Potential of targeting TGF-β for organ transplant patients

Makio Iwashima1, Robert Love

  • 1Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA. miwashima@lumc.edu

TGF-β was originally considered as an immunoregulatory cytokine, but accumulating data demonstrate that it also plays a critical role in development of effector immunity. Since TGF- β has a potent ability to alter immune responses, modulation of the TGF-β pathway for treatment of transplantation patients could be effective if carried out in a target selective manner. This review will focus on the role of TGF-β in T cell differentiation and discuss the prospect of TGF-β as the therapeutic target of lung transplantation acceptance.

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