Transforming growth factor ?-like activity in human hydrocele fluid

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Abstract
In this study transforming growth factorβ (TGF-β)-like activity in human hydrocele fluid was investigated. Inhibition of DNA synthesis of adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture and stimulation of colony formation of normal rat kidney (NRK) fibroblasts, clone 49F in soft agar were observed in all acidified hydrocele fluids and these activites were neutralized by the specific antibody raised against human native TGF-β. In samples obtained from recurrent cases of hydrocele, TGFβ-like activity was observed in its active form (without acidification). These results suggest that human hydrocele fluid contains TGFβ-like activity and that the active form of TGF-β in recurrent hydrocele fluid may be responsible for the recurrence of the disease even after repeated aspiration.