Transforming growth factor β‐1 positively modulates the bioactivity of fibroblast growth factor on corneal endothelial cells

Abstract

Transforming growth factor beta‐1 (TGFβ‐1), known as an inhibitor of vascular endothelial cell proliferation in vitro, stimulates bovine corneal endothelial cells (BCE) proliferation. It also positively modulates the response of BCE cells to fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). This effect is concentration dependent within a physiological range of TGFβ‐1, but it is blocked if cells are cultured on extracellular‐matrix‐coated dishes instead of plastic. TGFβ‐1 does not modify the number or the affinity of bFGF receptors on BCE cell surface but increases the bFGF content of these cells. This suggests that TGFβ‐1 might act through regulation of bFGF synthesis in BCE cells.