Epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta differently modulate the acute phase response elicited by interleukin-6 in cultured liver cells from man, rat and mouse.

1. Complex effects of principal inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1, TNF, IFN-gamma) on acute phase protein synthesis and other metabolic processes in cultured liver cells are briefly reviewed. 2. Molecular properties and biological functions of transforming growth factor-beta and epidermal growth factor are compared. 3. The effects of these factors with respect to both amino acid uptake and acute phase protein synthesis are described in detail. The results are found to be different for rat or mouse hepatocytes and human hepatoma cells.