Transforming growth factor-$ beta$ (TGF-$ beta$) is a multifunctional polypeptide growth factor which is believed to play an important role in the growth and differentiation of uterine cells. Although the expression of TGF-$ beta$ in the uterus has been previously described, the receptors for TGF-$ beta$ in this tissue have not been characterized. In the present study, the cell surface receptors for TGF-$ beta$ were characterized on cultures of stromal cells prepared from human endometrial biopsies, and on a human endometrial epithelial cell line (RL95-2) using affinity labeling techniques. On stromal cells, five TGF-$ beta$ binding proteins were identified. Analysis of the sensitivity of these proteins to dithiothreitol and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, together with results from immunoprecipitations with anti-TGF-$ beta$ receptor antibodies, confirmed that three of these binding proteins correspond to the cloned type I, II, and III TGF-$ beta$ receptors. The other two binding proteins exhibited characteristics of isoform-specific glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored TGF-$ beta$ binding proteins. On RL95-2 cells, three TGF-$ beta$ binding proteins, corresponding to the type I, II and III TGF-$ beta$ receptors, were identified. The number of receptors on endometrial cells and their relative affinity for TGF-$ beta$ was estimated by Scatchard analysis. These receptors are responsive to physiological concentrations of TGF-$ beta$ as demonstrated by the effect of TGF-$ beta$ on DNA synthesis in these cells. Accordingly, they have the potential to respond to TGF-$ beta$ expressed in the endometrium in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.23268 |
| Date | January 1995 |
| Creators | Dumont, Nancy |
| Contributors | Philip, Anie (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Physiology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001468330, proquestno: MM08008, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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