Stimulation of fibronectin production by TGF‐β 1 is independent of effects on cell proliferation: The example of bovine adrenocortical cells

We reported previously that transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β) does not influence the proliferation of bovine adrenocortical cells but is a very potent inhibitor of their steroidogenic functions (Feige et al.: Journal of Biological Chemistry 262:13491‐13495, 1987). In the present study, we addressed the question of whether these cells modify the synthesis of their extracellular matrix (in particular of fibronectin) in response to TGF‐β 1 , similarly to the changes observed in cell types whose growth is modified by this factor (e.g., fibroblasts). Immunofluorescence studies using anti‐fibronectin antibodies revealed that TGF‐β 1 , treatment in serum‐free medium induced the formation of fibronectin‐containing fibrils associated with adrenocortical cells. Metabolic labeling of adrenocortical cells with [ 35 S]‐methionine showed that fibronectin synthesis and secretion were highly stimulated by low concentrations of TGF‐β 1 . Half‐maximal stimulation was observed for TGF‐β 1 concentrations in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 ng/ml and maximal stimulation reached 35‐fold over control at the concentration of 2 ng/ml. The earlier detectable effect was observed after 8 h of treatment (6‐fold stimulation) and the maximal increase was reached after 24 h of treatment. Stimulation of adrenocortical fibronectin synthesis by TGF‐β 1 appeared to imply a transcriptional event since it was no longer observed in the presence of DRB, a potent inhibitor of RNA polymerases, and because the level of fibronectin mRNA was stimulated under TGF‐β 1 treatment. Taken together, these results indicate that the increased expression of fibronectin is not closely related to growth‐regulatory effects of TGF‐β 1 since it is also observed in adrenocortical cells, whose proliferation is unaffected by TGF‐β 1 .