Transforming growth factor-β1 modulates expression of adhesion and cytoskeletal proteins in human peritoneal fibroblasts

Objective: To determine the effects of TGF-beta(1) on the expression of the alpha(1), alpha(2), alpha(5), alpha(v), and alpha(6) integrin subunits and on vinculin. and F-actin in human peritoneal fibroblasts. Design: Descriptive study using cell culture, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and immunofluorescent and confocal microscopy. Setting: Academic medical center. Patient(s): Gynecological surgery patients. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Effects of TGF-beta(1) on the steady state levels of alpha(5), alpha(v), and alpha(6) integrin transcripts were examined in the normal peritoneal fibroblasts using RT-PCR. Expression levels of the alpha(1), alpha(2), alpha(5), alpha(v), and alpha(6) integrin subunits and of F-actin were measured by immunofluorescent microscopy. The distribution pattern of the integrin subunits, vinculin. and F-actin were examined using confocal microscopy. Result(s): TGF-beta(1) significantly up-regulated the expression levels of the alpha(5), alpha(v), and alpha(6) integrin subunits and modulated their expression pattern, resulting in relatively higher levels of these subunits in the focal contacts of peritoneal fibroblasts. It allocated vinculin expression primarily to the focal contacts of cells and caused distortion of F-actin structure, The transcript levels of the alpha(5), alpha(v) and alpha(6) integrin subunits were not altered by TGF-beta(1) treatment. Conclusion(s): TGF-beta(1) may promote postoperative adhesion formation by inducing the migration of peritoneal fibroblasts by altering the expression levels and patterns of specific integrin subunits, vinculin, and F-actin. (C) 2002 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.