Prostaglandin E2 enhances transforming growth factor-beta 1 and TGF-beta receptors synthesis: an in vivo and in vitro study

The aims of this study were to determine how Prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) locally applied affected the immunodistribution of latent transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), and how the eicosanoid modified TGF-beta 1 release and TGF-beta receptors gene expression in Cultured osteoblasts. PGE(2) locally delivered on the rat mandible at doses of 0.1 and 0.05 mg/day, but not 0.025 mg/ day, over 20 days significantly increased latent TGF-beta 1 immunodistribution (P < 0.001), comparing with a placebo-treated group. Cultured osteoblasts stimulated with 10(-5) or 10(-7) M PGE(2) significantly varied the level of activated TGF-beta 1 released into supernatants at different experimental periods compared with negative and positive controls. TGF-beta receptor type I gene expression was significantly increased in osteoblasts (P < 0.01) after 10 days of treatment with 10(-5) and 10(-7) M PGE(2), whereas 10(-3) M PGE(2) produced the opposite effect. It is Concluded that PGE(2) may stimulate bone deposition by affecting TGF-beta pathway. This effect on the pathway appears to be dose-dependent. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.