High molecular weight type-alpha transforming growth factor in the urine of patients with surgical bone wound involved in mandibular osteotomy.

Activity of transforming growth factors (TGFs) in urine from the patients with surgical bone wound involved in mandibular osteotomy, was examined by the use of NRK-49F indicator cells. The urine was extracted by an acid-ethanol method, fractionated on a Bio-Gel P-100 column or reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and analysed for TGF activity. TGF-alpha activity in the Mr 30-27 or 12-10 kDa ranges, which was determined in the HPLC fractions containing TGF activity by dot-blot analysis using antisera to human TGF-alpha (hTGF-alpha) and hEGF, was detected in urine from the patients but not from normal controls. From an analysis of urine samples collected prior to operation and after operation in individual patients, we have shown that there is an intimate relationship between repair of surgical bone wound and the TGF-alpha activity.