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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Tension Gauge Tether Probes for Quantifying Growth Factor Mediated Integrin Mechanics and Adhesion
Published on: February 11, 2022
TGF-beta activation by traction?
Jorma Keski-Oja1, Katri Koli, Harald von Melchner
1Departments of Virology and Pathology, the Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland. jorma.keski-oja@helsinki.fi
Abstract:
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-betas are powerful cytokines that are secreted as inactive (latent) precursors into the extracellular space. To exert their pleiotropic functions, latent TGF-betas require activation. This requisite restricts TGF-beta signaling to tissues that express TGF-beta-activating proteins such as the adhesion molecule alphavbeta6 integrin. Recent work has uncovered the molecular mechanism by which alphavbeta6 integrin activates latent TGF-beta. Latent-TGF-beta-binding protein 1 has been identified as being the major component of this process, and the integrin-interacting region has been mapped to a poorly conserved sequence stretch called the hinge region.
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