Transforming growth factor-β enhances connective tissue growth factor expression in L6 rat skeletal myotubes

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β plays an important role in fibrosis of various organs and tissues. TGF-β1 stimulates fibroblastic cells to form extracellular matrix (ECM), and regulates all critical events in wound healing. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a TGF-β-inducible molecule, has recently been reported to promote fibroblast proliferation, migration, adhesion and extracellular matrix formation, both in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we demonstrated that TGF-β1 enhances CTGF mRNA and protein levels in L6 rat skeletal muscle myotubes. TGF-β might, therefore, play a role in fibrosis of skeletal muscle by stimulating CTGF expression in the muscle tissue itself.