Biomaterial Database

Transforming growth factor-beta enhances the extent of intercellular communication between normal rat kidney cells. 1991

E J van Zoelen, and L G Tertoolen

Hubrecht Laboratory, Netherlands Institute for Developmental Biology, Utrecht.

Normal rat kidney (NRK) cells cultured in the presence of epidermal growth factor are contact-inhibited at confluent densities. In the additional presence of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, however, cells undergo phenotypic transformation which is accompanied by a loss of contact inhibition. In this study, we show by means of the fluorescence photobleaching recovery technique and a scrape-loading dye transfer technique that quiescent confluent cultures of NRK cells do not show extensive gap junction-mediated intercellular communication. Cells contact-inhibited in the presence of epidermal growth factor also show only limited intercellular communication, although with an enhanced permeability coefficient. Cells phenotypically transformed upon addition of TGF beta, however, show extensive intercellular communication, with a similarly enhanced permeability coefficient. This enhanced intercellular communication induced by TGF beta is paralleled by an increase in intracellular pH. It is concluded that in contrast to what has been observed during tumorigenic transformation, phenotypic transformation of NRK cells induced by TGF beta results in an enhancement of the extent of gap junction-mediated intercellular communication.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007365	Intercellular Junctions	Direct contact of a cell with a neighboring cell. Most such junctions are too small to be resolved by light microscopy, but they can be visualized by conventional or freeze-fracture electron microscopy, both of which show that the interacting CELL MEMBRANE and often the underlying CYTOPLASM and the intervening EXTRACELLULAR SPACE are highly specialized in these regions. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p792)	Cell Junctions,Cell Junction,Intercellular Junction,Junction, Cell,Junction, Intercellular,Junctions, Cell,Junctions, Intercellular
D007668	Kidney	Body organ that filters blood for the secretion of URINE and that regulates ion concentrations.	Kidneys
D010641	Phenotype	The outward appearance of the individual. It is the product of interactions between genes, and between the GENOTYPE and the environment.	Phenotypes
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D004815	Epidermal Growth Factor	A 6-kDa polypeptide growth factor initially discovered in mouse submaxillary glands. Human epidermal growth factor was originally isolated from urine based on its ability to inhibit gastric secretion and called urogastrone. Epidermal growth factor exerts a wide variety of biological effects including the promotion of proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal and EPITHELIAL CELLS. It is synthesized as a transmembrane protein which can be cleaved to release a soluble active form.	EGF,Epidermal Growth Factor-Urogastrone,Urogastrone,Human Urinary Gastric Inhibitor,beta-Urogastrone,Growth Factor, Epidermal,Growth Factor-Urogastrone, Epidermal,beta Urogastrone
D005109	Extracellular Matrix	A meshwork-like substance found within the extracellular space and in association with the basement membrane of the cell surface. It promotes cellular proliferation and provides a supporting structure to which cells or cell lysates in culture dishes adhere.	Matrix, Extracellular,Extracellular Matrices,Matrices, Extracellular
D005454	Fluorescence Polarization	Measurement of the polarization of fluorescent light from solutions or microscopic specimens. It is used to provide information concerning molecular size, shape, and conformation, molecular anisotropy, electronic energy transfer, molecular interaction, including dye and coenzyme binding, and the antigen-antibody reaction.	Anisotropy, Fluorescence,Fluorescence Anisotropy,Polarization, Fluorescence,Anisotropies, Fluorescence,Fluorescence Anisotropies,Fluorescence Polarizations,Polarizations, Fluorescence
D006863	Hydrogen-Ion Concentration	The normality of a solution with respect to HYDROGEN ions; H+. It is related to acidity measurements in most cases by pH	pH,Concentration, Hydrogen-Ion,Concentrations, Hydrogen-Ion,Hydrogen Ion Concentration,Hydrogen-Ion Concentrations
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D016212	Transforming Growth Factor beta	A factor synthesized in a wide variety of tissues. It acts synergistically with TGF-alpha in inducing phenotypic transformation and can also act as a negative autocrine growth factor. TGF-beta has a potential role in embryonal development, cellular differentiation, hormone secretion, and immune function. TGF-beta is found mostly as homodimer forms of separate gene products TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2 or TGF-beta3. Heterodimers composed of TGF-beta1 and 2 (TGF-beta1.2) or of TGF-beta2 and 3 (TGF-beta2.3) have been isolated. The TGF-beta proteins are synthesized as precursor proteins.	Bone-Derived Transforming Growth Factor,Platelet Transforming Growth Factor,TGF-beta,Milk Growth Factor,TGFbeta,Bone Derived Transforming Growth Factor,Factor, Milk Growth,Growth Factor, Milk