Age-related differences in the expression of receptors for TGF-beta in human osteoblast-like cells in vitro

The cell surface expression of receptors for TGF-beta was studied in human osteoblasts derived from femoral trabecular bone of a total of 19 patients aged 2-83 years. All cell populations investigated showed a similar profile of expression of TGF-beta receptors (T beta R) I, II and III (betaglycan). There were no significant differences in cell differentiation or prolifera tive behaviour between the age groups. The TGF-P receptor number per cell s ignificantly increased with age, while the receptor affinity tended to decr ease. IGF-I did not influence T beta R expression in vitro. The results ind icate an age-dependent and IGF-I independent increase of osteoblastic TGF-b eta receptors in human osteoblastlike cells in vitro.