Transforming growth factor beta stimulates the expression of fibronectin and of both subunits of the human fibronectin receptor by cultured human lung fibroblasts
Roberts, C.J.; Birkenmeier, T.M.; McQuillan, J.J.; Akiyama, S.K.; Yamada, S.S.; Chen, W.T.; Yamada, K.M.; McDonald, J.A.
Journal of Biological Chemistry 263(10): 4586-4592
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9258 PMID: 2965146 Accession: 006826872
Transforming growth factors of the .beta.-class (TGFs-.beta.) stimulate extracellular matrix synthesis and have been implicated in embryogenesis, wound healing, and fibroproliferative responses to tissue injury. Because cells communicate with several extracellular matrix components via specific cell membrane receptors, we hypothesized that TGFs-.beta. may also regulate the expression of such receptors. We confirmed that TGF-.beta.1 increases the expression of fibronectin, an adhesive glycoprotein expression during embryogenesis and tissue remodeling. Based upon the 48-72 h period required for a maximal fibroproliferative response to dermal injection of TGF-.beta.1, we exposed human fetal lung fibroblasts (IMR-90) to TGF-.beta.1 for periods up to 48 h in vitro. We observed as much as 6-fold increases in fibronectin synthesis by 24 h as previously reported for fibroblastic cells (Ignotz, R. A., and Massague, J. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 4337-4345; Ignotz, R. A., Endo, T., and Massague, J. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 6443-6446; Raghow, R., Postlethwaithe, A. E., KeskiOja, J., Moses, H. L., and Kang, A. H. (1987) J. Clin. Invest. 79, 1285-1288), but up to 30-fold increases by 48 h. These increases are accompanied by similar increases in fibronectin mRNA levels which are prevented by actinomycin D treatment. Using a monospecific antibody raised to the human placental fibronectin receptor complex, we found that TGF-.beta.1 stimulated fibronectin receptor synthesis up to 20-40-fold and increase mRNA levels encoding both the .alpha. and .beta.-subunits up to 3-fold, compared to control IMR-90 in serum-free medium. Actinomycin D blocks TGF-.beta.1-mediated increases in receptor mRNA levels. The earliest detectable TGF-.beta.-mediated increases in fibronectin receptor complex protein synthesis and mRNA levels occur at 8 h, whereas the earliest increases in fibronectin protein synthesis and mRNA levels occur at 12 h. These results demonstrate that TGF-.beta.1 stimulates fibronectin receptor synthesis, extending the diverse stimulatory activities of this polypeptide to matrix receptors. In addition, because fibronectin matrix assembly may assembly may involve the fibronectin cell adhesive receptor complex, increased receptor expression may help drive deposition into matrix.