FhTLM binds to and initiates mammalian host signalling pathways.

<p>(A) FhTLM was used to stimulate the TGF-β responsive cell line at the indicated doses. Relative light units (RLU) were converted to equivalent TGF-B concentration by comparison with a TGF-β standard curve. (B) This activity was inhibited by polyclonal serum raised against TGF-β. Plate-bound FhTLM was detected using the recombinant fusion proteins (C) bovine TGF-B R1-Fc and (D) bovine TGF-B RII-Fc. Results are reported as optical densities (OD) at 450nm. (E) Avidity of receptor-FhTLM interactions were measured using KSCN and presented as OD as a function of increasing KSCN molarity. (F) and (G) FhTLM and TGF-β, respectively, were used to coat ELISA plates (400ng/mL) overnight. Thereafter TGF-β1 and FhTLM were used in increasing concentrations shown to block the interaction of TGF-βRI-Fc or TGF-βRII-Fc. Data presented are means +/- SD of triplicates, experiments were repeated three times with similar results.