The effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on collagen biosynthesis was investigated in confluent primary monolayer cultures of rabbit articular chondrocytes (RAC). Exposure to TGF-beta (0.1, 1, and 10 ng/ml) in serum-free medium caused a dose- and time-dependent stimulation of collagen biosynthesis associated with an increase of steady-state levels of procollagen type II mRNA. Elevation of the mRNA steady-state did not result from a stabilization of the transcript, as shown by measure of the mRNA half-life. Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that TGF-beta stimulates the synthesis of most collagen isotypes, including type II, without qualitative change in their distribution. Moreover, pulse-chase experiments revealed that TGF-beta did not affect the processing rate of type II procollagen. TGF-beta slightly stimulated the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which could in turn exert an inhibition on collagen synthesis. However, addition of indomethacin to block prostaglandin synthesis did not further enhance the TGF-beta-induced stimulation of collagen production, suggesting that this mediator was not implicated in the effect. Moreover, TGF-beta increased steady-state levels of procollagen type II, I, and III mRNAs even in the presence of indomethacin. Despite these increased mRNA levels, only the production of type II collagen was significantly augmented, suggesting that type I procollagen mRNA was not fully translated. In addition, the TGF-beta-induced stimulation of collagen synthesis was observed whenever ascorbic acid is added or not in the culture medium. In conclusion, TGF-beta, which is present in great amount in bone and cartilage, can increase the collagen production of cultured RAC and might therefore play a role in the early events of cartilage repair, such as those observed in osteoarthritis.