Human monocytes and neutrophils store transforming growth factor-alpha in a subpopulation of cytoplasmic granules.

Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) exerts several effects on target cells, such as neovascularization promotion and mitogenic signalling. Using immunoelectron microscopy, we show that monocytes and neutrophils, store TGF-alpha in cytoplasmic granules. In monocytes, TGF-alpha did not colocalize with components of peroxidase-positive granules or with albumin of secretory vesicles. Furthermore, no colocalization of TGF-alpha with components of azurophilic or specific granules or secretory vesicles was observed in neutrophils. Activated monocytes and tissue-macrophages contained much less TGF-alpha-positive granules, suggesting TGF-alpha release. Western blot analysis showed a protein of 10 kD in lysates of monocytes. TGF-alpha mRNA was detected in monocytoid cells from the bone marrow by in situ hybridization. This study shows for the first time that monocytes and neutrophils contain TGF-alpha in all stages of maturation and that TGF-alpha in monocytes is stored in a large population of peroxidase-negative granules suggesting a function for these granules. Monocytes and neutrophils are important effector cells in inflammatory reactions. The present finding that these cells contain TGF-alpha might explain complications such as fibrosis and neoplastic transformation, caused by chronic inflammation.