Molecules in focus Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)

Transforming growth factor β (CiTGF-β) gene expression is induced in the inflammatory reaction of Ciona intestinalis

“…TGF-bs are the prototype of the TGF-b superfamily (Massague, 1990). In mammals, three members of the TGF-b family (TGF-b1, -b2 and -b3) have been identified, with TGF-b1 being the predominant form expressed in the immune system (Massague, 1990;Lawrence, 1996;Clark and Coker, 1998). All the TGF-bs are synthesised as a precursor: the pre region contains a signal peptide, and pro-TGF-b is processed in the Golgi by a furin-like peptidase that removes the N terminus of the immature protein.…”

Transforming Growth Factor Beta in the Central Nervous System

“…precursor proteins are modified intracellularly prior to secretion. The C-terminal proregions are cleaved from the N-terminal portion of the protein and in the trans Golgi to provide mature TGF-β and the latency-associated protein (LAP) which remain noncovalently associated to form the small latent complex (Clark & Coker, 1998;Khalil, 1999). In turn, disulfide bridges bind the so-called latent TGF-β binding proteins (LTBPs) to this complex to result the TGF-β large latent complex, in which TGF-βs are present in the extracellular space (Koli et al, 2001;Saharinen et al, 1999).…”

Mechanisms of local immunosuppression in cutaneous melanoma

“…This cytokine can be produced by tumour cells, and can act in an autocrine and paracrine manner (Clark and Coker, 1998). Immune cells such as T lymphocytes and DCs have also been reported to secrete various isoforms of TGFb, and the presence of this cytokine promotes an immunosuppressive phenotype in both of these cell types (Chen and Wahl, 2003;Ghiringhelli et al, 2005).…”