Role of endogenous transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) 1 in prostatic stromal cells

BACKGROUND In this study, defined culture conditions were used to examine the effects of recombinant TGFβ1 on prostatic stromal cells and to determine the role of endogenous TGFβ produced by these cells. METHODS Cells were grown +/− recombinant TGFβ1 and cell population sizes in replicate cultures determined. In other experiments, TGFβ1 production by prostatic stromal cells was examined and the effects of neutralization of this activity on cell population sizes and apoptosis evaluated. RESULTS At > 1 ng/ml, TGFβ1 reduced cell population sizes while at 0.01 ng/ml cell numbers were increased cf. controls. Stromal cells produced up to 10 ng/ml/48 hr of latent TGFβ1 of which