Transforming growth factor-beta(1) induces apoptosis via connective tissuegrowth factor in human aortic smooth muscle cells

We examined the possible involvement of connective tissue growth factor (CT GF) in the apoptosis induced by transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-bet a(1)) in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HASC). in quiescent HAS C, TGF-beta(1) induced the mRNA and protein of CTGF. A CTGF antisense oligo nucleotide inhibited this induction. TGF-beta(1) significantly reduced cell viability and induced DNA fragmentation, and the CTGF antisense oligonucle otide reversed these effects. Moreover, TGF-beta(1) activated caspase 3 in HASC, and the CTGF antisense oligonucleotide reduced this activation. These findings show that CTGF plays a key role in the TGF-beta(1)-induced apopto sis in HASC. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.