Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 3, 2026

Spheroid Assay to Measure TGF-β-induced Invasion
09:18

Spheroid Assay to Measure TGF-β-induced Invasion

Published on: November 16, 2011

Transforming growth factor-beta and the immune system

F W Ruscetti1, M A Palladino

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Immunoregulation, NCI-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, MD 21702-1201.

Progress in Growth Factor Research
|January 1, 1991
PubMed

It is now apparent that the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) family of proteins has potent immunoregulatory properties ranging from effects on the growth and differentiation of primitive stem cells to the differentiated functions of immune effector cells. Although most reports have described the immunosuppressive activities of TGF-beta, recent evidence supports the concept that TGF-beta can have both inhibitory and stimulatory actions on these systems. Recently, it has been found that TGF-beta can have autocrine as well as paracrine effects on the immune system, indicating that immune cells can activate the inactive secreted form of TGF-beta. Furthermore, TGF-beta has differential intracellular effects on cell surface receptor modulation, tyrosine phosphorylation, and cytokine gene transcription as well as cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Importantly, the administration of TGF-beta has proven beneficial in several animal disease models such as septic shock, allograft rejection, and autoimmunity. Moreover, the increased levels of TGF-beta found in several disease states associated with immunosuppression such as different forms of malignancy, chronic degenerative diseases, and AIDS implicate the involvement of TGF-beta in the pathogenesis of some diseases. Ultimately, well designed clinical trials will determine whether the exciting potential of TGF-beta can be used to treat or prevent disease.

More Related Videos

A Novel Feeder-free System for Mass Production of Murine Natural Killer Cells In Vitro10:36

A Novel Feeder-free System for Mass Production of Murine Natural Killer Cells In Vitro

Published on: January 9, 2018

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells06:54

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells

Published on: October 27, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs01:15

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that  lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR  stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive  EGFR activation may...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors01:28

Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors

Hematopoietic growth factors are molecules that regulate the differentiation rate of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Erythropoietin (EPO), primarily produced by the kidneys, plays a crucial role in erythrocyte production. When oxygen levels in the blood are low, EPO is released into the bloodstream, reaching the bone marrow, where it stimulates HSCs to differentiate and mature into erythrocytes, which are vital for oxygen transport.
Thrombopoietin (TPO), mainly released by the liver,...
T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...