Renal cell carcinoma development in the rat independent of alterations at the VHL gene locus

Germline alterations of the human von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene predispose to renal cell carcinoma and a constellation of other tumor types found in VHL disease. This gene is also mutated or deleted in a high proportion of sporadic nonpapillary renal cell carcinomas. In the Eker rat model, spontaneous renal cell carcinoma develops with a high frequency. We therefore investigated the role of this tumor suppressor gene in the development of these hereditary rat tumors. By using reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, the sequence of the rat VHL gene was determined over the portion of the gene homologous to regions where most mutations in the human VHL gene occur. The sequence homology was 90% and the amino-acid identity 99% between the rat and human genes. A developmental and tumor-specific pattern of expression for the VHL gene was found; a ubiquitous 3.2-kb transcript was expressed in all rat tissues examined (neonatal kidney, lung, liver, brain, heart, kidney, spleen, testis, and stomach), and an additional 4.5-kb transcript was expressed in neonatal kidney and cell lines derived from Eker rat renal cell carcinomas (ERC cell lines). To determine whether mutations in the VHL gene were involved in tumor development in the Eker model, RT-PCR, single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, and direct sequencing were used to search for alterations in this gene in the ERC cell lines. Alterations in the VHL gene were not detected by SSCP, and these data were confirmed by direct sequencing. Transformed rat kidney epithelial cell lines derived from Fisher rats also expressed the VHL gene but like the ERC cell lines did not contain mutations in the VHL gene. These data indicate that in the rat, transformation of kidney epithelial cells and the development of solid, nonpapillary renal cell carcinoma can occur via pathways that are independent of alterations at the VHL gene locus.

An overview of the role of government in the organisation and provision of health services in Japan

This article is illustrated with reference to health services in the Tokyo Prefecture. It seeks to describe the role of government in the organisation and provision of health services in Japan. It is based on experiences gained from a three-month placement at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Public Health in late 1994. Wherever possible the article identifies similarities and differences between the Japanese and Australian health care systems. Part of the analysis has been to identify areas where opportunities exist for Australian health service providers to develop further cooperation with particular sectors of the Japanese health system and also where the potential for the export of health services may exist. The health systems of Australia and Japan have points of similarity and difference. Essentially both systems operate within the context of a compulsory universal health insurance system. However, unlike Australia, the bulk of service provision in Japan is left to the private sector, while government retains the primary role of regulator. It is interesting to observe that while the Australian health care system is currently exploring options to expand the service range and level of participation of private sector services in health care delivery (within the context of universal health insurance), the Japanese health care system appears to be examining options through which further government intervention can improve service access and service efficiency. Japan presents opportunities to observe the benefits and disadvantages of predominantly private sector provision within the context of universal health insurance coverage.

Microsatellite-centromere mapping in the zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Ten (CA)n microsatellite simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, 1, 2, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 26, and 29, were used to show high chiasma interference and to determine centromere-marker map distances in the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Of these, SSR 12 exhibited no recombinant tetratypes among 175 half-tetrad embryos, placing this marker within 1 cM of the centromere of Linkage Group XVII. Fractions of heterozygous half-tetrads for the remaining nine markers ranged from 0.64 to 0.89. Of these, six recombinant fractions were more than 0.67 (P < 0.05), indicating strong chiasma interference during female meiosis in the zebrafish. Consistent with previous mapping data, SSRs 2 and 20 of Linkage Group VI were tightly linked. Half-tetrad analysis will allow the mapping of the remaining centromeres and may be useful in the mapping of new genes and mutations in the zebrafish.

Accumulation of activated CD4+ lymphocytes in the lung of individuals infected with HIV accompanied by increased virus production in patients with secondary infections

The lung is continuously exposed to infectious and non-infectious agents causing cell activation. Activated cells in the lung such as antigen-presenting cells which harbour HIV may favour this organ as a site for virus production. To test this hypothesis, cells from blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of HIV-infected patients and healthy controls were obtained and the activation of the cells were analysed by measuring the expression of IL-2 receptor, HLA-DR and VLA-1. The HIV-infected individuals were subdivided into 'lung symptomatic' or 'lung asymptomatic' patients, depending on the presence or absence of secondary lung diseases besides HIV. All HIV-infected individuals demonstrated a decreased number of CD4+ lymphocytes in blood; however, normal numbers of these cells were found in BAL. The activation state of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in blood and BAL was higher in lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients compared with controls. The activation state was highest in the lung symptomatic group. Lung symptomatic patients and lung asymptomatic patients with extrapulmonary infections had increased levels of free virus in plasma. Four out of four individuals without or with only low amounts of cell-free HIV in plasma belonged to the symptom-free subgroup. These results suggest that microorganisms other than HIV may promote viral replication via antigen-driven accumulation and activation of CD4+ cells in the lung or other organs, and thus may be responsible for the loss of helper T cells and the progression of the disease.

Estrogen stimulation and tamoxifen inhibition of leiomyoma cell growth in vitro and in vivo

Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) are the most common gynecological neoplasms and may be associated with significant morbidity. Recently, we described a rat model (Eker rat) of fibroid development in which reproductive tract leiomyomas develop spontaneously with high frequency. The present studies describe the estrogen and antiestrogen responsiveness of an Eker rat leiomyoma-derived cell line in vitro and a nude mouse xenograft system in vivo. In this cell line, estradiol stimulated growth in estrogen-depleted medium, whereas the nonsteroidal antiestrogen tamoxifen maximally inhibited cell proliferation in medium containing 10% charcoal-stripped serum. Proliferation was also decreased by the biologically active tamoxifen metabolite 4-hydroxytamoxifen; the metabolite was more effective than the parent compound in exerting this growth inhibition. Compared to placebo-treated controls, estradiol increased the size of tumors that developed in a nude mouse xenograft system, whereas tamoxifen increased tumor latency and decreased tumor size. This study of leiomyoma cells in a well defined system suggests that antiestrogens may prove efficacious in the treatment of this clinically important neoplasm.

Topology of prostaglandin H synthase-1 in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane

Prostaglandin H synthase-1 is an integral endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein which catalyzes a key control step in prostaglandin biosynthesis. The overall arrangement of the prostaglandin H synthase-1 polypeptide with respect to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane was examined in transiently transfected COS-1 cells, using immunofluorescence microscopy. A bacterial toxin, streptolysin-O, was used for selective plasma membrane permeabilization and a detergent, saponin, for general membrane permeabilization. Treated cells were probed with six antibodies specific for particular prostaglandin H synthase-1 peptide segments and one antibody specific for an inserted viral reporter epitope. Control experiments established that actin, a cytoplasmic marker, was accessible to fluorescein-labeled phalloidin after streptolysin-O treatment, whereas antibodies against protein disulfide isomerase, an endoplasmic reticulum lumenal marker, bound only after saponin treatment, Using this approach to investigate prostaglandin H synthase-1, it was found that streptolysin-O treatment was sufficient to obtain staining of intracellular membranes by antibodies specific for the endogenous C-terminal segment, for the viral reporter inserted at the C-terminus, and for the protease-sensitive region near arg277. In contrast, saponin treatment was necessary for staining by antibodies specific for peptides spanning residues 51-66, 156-170, and 377-390. Antibodies targeted against residues 483-496 did not stain transfected cells even after saponin permeabilization, although they did bind to detergent-solubilized prostaglandin H synthase-1. These results indicate that the C-terminus and arg277 regions of the synthase can be exposed on the cytoplasmic side of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, whereas regions near N-glycosylation sites are confined to the endoplasmic reticulum lumen and residues 483-496 are inaccessible from either side of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.

Analysis of feline dual lymphocyte populations observed by flow cytometry

Two discrete lymphocyte populations were observed commonly on flow cytometric analysis (FCM) of feline lymphocyte subsets. The identity of these populations as small and large lymphocytes was established by correlating data from FCM with that from peripheral blood films. Dual lymphocyte populations were more likely to be seen in feline immunodeficiency virus-positive (FIV(-)+ ve) cats but their occurrence was not affected by health status, age, gender or breed. FIV(-)+ ve cats had a significantly higher proportion of large lymphocytes than FIV-negative (FIV(-)- ve) cats. However, FIV(-)+ ve cats had significantly fewer small lymphocytes than FIV(-)- ve cats but similar numbers of large lymphocytes. Lymphocyte subset analysis revealed that small lymphocytes had a greater proportion of CD4+ cells than large lymphocytes, regardless of the FIV or health status of the cat. In FIV(-)- ve cats, small lymphocytes had a greater proportion of Pan T + lymphocytes than large lymphocytes, but the converse was seen in FIV(-)+ ve cats. The proportion of CD8 + cells was higher in small lymphocytes than large lymphocytes in well FIV(-)- ve cats but this distinction was not seen in sick FIV(-)- ve cats or FIV(-)+ ve cats of any health status. Regardless of health status, FIV(-)+ ve cats had a lower absolute count of small lymphocytes which were T cells (due to lower numbers of both CD4 + and CD8 + cells) than FIV(-)- ve cats. The numbers of small B cells were similar for both FIV(-)+ ve and FIV(-)- ve cats. However, there were no differences between FIV(-)+ ve and FIV(-)- ve cats in the absolute values of any subset of the large lymphocytes, which suggested that FIV may affect only small lymphocytes. Statistically, the inclusion or exclusion of the large lymphocyte population for routine lymphocyte subset analysis did not affect the overall results. However, because there were significant differences in subset distribution between small and large lymphocytes, analysis of both groups should be included in studies examining the role of lymphocytes in disease.

Cloning and characterization of murine p16INK4a and p15INK4b genes

Progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle is regulated in part by the D-type cyclin-dependent kinases, cdk4 and cdk6. Genes encoding two specific inhibitors of these kinases, human p16(INK4a/MTS1) and p15(INK4b/MTS2), map to a region of common cytogenetic abnormalities on chromosome 9p21. The murine cognates of these genes were isolated and identified as mouse p16INK4a and p15INK4b based on their homology to their human counterparts and their selective transcriptional induction by SV40T-antigen and TGF-beta, respectively. Both genes map to position C3-C6 on mouse chromosome 4, in a region syntenic with human chromosome 9p. Amplification of polyadenylated mRNA by polymerase chain reactions revealed no expression of mouse p16INK4a in many normal tissues, whereas p15INK4b was expressed ubiquitously. Like human p16INK4a, mouse p16INK4a binds specifically to cdk4 and cdk6 in vitro and inhibits the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein, pRb, by each of these cyclin D-dependent kinases. In mouse MEL erythroleukemia cells, p16INK4a associates preferentially with cdk6 under conditions where cdk4 and cdk6 are coexpressed at equivalent levels. Expression vectors encoding human or mouse p16INK4a caused G1 phase arrest in NIH3T3 fibroblasts, and cyclin D1- and cdk4-dependent pRb kinase activities were inhibited in the p16INK4a-arrested cells.

Expression of the BCL-2 protein in normal and dysplastic bronchial epithelium and in lung carcinomas

Although expression of the bcl-2 protein has been investigated in a number of non-haematological malignancies, little is known of its distribution in premalignant lesions. Expression of bcl-2 was investigated immunohistochemically in archival biopsies of normal (n = 8) and dysplastic bronchial epithelium (n = 56) and in 31 bronchial resection margins and their corresponding carcinomas. All dysplasias had lost the prominent basal staining pattern seen in histologically normal epithelium. Two were negative and six had occasional basal positive cells. In 37 cases up to 66% of the epithelial cells throughout the full epithelial thickness were bcl-2 positive with weak to moderate staining intensity. In 11 cases, all severe dysplasias, strong expression was observed in > 90% of the epithelial cells. Four patterns of bcl-2 expression in dysplasias were identified and an increasingly aberrant pattern of bcl-2 expression correlated with an increasing grade of dysplasia (Spearman's rank correlation, P < or = 0.0001). Sixty-five per cent of the carcinomas contained bcl-2-positive cells. Patients with non-small-cell lung carcinomas (n = 27) in which > 50% of the tumour cells were bcl-2 positive showed a survival advantage compared with those with 0-25% bcl-2-positive cells (P = 0.02). No correlation was found between p53 expression (Walker et al., 1994) and bcl-2 expression in dysplasias or carcinomas.

Rodent model of reproductive tract leiomyomata. Establishment and characterization of tumor-derived cell lines

Uterine myometrial tumors are the most commonly found gynecological neoplasm in women. The underlying causes of uterine leiomyomata are poorly understood, a result in part of the absence of a good animal model system in which to study these tumors. This report describes a novel rat model (Eker rat) in which spontaneous gynecological smooth muscle tumors arise with a high frequency. Leiomyomas are the predominant reproductive tract tumor that arise in these animals, although leiomyosarcomas have also been observed. Cell lines have been established from both the benign and malignant lesions. All of the lines express smooth muscle-specific actin, and leiomyoma-derived cell lines express desmin. Two of the cell lines are tumorigenic in nude mice, and the lines are variable for expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors. These lines are the first rodent tumor-derived lines to be established from leiomyomata and are the only lines available from a hereditary form of these tumors. Together with Eker rats that spontaneously develop leiomyomata, they constitute an in vitro/in vivo model system for gaining insights into the mechanism of transformation of uterine smooth muscle cells and the role of steroid hormones and hormone receptors in myometrial tumorigenesis.

A nuclear factor of activated T cell-like transcription factor in mast cells is involved in IL-5 gene regulation after IgE plus antigen stimulation

IL-5, which is produced mainly by activated T cells and allergically triggered mast cells, is a major survival and differentiation factor for eosinophils, and therefore, is of relevance to diseases associated with this type of cell infiltration, most importantly asthma. In this study, we have examined the transcriptional regulation of human IL-5 in a mouse mast cell line, CPII, stimulated with IgE and Ag. We report that an inducible activity in the region between -177 and -80, and a constitutive activity between -80 and -70, in the promoter of the human gene, are both necessary for the allergically triggered activation. A computer-assisted search for transcription factor binding motifs revealed a nuclear factor of activated T cell (NF-AT) and a GATA consensus site in the two regions. Corresponding binding activities were detected to be present in nuclear extracts from the mouse mast cell line by defined NF-AT and GATA binding sites as probes for a gel shift analysis. Competition analysis, in combination with probes from the human IL-5 promoter, confirmed that these factors indeed bind to the consensus sequences identified by computer analysis. An oligonucleotide spanning the IL-5 NF-AT consensus site is shown to confer allergic stimulation to a basal IL-5 promoter only in conjunction with the GATA site downstream, indicating that an inducible NF-AT-like factor cooperates with a constitutive member of the GATA transcription factor family in mediating the allergic stimulation of the human IL-5 gene.

Rodent model of reproductive tract leiomyomata. Clinical and pathological features

Mesenchymal tumors of the lower reproductive tract of women are poorly understood at the molecular level as a result in part of the lack of relevant animal models. The present study describes a novel model of gynecological smooth muscle tumors in which these neoplasms arise in Eker rats as part of a familial cancer syndrome. The tumors develop as a result of a germline mutation in the tuberous sclerosis 2 (TSC2) gene, and predisposition to tumor development is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. Uterine and/or cervical tumors arise spontaneously as single or multicentric neoplasms and increase in incidence with increasing age. The tumors were classified into three phenotypic variants of leiomyoma/leiomyosarcoma and into stromal cervicovaginal tumors on the basis of cytological and histological features and immunostaining patterns for smooth muscle actin and desmin. Tumors histologically identical to the typical human myometrial leiomyoma arose, as did a subset of atypical leiomyomas having an epithelioid phenotype. Eker rats were found to develop both benign and malignant smooth muscle tumors. The high spontaneous incidence of smooth muscle tumors of uterus and cervix in this rodent model provides a unique opportunity to study the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of these clinically important gynecological neoplasms.

A nuclear factor of activated T cell-like transcription factor in mast cells is involved in IL-5 gene regulation after IgE plus antigen stimulation

IL-5, which is produced mainly by activated T cells and allergically triggered mast cells, is a major survival and differentiation factor for eosinophils, and therefore, is of relevance to diseases associated with this type of cell infiltration, most importantly asthma. In this study, we have examined the transcriptional regulation of human IL-5 in a mouse mast cell line, CPII, stimulated with IgE and Ag. We report that an inducible activity in the region between -177 and -80, and a constitutive activity between -80 and -70, in the promoter of the human gene, are both necessary for the allergically triggered activation. A computer-assisted search for transcription factor binding motifs revealed a nuclear factor of activated T cell (NF-AT) and a GATA consensus site in the two regions. Corresponding binding activities were detected to be present in nuclear extracts from the mouse mast cell line by defined NF-AT and GATA binding sites as probes for a gel shift analysis. Competition analysis, in combination with probes from the human IL-5 promoter, confirmed that these factors indeed bind to the consensus sequences identified by computer analysis. An oligonucleotide spanning the IL-5 NF-AT consensus site is shown to confer allergic stimulation to a basal IL-5 promoter only in conjunction with the GATA site downstream, indicating that an inducible NF-AT-like factor cooperates with a constitutive member of the GATA transcription factor family in mediating the allergic stimulation of the human IL-5 gene.

Oxytocin activates the postpartum onset of rat maternal behavior in the ventral tegmental and medial preoptic areas

Oxytocin binding (Bmax) was found to be higher in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the medial preoptic area (MPOA) at midparturition compared with Pregnancy Days 15-17 or Postpartum Days 5-7 in rat dams. Pup retrieval and assuming a nursing posture over pups were blocked in parturient dams by infusions of an oxytocin antagonist into the VTA or MPOA and by infusions of a vasopressin (V1) antagonist into the MPOA. These results implicate oxytocin in the VTA and MPOA and vasopressin in the MPOA, as well as a parturition-associated rise in oxytocin binding in these sites in the postpartum activation of maternal behavior.

T cells and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after segmental allergen provocation in atopic asthma

Increasing evidence suggests a role for activated T cells and cytokines in the regulation of eosinophilic inflammation in asthma. In this study, we investigated the distribution of leukocytes, lymphocytes, their activation state, and the cytokine profile in BAL from 10 atopic asthmatics with positive skin prick tests and elevated specific IgE levels to birch or grass pollen. Using segmental allergen challenge, 250 PNU of the appropriate allergen or saline were instilled into different segments, which were lavaged 10 min (10 min) and 18 h (18 h) after allergen challenge or 18 h after saline challenge (C). In peripheral blood the number of neutrophils and activated IL-2R+/CD4+ T cells increased significantly 18 h after allergen provocation; there was no change in eosinophils, other leukocytes, or lymphocyte subsets. In contrast, numbers of eosinophils, neutrophils, and IL-2R+/CD4+ T cells increased significantly in BAL samples at 18 h. The numbers of neutrophils and eosinophils were not significantly different in the lavage performed at 10 min and at C. Analysis of cytokines in concentrated BAL fluid revealed significantly increased levels of IL-5, IL-2, IL-1, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, and GM-CSF, but not of IL-4 and IFN-gamma at 18 h compared with those at C and at 10 min. The correlation between IL-5 levels, eosinophil numbers, and activated T cells supports a role for T-cell-derived IL-5 in causing tissue eosinophilia in allergic asthma.

p53 status in spontaneous and dimethylnitrosamine-induced renal cell tumors from rats

Rats carrying the Eker tumor-susceptibility mutation (Eker rats) are predisposed to developing renal cell carcinoma. Rats heterozygous for the Eker mutation develop spontaneous multiple bilateral renal cell tumors by the age of 1 yr. In a previous study, Eker-mutation carrier and noncarrier rats were exposed to the renal carcinogen dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), and male rats carrying the Eker mutation exhibited a 70-fold increase in the induction of renal adenomas and carcinomas when compared with noncarrier rats. In this study, spontaneous and DMN-induced rat renal cell tumors (adenomas and carcinomas) were analyzed for mutations of the p53 gene by direct sequencing of cDNA polymerase chain reaction products. There were no mutations in p53 cDNA derived from renal tumors from six untreated rats. Mutations were found in one of 15 of the DMN-induced tumors: a transition at codon 140, CCT-->CTT, in a renal adenoma. Additionally, seven cell lines derived from spontaneous renal cell tumors did not contain mutations in p53. The low frequency of p53 mutations (one of 21 renal cell tumors and none of seven cell lines derived from renal cell tumors) indicates that the development of both spontaneous and carcinogen-induced renal tumors involved a non-p53-dependent pathway. As p53 is infrequently mutated in human renal cell carcinomas and in rat renal mesenchymal tumors, it is likely that a tumor suppressor gene or genes other than p53 are involved in the development of renal cancer.

Changes in expression of neural cell-adhesion molecule ard desmoplakin associated with phenotypic transitions in cloned cell-lines from a nonsmall cell lung-carcinoma

1 PT and 1 PT variant A clonal cell lines, both derived from the same neuroendocrine positive, undifferentiated large cell lung carcinoma, showed differences in their morphology, DNA content, presence of desmosomes and expression of NCAM and desmoplakin. Colonies of cells which morphologically resembled 1 PT variant A cells arose in cultures of the 1 PT clonal line following prolonged cultivation. Such transitions in cloned cells of NSCLC origin have not previously been reported. This transition was associated with increased expression of desmoplakin and downregulation of NCAM. A converse transition of 1 PT variant A cells to 1 PT-like cells could not be demonstrated.

When to wean: whose advice do mothers find helpful?

A survey of the weaning practice of first-time mothers shows that the health visitor is the most used and useful source of advice, but infant behaviour remains the main influence on parents' practice. Caroline Walker suggests that official guidelines may be too rigid to reflect the diversity of individual infant's needs as experienced by their carers, and that a more flexible approach may be needed if professionals' credibility is not to suffer.

Analysis of leucocytes and lymphocyte subsets in cats with naturally-occurring cryptococcosis but differing feline immunodeficiency virus status

Although cryptococcosis is a well-characterised disease of cats, the factors predisposing individuals to infection are unknown. As an indication of the immune status of an individual, lymphocyte subsets can be analysed. Reference ranges for feline lymphocyte subsets (Pan T+, CD4+, CD8+ and B cells) were established using a rapid whole blood technique and flow cytometry. There were no effects of age or sex on lymphocyte subset values. The numbers of circulating leucocytes and lymphocyte subsets were determined in FIV-positive and FIV-negative cats with cryptococcosis and compared with a group of healthy control cats. There were only minor differences in the numbers of lymphocyte subsets among the subgroups of cats examined in the study and the predisposition to cryptococcosis in cats could not be explained by deficiencies in lymphocyte subsets. There was a tendency for FIV-negative cats with cryptococcosis to have reduced numbers of circulating CD4+ cells and lower CD4:CD8 ratios compared with normal cats, although the interpretation of this finding was complicated by the wide reference range for normal cats. The extent to which this is the cause of the fungal infection was not determined. The only difference in leucocyte or lymphocytes subset values between FIV-negative cats with cryptococcosis and FIV-positive cats with cryptococcosis was that the CD4+ percentage was lower in the FIV-positive cats. The absolute CD4+ count was similar however, in FIV-positive and FIV-negative cryptococcosis cases. On the basis of this and other available information, the categorisation of cryptococcosis as a disease defining the AIDS phase of FIV infection may be incorrect.

Autocrine growth stimulation by transforming growth factor alpha in asbestos-transformed rat mesothelial cells

Although the association between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma development has been established for decades, very little is known regarding the molecular mechanism(s) by which asbestos fibers induce this disease. In this series of experiments, the potential for transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) to act as an autocrine growth factor in transformed mesothelial cells was examined in rats, a model system frequently used to assess the tumorigenic potential of fibrous particulates. Both asbestos-transformed cells and spontaneously transformed cells expressed functional EGF receptors, although only the asbestos-transformed cells expressed TGF-alpha. Expression of TGF-alpha transcripts was correlated with secretion of picogram amounts of growth factor into conditioned medium by the asbestos-transformed cells. In addition, whereas TGF-alpha inhibited the growth of spontaneously transformed mesothelial cells, it stimulated the growth of asbestos-transformed cells. Neutralizing antibody that recognized TGF-alpha secreted by the asbestos-transformed cells was able to inhibit the growth of these cells. Taken together, these data indicate that TGF-alpha acts as an autocrine growth factor for asbestos-transformed rat mesothelial cells. Therefore, in asbestos-transformed mesothelial cells, altered production and responsiveness to TGF-alpha distinguish these cells from spontaneously transformed mesothelial cells. These data suggest that differences in mesothelioma etiology may be reflected in differences in the molecular alterations present in these tumors.