Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Iron Physiology and Its Impact on Atopic Diseases: An EAACI Taskforce Report.

Allergy·2026

Same author

Multidisciplinary Delphi Consensus on management of children with moderate-severe atopic dermatitis.

Italian journal of pediatrics·2026

Same author

Bronchiolitis and recurrent respiratory infections: The role of oxidative stress from early life inflammation to long-term outcomes - A narrative review.

The World Allergy Organization journal·2026

Same author

Early Diagnosis of Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis in Childhood: Shedding Light on Barriers and Opportunities.

Pediatric pulmonology·2025

Same author

Welcome to Asthma Neverland.

Pediatric pulmonology·2025

Same author

Allergic rhinitis management: a Delphi Consensus promoted by the Italian Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (SIAIP).

Italian journal of pediatrics·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

A Modified In vitro Invasion Assay to Determine the Potential Role of Hormones, Cytokines and/or Growth Factors in Mediating Cancer Cell Invasion

A Modified In vitro Invasion Assay to Determine the Potential Role of Hormones, Cytokines and/or Growth Factors in Mediating Cancer Cell Invasion

Published on: April 24, 2015

Transforming growth factor-beta is elevated in unpasteurized cow's milk.

Diego G Peroni¹, Giorgio L Piacentini, Alessandro Bodini

¹Pediatric Department, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. peroni.diego@tiscalinet.it

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology : Official Publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology

|January 22, 2009

Summary

Consuming raw, unpasteurized milk is linked to lower allergy rates. This protective effect may be due to the higher levels of transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) found in unpasteurized milk, a crucial cytokine for immune development.

More Related Videos

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation

Published on: February 15, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

A Modified In vitro Invasion Assay to Determine the Potential Role of Hormones, Cytokines and/or Growth Factors in Mediating Cancer Cell Invasion

A Modified In vitro Invasion Assay to Determine the Potential Role of Hormones, Cytokines and/or Growth Factors in Mediating Cancer Cell Invasion

Published on: April 24, 2015

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation

Published on: February 15, 2018

Area of Science:

Immunology
Food Science
Pediatric Allergy

Background:

Unpasteurized milk consumption has been anecdotally linked to reduced atopy prevalence.
Factors beyond microbial load, such as fatty acids and cytokines like transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), may influence this association.
Understanding the role of specific milk components is crucial for explaining protective effects against allergic disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify and compare the levels of transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) in various types of cow's milk.
To investigate the impact of processing methods (boiling, pasteurization, microfiltration) on TGF-beta(1) concentrations in milk.
To explore the potential role of TGF-beta(1) in the protective effect of unpasteurized milk against allergies.

Main Methods:

Quantification of TGF-beta(1) levels using specific assays.
Analysis of raw unpasteurized milk before and after boiling.
Comparison of TGF-beta(1) concentrations in commercial pasteurized, micro-filtrated milk, and infant formulas.

Main Results:

Raw unpasteurized cow's milk exhibited significantly higher TGF-beta(1) levels (642.0 pg/ml) compared to boiled (302.7 pg/ml), pasteurized (246.2 pg/ml), and micro-filtrated (213.0 pg/ml) milk.
Boiling, pasteurization, and microfiltration significantly reduced TGF-beta(1) concentrations in cow's milk (p < 0.05).
TGF-beta(1) levels in all tested infant formulas were below the assay's detection threshold.

Conclusions:

TGF-beta(1) levels are substantially diminished by heat treatments and filtration processes in cow's milk.
The higher TGF-beta(1) content in unpasteurized milk may play a role in immune system development, potentially influencing IgA production and oral tolerance.
Cytokine profiles, particularly TGF-beta(1), should be considered alongside microbial factors when investigating the protective effects of unpasteurized milk on allergic conditions.