Effects of transforming growth factor-β_1 and transforming growth factor-α on the growth and invasive potentials of human bladder tumor cells

Objective To study the effects of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF β1) and transforming growth factor α (TGF α) on the growth and invasive potentials in human bladder tumor cells. Methods The effects of TGF β1 and TGF α on the growth of EJ cell line and the effects on MMPs and TIMP 2 were studied by means of MTT,Western Blot and RT PCR methods. Results (1)TGF β1 and TGF α tended to inhibit the growth of EJ cells but statistically nonsigficant.(2)Higher levles of MMP 9 mRNA but lower levels of MMP 2,TIMP 2,MT1 MMP mRNA were found in EJ cells following the treatment with TGF β1.The same was true for the expression of MMP 2,TIMP 2 mRNA in TGF α groups.However,MMP 9 mRNA was not found in both TGF α groups and the control groups. (3)TGF β1 ( 0.1 , 1.0 ng/ml) enhanced MMP 2 protein but not the TIMP 2 protein,while TGF β1 ( 5.0 , 10.0 ng/ml)decreased TIMP 2 protein but not on MMP 2.In TGF α groups,when the concentration was 1.0 , 5.0 , 10.0 ng/ml,TIMP 2 protein expression was decreased but MMP 2 did not.When the concentration reached 100.0 ng/ml,it increased MMP 2 protein level,not the TIMP 2 protein. Conclusions TGF β1 and TGFα do not inhibit the proliferation of EJ cells whereas the enhanced invasiveness and metastasis may be associated with regulating the expression of MMPs and TIMP 2.