TGF-β2 inhibits growth of uveal melanocytes at physiological concentrations

The effect of TGF-beta 2 on growth of uveal melanocytes in vitro was studied and the dose-dependent inhibitory effect of TGF-beta 2 was compared with the known concentration of TGF-beta 2 in aqueous humor. Uveal melanocytes were isolated and cultured with medium supplemented with cAMP elevating agents and basic fibroblast growth factor. The uveal melanocytes were plated into multi-well plates. After 24 hr, TGF-beta 2 was added to the medium in various concentrations. After 5 days, the cells were detached, counted and compared to the controls. The effect of TGF-beta 2 on DNA synthesis (as evaluated by uptake of bromodeoxyuridine) were also tested. TGF-beta 2 inhibited growth and DNA synthesis of cultured uveal melanocytes in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations from 0.03-10.0 ng ml(-1). The growth-inhibition of TGF-beta(2) was present even in serum-free medium. TGF-beta(2) had little or no effect on melanogenesis of cultured uveal melanocytes. The serum used for cultivation did not contain active TGF-beta(1) or TGF-beta(2) as measured by immunoassay. The known amount of active TGF-beta 2 in aqueous humor (0.2-0.4 ng ml(-1)) is sufficient to inhibit the growth of uveal melanocytes. It indicates that TGF-beta 2 is a potent growth inhibit factor of uveal melanocytes and may play an important role in maintaining the non-proliferative, relatively quiescence status of uveal melanocytes in vivo. (C) 1998 Academic Press.