Anti-oestrogens and TGF-beta Secretion from Human Fetal Fibroblasts
Author Information
Author(s): A.A. Colletta, L.M. Wakefield, F.V. Howell, K.E.P. van Roozendaal, D. Danielpour, S.R. Ebbs, M.B. Sporn, M. Baum
Primary Institution: Kings College School of Medicine and Dentistry
Hypothesis
Can anti-oestrogens induce the secretion of TGF-beta from human stromal cells independent of oestrogen receptor presence?
Conclusion
Anti-oestrogens significantly increase the secretion of biologically active TGF-beta from human fetal fibroblasts, despite the absence of oestrogen receptors.
Supporting Evidence
- Anti-oestrogens induced a 3 to 30-fold increase in TGF-beta secretion from fibroblast strains.
- Less than 30% of the secreted TGF-beta was in the biologically latent form.
- Both fibroblast strains showed no detectable estrogen receptors.
Takeaway
This study shows that certain cancer treatments can make cells produce a substance that stops other cells from growing, even when the usual receptors for those treatments are not present.
Methodology
The study used two human fetal fibroblast strains to measure TGF-beta secretion after treatment with anti-oestrogens.
Limitations
The study does not confirm the presence of any estrogen receptors in the fibroblasts, which may limit the understanding of the mechanism involved.
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