Transforming growth factor β1 protects human lung adenocarcinoma cells from hyperthermia-induced apoptosis

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) plays a dual role in tumorigenesis, being involved in growth control in normal tissues and benign tumors, while many malignant and especially metastatic tumors were found to be resistant to TGF-beta. Action we show here that human lung adenocarcinoma A-549 cells which are growth-inhibited by TGF-beta1 are also protected by this cytokine from following hyperthermia-induced death. At the same time human larynx carcinoma HEp-2 cells resistant to TGF-beta1 growth inhibitory effect could not be protected by TGF-beta1 from heat shock killing. The data obtained suggest that the growth inhibition of carcinoma cells by TGF-beta1 could be responsible for the protective effect of this cytokine against the hyperthermia-induced cell death.