Modulation of transforming growth factor-beta actions in rat osteoblast-like cells: the effects of bFGF and EGF.

The present study examines how the mitogenic and differentiation functions of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) are modulated by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in primary cultures of rat osteoblast-like (ROB) cells. TGF-beta, bFGF, and EGF individually stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell proliferation in a dose range of 0.01-10 ng/ml. When studied in combination, high doses of bFGF and EGF were additive to low doses of TGF-beta. The additive effects of bFGF and EGF on mitogenesis diminished with increasing doses of TGF-beta. These three factors also decreased alkaline phosphatase activity individually within the same dose range. When cells were treated with the combined factors, only high doses of bFGF and EGF were additive to the TGF-beta inhibition. We were unable to detect any change in collagen synthesis with each individual factor or in combined treatments. In addition, TGF-beta or bFGF alone or in combination did not affect fibronectin synthesis. Our studies showed that the biological functions of TGF-beta can be modulated by bFGF and EGF in ROB cells. The pattern of modulation is varied depending on the specific function examined.