TGF-BETA-1 MODULATES BFGF RECEPTOR MESSAGE EXPRESSION IN CULTURED ADULT AUDITORY NEURONS

BASIC fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been shown to have neuronotrophic effects on cultured neurons. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta-1) has been implicated in the modulation of cellular receptors for bFGF in several cell types. In this study, we show that TGF-beta-1 is expressed in cultured adult mouse auditory neurons in response to explantation injury and acts in an autocrine fashion to increase the level of expression of bFGF receptors message in these same neurons. Based on these in-vitro results, we propose that these trophic factors (i.e. TGF-beta-1 and bFGF) play a significant role in the response to injury by the mature auditory system.