PMID: 7542256Apr 1, 1995Paper

Heparin-binding vitronectin up-regulates latent TGF-beta production by bovine aortic endothelial cells

Journal of Cell Science
S M RibeiroJ E Murphy-Ullrich

Abstract

Vitronectin, a serum and extracellular matrix protein, is present in vivo in two different conformations: a native form, which does not bind heparin, and a heparin-binding conformer, which results from interactions of native vitronectin with either the thrombin-antithrombin III complex or the terminal complement complex, C5b-9. We found that vitronectin stimulates the activity of the growth regulatory peptide, TGF-beta, in the conditioned media of bovine aortic endothelial cells as a result of increased production of latent TGF-beta. This effect is specific for the denatured, heparin-binding, form of vitronectin, since native vitronectin has no effect on the production of latent TGF-beta by those cells. Stimulation is time and concentration-dependent, but is independent of protease activity. Stimulation is dependent on the presence of cells, since there was no increase in TGF-beta activity observed when vitronectin was added to the conditioned media after removal from cells. Furthermore, incubation of recombinant latent TGF-beta with vitronectin in a cell-free system does not result in increased TGF-beta activity. Assays of total TGF-beta levels in heat-treated conditioned media showed that vitronectin treatment elevates the le...Continue Reading

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