The effect of transforming growth factor-β on the alkaline phosphatase activity in rabbit renal cortical tubular cell cultures

Abstract The effect of various growth regulators including epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-β on the alkaline phosphatase activity of rabbit renal cortical tubular cells has been investigated in a serum-free culture. As a result, it was found that transforming growth factor-β, known to be a growth inhibitor of renal tubular cells, increased the alkaline phosphatase activity of the tubular cells dose-dependently and that cycloheximide blocked any increase in the activity of this factor. In contrast, epidermal growth factor decreased the alkaline phosphatase activity in the tubular cells.