A bone marrow stromal cell line is a source and target for platelet-derived growth factor.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulates multipotent and erythroid progenitors as well as stromal fibroblasts. Any of the three dimeric forms of PDGF (AA, AB, or BB) could potentially interact with these cells; however, the precise cellular origin of PDGF production in the bone marrow microenvironment is not known. In the present study, we found that medium conditioned by MBA-2, murine bone marrow-derived endothelial cells, contains PDGF activity that competes for [125I]PDGF binding to human foreskin fibroblasts and is mitogenic for these fibroblasts. Northern analysis of poly(A)+ RNA from MBA-2 shows the expression of both PDGF A-chain and B-chain mRNAs. Because cytokines such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) regulate hematopoiesis and stimulate PDGF in certain mesenchymal cells, we determined whether TGF-beta influences PDGF secretion and gene expression in MBA-2. TGF-beta induced PDGF A-chain and B-chain mRNAs and the release of PDGF activity. Each of the three PDGF isoforms also stimulated DNA synthesis in MBA-2, but with different potency (BB > AB > AA). Ligand binding studies showed specific binding of labeled PDGF BB and, to a lesser extent, PDGF AA isoform, consistent with predominant expression of the PDGF-beta receptor in MBA-2. These data show that murine endothelial stromal cells release PDGF activity and respond to PDGF. Local production of PDGF in the marrow microenvironment may play an important role in regulating hematopoietic and stromal cell proliferation.