TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTOR-BETA UP-REGULATES TYPE-VII COLLAGEN GENE-EXPRESSION IN NORMAL AND TRANSFORMED EPIDERMAL-KERATINOCYTES IN CULTURE

Transforming growth factor-βs (TGF-βs) have been shown to enhance the expression of extracellular matrix genes, including several collagens. In this study, the effects of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 on the expression of the gene for type VII collagen, the major component of anchoring fibrils, in human epidermal cell cultures were examined. Incubation of human epidermal keratinocytes or oral epidermoid carcinoma KB cells with TGF-β1 or TGF-β2 markedly (up to 6.3-fold) elevated the α1(VII) collagen mRNA levels. This elevation was accompanied by enhanced synthesis of type VII collagen, as demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence with a monoclonal antibody. The results indicate that TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 have similar biological activities with respect to enhanced type VII collagen gene expression. © 1991 Academic Press, Inc.