Expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1-4 in the chick limb bud mesenchymal cells: regulation by...

When mesenchymal cells from the early chick limb bud (stage 23-24) are plated at high cell density they spontaneously undergo chondrogenesis, implicating extensive cell-to-cell interactions. In the past it has been shown that TGF-beta or 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 influences this process. In the present study we investigated the expression of TGF-beta isoforms in the mesenchymal cells after treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. We found that TGF-beta 2 was down-regulated due to the treatment. The size of the transcripts was the expected as described for sternum cartilage cells but with differential use preference.