Type beta transforming growth factor and epidermal growth factor suppress the plasminogen activator activity in a human glioblastoma cell line.

In the human glioblastoma cell line, T-MG1, plasminogen activator activity (PA-activity) was demonstrated by using the chromogenic substrate S-2251. Using monoclonal antibodies against human urokinase type PA (u-PA) and human tissue type PA (t-PA), only u-PA activity was found in T-MG1 cell extracts. The u-PA activity in T-MG1 cells was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner by B-TGF and EGF after 24 hours of exposure to these growth factors. Twenty units of B-TGF caused a decrease in PA-activity of 80%, while 10 ng/ml EGF gave a decrease in PA-activity of 60%. The suppressive effects of B-TGF and EGF were observed after 2 hours and 4 hours of incubation, respectively and sustained for at least 24 hours. The effects of B-TGF and EGF were not antienzymatic, but rather mediated through regulatory mechanisms. In view of the capacity of invasive growth of gliomas and the potential role of PA in invasive growth, the suppression of PA-activity in gliomas by B-TGF and EGF may be of importance.