Transforming growth factor- beta 2-mediated regulation of C3 gene expression in monocytes

• Published in: Molecular immunology 1996-09, Vol.33 (13), p.1025-1034
• Main Authors: Drouin, S M, Carlino, JA, Barnum, SR
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0161-5890
• DOI: 10.1016/S0161-5890(96)00071-5

In this report, we show that transforming growth factor- beta 2 (TGF- beta 2) regulates C3 gene expression in the human monocyte cell lines, U937 and THP-1, and human peripheral blood monocytes. Treatment of U937 or THP-1 cells with TGF- beta 2 resulted in a dose-dependent induction of C3 protein and mRNA expression. Dose-dependent increases of C3 protein and mRNA levels were also detected in TGF- beta 2-treated primary blood monocytes, demonstrating that TGF- beta 2 can modulate C3 expression in nontransformed monocytes. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that TGF- beta 2-mediated induction of C3 mRNA and protein could be detected within 8 hr, and the induction was continuous up to 72 hr. Exposure of cells to TGF- beta 2 for as little as 2 hr was sufficient to induce C3 expression. TGF- beta 2 did not significantly increase C3 mRNA stability as determined by mRNA half-life studies. Collectively, our results demonstrate that TGF- beta 2 regulates the expression of C3 in monocytes and suggest that TGF- beta 2 may play a role in modulating the synthesis of C3 during inflammatory responses.