Abstract
TGFβ, a 25 kD polypeptide, reversibly transforms non-neoplastic murine fibroblasts into cells capable of anchorage-independent growth. In most other cell types TGFβ inhibits cell growth. To assess the possibility that loss of susceptibility to TGFβ suppression may lead to augmented growth in some lymphoid malignancies, we examined its effect on proliferation (3H-thymidine uptake) and differentiation (to plasma cells) of normal human tonsillar B cells and EBV- and malignant-transformed B and pre-B cell lines. Cells were stimulated by anti-μ (15 μg/ml) or TPA (1 ng/ ml) with and without B cell growth factor (BCGF 10% v/v) in proliferation assays and by pokeweed mitogen (PWM), EBV or an allogeneic T cell clone (ATC) in differentiation assays. TGFβ (0.1-30 ng/ml) inhibited normal B cell proliferation. At 0.3 ng/ml it suppressed DNA synthesis in cells stimulated by BCGF 23%, by anti-μ + BCGF 42%, by TPA + BCGF 45% and by TPA alone 36%. Differentiation was suppressed 60% in B cells stimulated by EBV, 87% by PWM and 98% by ATC. In contrast, no effects on proliferation or on surface or cytoplasmic immunoglobulin expression were observed in EBV-transformed normal B lymphoblastoid lines or in pre-B or B leukemic cell lines even at TGFβ concentrations of 30 ng/ml.
We conclude that TGFβ profoundly suppresses normal B lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation, but has little effect on EBV-infected or malignant-transformed B or pre-B cells.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vogler, L., Anderson, S. & Kinney, M. TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR, TYPE β (TGFβ) INHIBITS THE GROWTH AND DIFFERENTIATION OF NORMAL, BUT NOT TRANS-FORMED, B LYMPHOCYTES. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 319 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00912
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00912