Biomaterial Database

Modulation of the immune response by transforming growth factor beta. 1992

A Fontana, and D B Constam, and K Frei, and U Malipiero, and H W Pfister

Section of Clinical Immunology, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.

For the past several years immunologists have been fascinated by a series of experiments showing that transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) suppresses T- and B-lymphocyte growth as well as IgM and IgG production by B cells. Moreover, while exerting chemotactic activity on monocytes and inducing expression of interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 by these cells, TGF beta interferes with bacterially induced tumor necrosis factor alpha production, oxygen radical formation and the adhesiveness of granulocytes to endothelial cells. These mechanisms may provide the basis for the effect of TGF beta to prevent the microvascular changes associated with brain edema formation in bacterial meningitis. Given the potential of lymphocytes as well as macrophages to produce TGF beta 1, this cytokine may exert negative feedback signals on the immune response, provided the cytokine is processed from its latent form to the bioactive homodimer. Potent effects of TGF beta have been observed in experimental animals including the inhibition of the generation of virus-specific cytotoxic T cells and antiviral antibodies as well as the diminution of cellular infiltrates with decreased major histocompatibility complex class-II expression and CD8+ T cells in the tissue of virally infected animals. TGF beta may also be of importance in tumor immunology. By the production of bioactive TGF beta as detected in glioblastoma and acute T-cell leukemia, tumor cells may induce an immunodeficiency state and escape immune surveillance. In inflammation, monitoring of TGF beta in the tissue will bring light on the immune regulation in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007136	Immunoglobulins	Multi-subunit proteins which function in IMMUNITY. They are produced by B LYMPHOCYTES from the IMMUNOGLOBULIN GENES. They are comprised of two heavy (IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAINS) and two light chains (IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAINS) with additional ancillary polypeptide chains depending on their isoforms. The variety of isoforms include monomeric or polymeric forms, and transmembrane forms (B-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTORS) or secreted forms (ANTIBODIES). They are divided by the amino acid sequence of their heavy chains into five classes (IMMUNOGLOBULIN A; IMMUNOGLOBULIN D; IMMUNOGLOBULIN E; IMMUNOGLOBULIN G; IMMUNOGLOBULIN M) and various subclasses.	Globulins, Immune,Immune Globulin,Immune Globulins,Immunoglobulin,Globulin, Immune
D007165	Immunosuppression Therapy	Deliberate prevention or diminution of the host's immune response. It may be nonspecific as in the administration of immunosuppressive agents (drugs or radiation) or by lymphocyte depletion or may be specific as in desensitization or the simultaneous administration of antigen and immunosuppressive drugs.	Antirejection Therapy,Immunosuppression,Immunosuppressive Therapy,Anti-Rejection Therapy,Therapy, Anti-Rejection,Therapy, Antirejection,Anti Rejection Therapy,Anti-Rejection Therapies,Antirejection Therapies,Immunosuppression Therapies,Immunosuppressions,Immunosuppressive Therapies,Therapies, Immunosuppression,Therapies, Immunosuppressive,Therapy, Immunosuppression,Therapy, Immunosuppressive
D008586	Meningitis, Pneumococcal	An acute purulent infection of the meninges and subarachnoid space caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, most prevalent in children and adults over the age of 60. This illness may be associated with OTITIS MEDIA; MASTOIDITIS; SINUSITIS; RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS; sickle cell disease (ANEMIA, SICKLE CELL); skull fractures; and other disorders. Clinical manifestations include FEVER; HEADACHE; neck stiffness; and somnolence followed by SEIZURES; focal neurologic deficits (notably DEAFNESS); and COMA. (From Miller et al., Merritt's Textbook of Neurology, 9th ed, p111)	Meningitis, Streptococcus pneumoniae,Experimental Pneumococcal Meningitis,Meningitis, Pneumococcal, Experimental,Meningitis, Pneumococcal, Penicillin-Resistant,Meningitis, Pneumococcal, Recurrent,Experimental Pneumococcal Meningitides,Meningitides, Streptococcus pneumoniae,Meningitis, Experimental Pneumococcal,Pneumococcal Meningitides,Pneumococcal Meningitides, Experimental,Pneumococcal Meningitis,Pneumococcal Meningitis, Experimental,Streptococcus pneumoniae Meningitides,Streptococcus pneumoniae Meningitis
D001932	Brain Neoplasms	Neoplasms of the intracranial components of the central nervous system, including the cerebral hemispheres, basal ganglia, hypothalamus, thalamus, brain stem, and cerebellum. Brain neoplasms are subdivided into primary (originating from brain tissue) and secondary (i.e., metastatic) forms. Primary neoplasms are subdivided into benign and malignant forms. In general, brain tumors may also be classified by age of onset, histologic type, or presenting location in the brain.	Brain Cancer,Brain Metastases,Brain Tumors,Cancer of Brain,Malignant Primary Brain Tumors,Neoplasms, Intracranial,Benign Neoplasms, Brain,Brain Neoplasm, Primary,Brain Neoplasms, Benign,Brain Neoplasms, Malignant,Brain Neoplasms, Malignant, Primary,Brain Neoplasms, Primary Malignant,Brain Tumor, Primary,Brain Tumor, Recurrent,Cancer of the Brain,Intracranial Neoplasms,Malignant Neoplasms, Brain,Malignant Primary Brain Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Brain,Neoplasms, Brain, Benign,Neoplasms, Brain, Malignant,Neoplasms, Brain, Primary,Primary Brain Neoplasms,Primary Malignant Brain Neoplasms,Primary Malignant Brain Tumors,Benign Brain Neoplasm,Benign Brain Neoplasms,Benign Neoplasm, Brain,Brain Benign Neoplasm,Brain Benign Neoplasms,Brain Cancers,Brain Malignant Neoplasm,Brain Malignant Neoplasms,Brain Metastase,Brain Neoplasm,Brain Neoplasm, Benign,Brain Neoplasm, Malignant,Brain Neoplasms, Primary,Brain Tumor,Brain Tumors, Recurrent,Cancer, Brain,Intracranial Neoplasm,Malignant Brain Neoplasm,Malignant Brain Neoplasms,Malignant Neoplasm, Brain,Neoplasm, Brain,Neoplasm, Intracranial,Primary Brain Neoplasm,Primary Brain Tumor,Primary Brain Tumors,Recurrent Brain Tumor,Recurrent Brain Tumors,Tumor, Brain
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001254	Astrocytoma	Neoplasms of the brain and spinal cord derived from glial cells which vary from histologically benign forms to highly anaplastic and malignant tumors. Fibrillary astrocytomas are the most common type and may be classified in order of increasing malignancy (grades I through IV). In the first two decades of life, astrocytomas tend to originate in the cerebellar hemispheres; in adults, they most frequently arise in the cerebrum and frequently undergo malignant transformation. (From Devita et al., Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 5th ed, pp2013-7; Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 3d ed, p1082)	Astrocytoma, Subependymal Giant Cell,Glioma, Astrocytic,Oligoastrocytoma, Mixed,Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytomas,Anaplastic Astrocytoma,Astrocytoma, Grade I,Astrocytoma, Grade II,Astrocytoma, Grade III,Astrocytoma, Protoplasmic,Astroglioma,Cerebral Astrocytoma,Childhood Cerebral Astrocytoma,Fibrillary Astrocytoma,Gemistocytic Astrocytoma,Intracranial Astrocytoma,Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma,Pilocytic Astrocytoma,Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma,Anaplastic Astrocytomas,Astrocytic Glioma,Astrocytic Gliomas,Astrocytoma, Anaplastic,Astrocytoma, Cerebral,Astrocytoma, Childhood Cerebral,Astrocytoma, Fibrillary,Astrocytoma, Gemistocytic,Astrocytoma, Intracranial,Astrocytoma, Juvenile Pilocytic,Astrocytoma, Pilocytic,Astrocytomas,Astrocytomas, Grade III,Astrogliomas,Cerebral Astrocytoma, Childhood,Cerebral Astrocytomas,Childhood Cerebral Astrocytomas,Fibrillary Astrocytomas,Gemistocytic Astrocytomas,Gliomas, Astrocytic,Grade I Astrocytoma,Grade I Astrocytomas,Grade II Astrocytoma,Grade II Astrocytomas,Grade III Astrocytoma,Grade III Astrocytomas,Intracranial Astrocytomas,Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytomas,Mixed Oligoastrocytoma,Mixed Oligoastrocytomas,Pilocytic Astrocytoma, Juvenile,Pilocytic Astrocytomas,Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma,Protoplasmic Astrocytoma,Protoplasmic Astrocytomas,Xanthoastrocytoma, Pleomorphic
D001402	B-Lymphocytes	Lymphoid cells concerned with humoral immunity. They are short-lived cells resembling bursa-derived lymphocytes of birds in their production of immunoglobulin upon appropriate stimulation.	B-Cells, Lymphocyte,B-Lymphocyte,Bursa-Dependent Lymphocytes,B Cells, Lymphocyte,B Lymphocyte,B Lymphocytes,B-Cell, Lymphocyte,Bursa Dependent Lymphocytes,Bursa-Dependent Lymphocyte,Lymphocyte B-Cell,Lymphocyte B-Cells,Lymphocyte, Bursa-Dependent,Lymphocytes, Bursa-Dependent
D013601	T-Lymphocytes	Lymphocytes responsible for cell-mediated immunity. Two types have been identified - cytotoxic (T-LYMPHOCYTES, CYTOTOXIC) and helper T-lymphocytes (T-LYMPHOCYTES, HELPER-INDUCER). They are formed when lymphocytes circulate through the THYMUS GLAND and differentiate to thymocytes. When exposed to an antigen, they divide rapidly and produce large numbers of new T cells sensitized to that antigen.	T Cell,T Lymphocyte,T-Cells,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocytes,Cell, T,Cells, T,Lymphocyte, T,Lymphocyte, Thymus-Dependent,Lymphocytes, T,Lymphocytes, Thymus-Dependent,T Cells,T Lymphocytes,T-Cell,T-Lymphocyte,Thymus Dependent Lymphocytes,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocyte
D015551	Autoimmunity	Process whereby the immune system reacts against the body's own tissues. Autoimmunity may produce or be caused by AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES.	Autoimmune Response,Autoimmune Responses,Autoimmunities