Transforming growth factor-beta 1 and interleukin-1 beta stimulate LDL receptor activity in Hep G2 cells

The effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) on LDL receptor in Hep G2 cells was investigated. A greater than two-fold stimulation of the binding and internalisation of [125I]-labelled LDL at 37 degrees C was observed after an 18-h incubation of the cells with TGF-beta 1 at 50 ng/ml and IL-1 beta at 11,700 units/ml compared with control cells. Scatchard analysis of the binding of [125I]-labelled LDL at 4 degrees C after an 18-h incubation of the cells with 1170 units/ml IL-1 beta and 5 ng/ml TGF-beta 1 showed that they were both acting primarily by increasing LDL receptor number. The increase in LDL receptor activity could not be attributed to an increase in cell proliferation as TGF-beta 1 at concentrations from 0.05 ng/ml to 50 ng/ml had no significant effect on either cell number or [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA whilst IL-1 beta inhibited DNA synthesis by more than 80% at a concentration of 11,700 units/ml but had significant effect on cell number. Cholesterol biosynthesis from [14C]acetate, in contrast to the stimulation of LDL receptor activity, was inhibited by approximately two-fold by incubation with TGF-beta 1 at 50 ng/ml and IL-1 beta at 11,700 units/ml.