TGF-beta 1 is a potential regulator of vaginal tropoelastin production.

Our aims were to correlate transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and elastin mRNA expression in the vagina of women and to measure the effects of TGF-β1 on vaginal smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and tropoelastin production. Vaginal walls were sampled in women (n = 20). TGF-β1 and elastin mRNA expression was assessed by RT-PCR. SMC cultures were performed from vaginal wall biopsies. SMC were incubated with TGF-β1, and cell proliferation was assessed by MTT-assay. Tropoelastin production was measured by the Fastin Elastin Assay. There was a significant positive correlation between TGF-β1 and elastin mRNA (r = 0.784, P < 0.01). SMC proliferation was significantly increased by 10 ng/mL TGF-β1 [relative cell number, mean ± SD, 198% ± 32% of control (P = 0.01)]. Tropoelastin production was significantly increased by TGF-β1 [mean ± SD, 645% ± 180% of control (P = 0.01)]. There is a positive correlation between TGF-β1 and elastin mRNA expression in the vaginal wall. In vitro, TGF-β1 increases vaginal tropoelastin production in vaginal SMC.