The role of transforming growth factor beta 1 in the fibroblastic reaction associated with rat colorectal tumor development.

Many tumors are surrounded by a highly fibrous stroma composed of fibroblasts and extracellular matrix. This desmoplastic response has been suggested to both inhibit and favor tumor progression. The present study deals with the effects of tumor cells on the fibroblastic reactions they cause and relates this to progression or regression of tumors.

[Role of TGF beta 1 in the stromal reaction to human colonic tumors].

Two types of human fibroblasts have been isolated from a patient with a colon cancer with metastasis, one type was derived from a healthy part of the colon, and the other one isolated from a metastasized lymph node close to the intestine. These fibroblasts have been characterized for their expression of collagens type I, III and IV, vimentin, fibronectin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, laminin and desmin. The effects of conditioned media of human colon cancer cell lines, HT29, SW1116, LS180 and HCT8R, on the metabolism of these fibroblasts were tested.

Immunodetection of the plum pox virus helper component in infected plants and expression of its gene in transgenic plants.

Tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) have been transformed via Agrobacterium tumefaciens vectors, with cDNAs corresponding to the plum pox virus (PPV) cistron 2 encoding helper component (HC-Pro) and with the first two and half cistrons of the PPV genome. Presence of the HC-Pro in PPV-infected plants and transgenic plants transformed with the gene coding for this protein was investigated using specific polyclonal antibodies produced against the PPV HC-Pro.

Analysis of factors associated with the tumorigenic potential of 12 tumor clones derived from a single rat colon adenocarcinoma.

We analyzed several factors which could influence the immunogenicity of colon tumor cells, using a series of clones derived from a single chemically induced rat adenocarcinoma cell line. These clones display variable tumorigenic potential in syngeneic immunocompetent animals, and it has been established that in this model the tumorigenicity of the cells depends on their ability to escape immune surveillance. The results show an absence of relationship between tumorigenicity and expression of MHC-class-I antigens, cell adhesion to rat fibroblasts or fibroblast extracellular matrix.

Possible involvement of TGF beta 1 in the distinct tumorigenic properties of two rat colon carcinoma clones.

The presence in tumors of numerous cytokines suggests that they potentially modulate tumor cell activities and host tissue remodelling. To investigate the possible involvement of transforming growth factor type beta (TGF beta) in the metastatic process of cancer development, we have studied the effect of this factor on two rat colon carcinoma cell lines. These cell clones had been previously tested and selected for their ability to develop metastases in syngenic animals or lack of it.