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Horm Metab Res 2006; 38(3): 159-166
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-925185
Original Basic
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Restoration of Transforming Growth Factor-β Type II Receptor Reduces Tumorigenicity in the Human Adrenocortical Carcinoma SW-13 Cell Line

N.  Yamamoto1 , J.  Imai2 , M.  Watanabe2 , N.  Hiroi1 , S.  Sugano2 , G.  Yoshino1
  • 1Division of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Toho University School of Medicine
  • 2Laboratory of Genome Structure Analysis, Human Genome Center, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

Received 21 July 2005

Accepted after revision 23 November 2005

Publication Date:
27 April 2006 (online)

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Abstract

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a potent growth suppressor. Acquisition of TGF-β resistance has been reported in many tumors, and has been associated with reduced TGF-β receptor expression. In this study, we examined TGF-β 1, TGF-β type I receptor (TβRI) and TGF-β type II receptor (TβRII) expression in SW-13 adrenocortical carcinoma cells by Northern and Western blot analysis. SW-13 cells did not express TβRII mRNA or protein. We have investigated the role of TβRII in modulating tumorigenic potential using stably transfected SW-13 cells with TβRII expression plasmid. TβRII-positive SW-13 cell growth was inhibited by exogenous human TGF-β1 (hTGF-β1) in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, SW-13 cells and control clones transfected with empty vector remained hTGF-β1-insensitive. Xenograft examination in athymic nude mice demonstrated that TβRII-positive SW-13 cells reduced tumor-forming activity. Reconstructing the TβRII can lead to reversion of the malignant phenotype of TβRII-negative human adrenocortical carcinoma, which contains SW-13 cells. Reduced TβRII expression may play a critical role in determining the malignant phenotype of human adrenocortical carcinoma.

Key words

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) - TGF-β insensitivity - TGF-β type II receptor - adrenocortical carcinoma - cell proliferation

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Natsuko Yamamoto, M. D., Ph. D.

Division of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology · Department of Medicine · Toho University School of Medicine

6-11-1 Omorinishi · Ota-ku · Tokyo · 143-8541 Japan ·

Phone: +81 (3) 3762-4151/6565

Fax: +81 (3) 3765-6488

Email: n-yamamoto@med.toho-u.ac.jp

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