TGF-BETA-1 AUGMENTS EXPRESSION OF THE TIS10 PROSTAGLANDIN SYNTHASE-2 GENE IN INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS/

Treatment of nontransformed rat intestinal crypt epithelial TEC-S cell s with tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) + calcium ionophore (A23187 ) induces both the synthesis of prostacyclin and the expression of the TIS10/PGS-2 gene, a primary response gene encoding a second form of p rostaglandin synthase (PGS). In addition to pharmacological induction by TPA + A23187, TIS10/PGS-2 message is also induced by the inflammato ry cytokine interleukin 1-beta (IL-1 beta). Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta), a potent cytokine known to modulate a variety of b iological responses, does not by itself induce either prostanoid accum ulation or TIS10/PGS-2 gene expression. TGF-beta does, however, augmen t both induced prostacyclin accumulation and the induced synthesis and accumulation of TIS10/PGS-2 protein and message in IEC-6 cells. TGF-b eta concentrations in the range of 0.1-1.0 ng/ml (4.0-40 pM) maximally augment accumulation of TIS10/PGS-2 message, In contrast, dexamethaso ne attenuates prostacyclin production, TIS10/PGS-2 protein accumulatio n, and TIS10/PGS-2 message induction in IEC-6 cells. These results sug gest that steroids and cytokines such as TGF-beta may (i) modulate int estinal epithelial cell growth and differentiation and (ii) influence gastrointestinal diseases such as gastric ulcers and colon cancer by m odulating eicosanoid production.