Transforming growth factor type beta (TGF beta) inhibits G1 to S transition, but not activation of human B lymphocytes.

Type beta transforming growth factor (TGF beta) is a polypeptide that may influence the growth of a variety of cell types in a positive or negative fashion. In this study we show that TGF beta markedly inhibits DNA synthesis in normal and neoplastic human B lymphocytes stimulated to proliferate with anti-immunoglobulins and B-cell growth factor (BCGF). Although TGF beta was needed during the initial 12 h of the culture to promote optimal inhibition, we found that it had little or no effect on several early to intermediate parameters of cell activation [( Ca2+]i increase, c-myc mRNA increase, cellular enlargement, RNA increase, and the increase in the expression of the 4F2 activation antigen). In contrast, TGF beta almost completely blocked the induction of transferrin receptor expression, which normally occurs in the late G1 phase of the cell cycle. Therefore, we conclude that TGF beta treatment leads to arrest of the cells in the middle to late G1 phase, prior to transferrin receptor expression.