Alpha and beta human transforming growth factors stimulate prostaglandin production and bone resorption in cultured mouse calvaria.

Abstract

Human alpha and beta transforming growth factors (TGF-alpha and TGF-beta) stimulated the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and bone resorption in neonatal mouse calvaria in organ culture. Significant stimulation of bone resorption by TGF-alpha was observed with a concentration of 0.2 ng/ml (35 pM) and by TGF-beta with 0.2 ng/ml (8.0 pM). Enhanced production of PGE2 and bone resorption stimulated by either TGF-alpha or TGF-beta were both inhibited by indomethacin. We conclude that TGF-alpha and TGF-beta are potent and powerful stimulators of the resorption of mouse bone by a mechanism that involves the enhanced local production of PGE2.