotes differentiation of ovarian thecal-interstitial cells but inhibits androgen production

Evidence that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) is produced by thecal-interstitial cells (TIC) has suggested the hypothesis that TGF beta may be an autocrine regulator of TIC function. The purpose of these studies is to begin to test this hypothesis. In the present experiments we tested the effects of TGF beta on steroid production by TIC isolated from the ovaries of hypophysectomized immature rats by Percoll gradient centrifugation. When TIC (10(4) viable cells/well) were cultured in serum-free medium (0.2 ml in 96-well plates), low amounts of androsterone (less than 4 ng/ml) were produced at 2, 4, and 6 days. TGF beta (0.01-100 ng/ml) did not change basal androsterone production. Treatment with LH (50 ng/ml) stimulated a 100-fold increase in androsterone at 2 days and 60-fold increases at 4 and 6 days. Concomitant treatment with TGF beta (10 ng/ml) caused a 65% inhibition (ED50 = 2.3 +/- 0.7 ng/ml) of androsterone production at each time period. Analysis of key steroid metabolites demonstrated that androsterone and androstenedione were inhibited equally, while progesterone was significantly increased (ED50 = 1.2 +/- 0.2 ng/ml). Time-course studies revealed that TGF beta alone did not alter progesterone production at 2 days, but markedly increased progesterone (10-fold) above control levels at 4 and 6 days. Dose-response experiments showed that TGF beta did not alter the sensitivity of the TIC to LH stimulation, indicating that LH activation of the intracellular signaling pathway was not blocked by TGF beta. Treatment with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) together with LH caused a synergistic increase in androsterone production. The synergistic stimulation of LH action by IGF-I could be blocked by TGF beta. Interestingly, TIC were more sensitive to TGF beta in the presence of IGF-I (ED50 = 0.18 +/- 0.04 ng/ml). In contrast, TGF beta enhanced progesterone production only at the highest dose of TGF beta (10 ng/ml). To further elucidate the mechanism of TGF beta action, the effects of TGF beta on the TIC content of 17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase (P450(17)alpha) and cholesterol side-chain cleavage (P450scc) were analyzed by immunoblotting. TGF beta alone or in combination with LH stimulated an increase in P450scc content, but did not alter P450(17 alpha content. These results lead us to conclude that 1) the TIC are targets for TGF beta; 2) IGF-I increases the sensitivity of TIC to TGF beta action; and 3) TGF beta acts directly on TIC to stimulate progesterone while inhibiting androgen production.