The name "Transforming Growth Factor" is somewhat arbitrary, since the two classes of TGFs are not structurally or genetically related to one another, and they act through different
receptormechanisms. Furthermore, they do not always induce cellular transformation, and are not the only growth factors that induce cellular transformation.
These proteins were originally characterized by their capacity to induce
oncogenictransformation in a specific
cell culture system, rat kidney fibroblasts. Application of the transforming growth factors to normal
ratkidneyfibroblasts induces the cultured cells to proliferate and overgrow, no longer subject to the normal inhibition caused by contact between cells.[6][7]
The name "Transforming Growth Factor" is somewhat arbitrary, since the two classes of TGFs are not structurally or genetically related to one another, and they act through different
receptormechanisms. Furthermore, they do not always induce cellular transformation, and are not the only growth factors that induce cellular transformation.
These proteins were originally characterized by their capacity to induce
oncogenictransformation in a specific
cell culture system, rat kidney fibroblasts. Application of the transforming growth factors to normal
ratkidneyfibroblasts induces the cultured cells to proliferate and overgrow, no longer subject to the normal inhibition caused by contact between cells.[6][7]