Transforming Growth Factor-ß Messenger RNA and Protein in Murine ColitisChristine V. Whitinga, Amanda M. Williamsa, Mogens H. Claessonb, Soren Bregenholtb, Jorg Reimannc, and Paul W. Blandaa Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom b The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark c Institute for Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany Correspondence to: Christine V. Whiting, Div. of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Dept. of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol, UK BS40 5DU. E-mail: c.v.whiting@bris.ac.uk Using a CD4+ T-cell-transplanted SCID mouse model of colitis, we have analyzed TGF-ß transcription and translation in advanced disease. By in situ hybridization, the epithelium of both control and inflamed tissues transcribed TGF-ß1 and TGF-ß3 mRNAs, but both were expressed significantly farther along the crypt axis in disease. Control lamina propria cells transcribed little TGF-ß1 or TGF-ß3 mRNA, but in inflamed tissues many cells expressed mRNA for both isoforms. No TGF-ß2 message was detected in either control or inflamed tissues. Immunohistochemistry for latent and active TGF-ß1 showed that all cells produced perinuclear latent TGF-ß1. The epithelial cell basal latent protein resulted in only low levels of subepithelial active protein, which co-localized with collagen IV and laminin in diseased and control tissue. Infiltrating cells expressed very low levels of active TGF-ß. By ELISA, very low levels (069 pg/mg) of soluble total or active TGF-ß were detected in hypotonic tissue lysates. TGF-ß1 and TGF-ß3 are produced by SCID mouse colon and transcription is increased in the colitis caused by transplantation of CD4+ T-cells, but this does not result in high levels of soluble active protein. Low levels of active TGF-ß may be a factor contributing to unresolved inflammation. (J Histochem Cytochem 49:727738, 2001) Key Words: TGF-ß, inflammatory bowel disease, in situ hybridization, basal lamina
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