Review of the activation of TGF-beta in immunity

Andrew W Taylor1

  • 1Schepens Eye Research Institute, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. andrew.taylor@schepens.harvard.edu

Journal of Leukocyte Biology
|September 27, 2008
PubMed

The evolutionarily conserved TGF-beta proteins are distributed ubiquitously throughout the body and have a role in almost every biological process. In immunity, TGF-beta has an important role in modulating immunity. Much is understood about the process of TGF-beta production as a latent molecule and of the consequences and the intercellular signaling of active TGF-beta binding to its receptors; however, there is little discussed between the production and activation of TGF-beta. This review focuses on what is understood about the biochemical and physiological processes of TGF-beta activation and identifies the gaps in understanding immune cell activation of TGF-beta. A mechanistic understanding of the process activating TGF-beta can lead to regulating multiple biological systems by enhancing or inhibiting TGF-beta activation.

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