Open AccessType beta transforming growth factor controls the adipogenic differentiation of 3T3 fibroblasts.
Author(s) -
Ronald A. Ignotz,
Joan Massagué
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.82.24.8530
Subject(s) - 3t3 l1 , transforming growth factor, beta 3 , 3t3 cells , microbiology and biotechnology , transforming growth factor beta , cellular differentiation , adipogenesis , transforming growth factor , endocrinology , activator (genetics) , beta (programming language) , biology , tgf beta signaling pathway , receptor , medicine , growth factor , chemistry , cell culture , tgf alpha , transfection , biochemistry , mesenchymal stem cell , genetics , gene , computer science , programming language
Differentiating mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes have been used as a model system to study the ability of type beta transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) to modulate cell development. We find that TGF-beta inhibits potently (ID50 approximately equal to 25 pM) the adipogenic conversion of 3T3-L1 cells. Inhibition is observed only when cells are exposed to TGF-beta before they become committed to differentiation. Even a transient (4 hr) exposure to TGF-beta immediately before the commitment point is sufficient to prevent differentiation. This point coincides with the time point immediately preceding the onset of coordinate expression of differentiation-specific proteins in 3T3-L1 cells. TGF-beta interacts with cell surface receptors in 3T3-L1 cells that have structural and binding properties similar to TGF-beta receptors in other cell types in which TGF-beta acts as a growth activator or a growth inhibitor. However, TGF-beta does not markedly alter differentiation-related mitosis in 3T3-L1 cells. The action of TGF-beta on 3T3-L1 cells does not involve changes in cAMP or prostaglandin E levels. These results suggest that TGF-beta is a unique modulator of adipogenic differentiation of fibroblasts.