Transforming growth factor beta 1 alters rat peritoneal macrophage mediator production and improves survival during endotoxic shock.

Transforming Growth Factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine involved in wound healing. Because of its anti-inflammatory actions, the effects of TGF-beta 1 were studied in vitro on rat macrophage inflammatory mediator production and in vivo on Salmonella enteritidis endotoxin (LPS) induced lethality. TGF-beta 1's effect on stimulated rat peritoneal macrophage (MO) production of prostacyclin and nitric oxide were assessed via measurement of their stable metabolites, 6-keto-PGF-1 alpha and nitrite, respectively. TGF-beta 1 (10 ng/ml) pretreatment (3 hours) resulted in significant reductions (p < 0.05) of LPS (50 micrograms/ml) stimulated, lipid A (1 and 10 micrograms/ml) stimulated, arachidonic acid (16 microM) stimulated, and Ca++ ionophore (10 microM) stimulated MO 6-keto-PGF 1 alpha production. These data suggest that TGF-beta 1 inhibits LPS stimulated MO 6-keto-PGF-1 alpha production by acting at, or distally to, phospholipase A2, possibly at the level of cyclooxygenase in the arachidonic acid cascade. In a similar study, TGF-beta 1 pretreatment led to a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of LPS stimulated MO nitrite production. In subsequent studies, the effects of TGF-beta 1 were studied in vivo on rats challenged with lethal doses of LPS. Rats pretreated with TGF-beta 1 (250 ng/rat i.v.) exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.01, n = 15 rats/group) in mean survival time compared to control rats. The increased survival time of TGF-beta 1 pretreated rats with LPS shock may be due, in part, to altered production of MO mediators.