PDGF and TGF-β partially prevent 2-deoxy-d-ribose-induced apoptosis in the fat body cell line IPLB-LdFB from the insect Lymantria dispar

The IPLB-LdFB cell line from the fat body of the insect Lymantria dispar shows the presence of immunoreactive, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 molecules, as well as the corresponding plasma membrane-like receptors, i.e. PDGFR-α, PDGFR-β and TGFR-β type II. Cytofluorimetric and morphological studies reveal that the reducing sugar 2-deoxy-d-ribose (dRib), an apoptotic agent for human cells, induces apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent manner even in IPLB-LdFB cells. PDGF-AB and TGF-β1 partially counteract the effect of dRib, indicating a survival role of these factors in this apoptotic model of insect cells.