Inhibition of DNA Synthesis in rat hepatocytes by Platelet-derived Type β Transforming Growth Factor

Abstract Platelet-derived type β transforming growth factor (TGFβ) is a potent inhibitor of DNA synthesis in primary monolayer cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. TGFβ induced a 50% inhibition of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated DNA synthesis at approximately 5 × 1012m. This inhibition did not appear to be due to a delay in the peak of DNA synthesis or a toxic action, nor could it be overcome by increasing concentrations of the mitogens EGF, insulin, or glucagon. Inhibition was observed either when TGFβ and EGF were continuously present together in the culture medium or when TGFβ was added to the hepatocyte cultures after removal of the EGF stimulant. This observation together with a lack of an inhibitory effect of TGFβ on the binding of 125I-labeled EGF to hepatocytes in culture, suggests that the inhibitory action of TGFβ was not caused by a direct competition with EGF at the cell surface. TGFβ could not inhibit DNA synthesis once it had begun; however, the inhibitory action of TGFβ could be partially overcome by increasing amounts of conditioned medium produced by normal hepatocytes. Specific saturable receptors for TGFβ were found on the normal rat hepatocytes, but specific binding could not be detected on hepatocytes from regenerating liver. TGFβ is thus a potent inhibitor of EGF-induced DNA synthesis in adult rat hepatocytes. Its significance for growth control in vivo has yet to be assessed.