Transforming growth factor (TGF)-. alpha. in human milk

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Life Sciences; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-3205(91)90452-H· OSTI ID:5962990

Okada, Masaki; Wakai, Kae; Shizume, Kazuo ^[1]; Iwashita, Mitsutoshi ^[2]; Ohmura, Eiji; Kamiya, Yoshinobu; Murakami, Hitomi; Onoda, Noritaka; Tsushima, Toshio

---

1. Research Institute for Growth Sciences, Tokyo (Japan)
2. Tokyo Women's Medical College (Japan)

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-{alpha} and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were measured in human milk by means of homologous radioimmunoassay. As previously reported, EGF concentration in the colostrum was approximately 200 ng/ml and decreased to 50 ng/ml by day 7 postpartum. The value of immunoreactive (IR)-TGF-{alpha} was 2.2-7.2 ng/ml, much lower than that of EGF. In contrast to EGF, the concentration of IR-TGF-{alpha} was fairly stable during the 7 postpartum days. There was no relationship between the concentrations of IR-TGF-{alpha} and IR-EGF, suggesting that the regulatory mechanism in the release of the two growth factors is different. On gel-chromatography using a Sephadex G-50 column, IR-EGF appeared in the fraction corresponding to that of authentic human EGF, while 70%-80% of the IR-TGF-{alpha} was eluted as a species with a molecular weight greater than that of authentic human TGF-{alpha}. Although the physiological role of TGF-{alpha} in milk is not known, it is possible that it is involved in the development of the mammary gland and/or the growth of newborn infants.

• OSTI ID: 5962990
• Journal Information: Life Sciences; (USA), Vol. 48:12; ISSN 0024-3205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
GROWTH FACTORS
RADIOIMMUNOASSAY
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
BIOSYNTHESIS
GEL PERMEATION CHROMATOGRAPHY
MAN
MILK
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
ANIMALS
BIOASSAY
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
FOOD
FUNCTIONS
IMMUNOASSAY
IMMUNOLOGY
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MITOGENS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
RADIOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNODETECTION
RADIOIMMUNOLOGY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SYNTHESIS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques