Opposing effects of basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta on the proliferation of cultured bovine retinal capillary endothelial (BREC) cells.

Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) inhibits the serum and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced proliferation of cultured bovine retinal endothelial capillary (BREC) cells in a dose-dependent manner. The concentration of TGF-beta required to get half-maximal inhibition (ED50) are 10 pg ml-1 in serum and 17 pg ml-1 in the presence of additional bFGF (1 ng ml-1). These TGF-beta ED50 values are greatly increased when BREC cells were seeded at high density: 610 pg ml-1 in serum and 1 ng ml-1 in the presence of additional bFGF. At low initial cell density BREC cells are more sensitive to TGF-beta than aortic bovine arch endothelial (ABAE) cells for which TGF-beta ED50 values are respectively 40 pg ml-1 and 100 pg ml-1 in serum and in the presence of additional bFGF. In contrast, at high cell density BREC cells appeared to be more resistant to TGF-beta inhibition than ABAE cells for which TFG-beta ED50 values are 210 and 300 pg ml-1. Moreover bFGF added at increasing concentrations neutralize totally TGF-beta inhibition of BREC cell proliferation but only partially that of ABAE cell proliferation. Our results suggest a key role of equilibrium TFG-beta bFGF on the proliferation of BREC cells.