DETECTION OF MESSENGER-RNA FOR THE TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTOR-BETA FAMILY IN HUMAN ARTICULAR CHONDROCYTES BY THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

The Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF) family of polypeptides elicits diverse biological actions on a wide range of cell types. There are known to be several isoforms of TGF coded for by different genes, with possibly differential expression and potencies. We have demonstrated that there is constitutive expression of three forms of transforming growth factor β in adult human articular chondrocytes. The presence of 10% fetal calf serum in the culture medium may influence expression. The addition of transforming growth factor β or interleukin 1β to the culture medium does not appear to consistently influence the expression of TGFβ by the cells. © 1991 Academic Press, Inc.