Biomaterial Database

Transforming growth factor-beta and the immune system. 1991

F W Ruscetti, and M A Palladino

Laboratory of Molecular Immunoregulation, NCI-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, MD 21702-1201.

It is now apparent that the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) family of proteins has potent immunoregulatory properties ranging from effects on the growth and differentiation of primitive stem cells to the differentiated functions of immune effector cells. Although most reports have described the immunosuppressive activities of TGF-beta, recent evidence supports the concept that TGF-beta can have both inhibitory and stimulatory actions on these systems. Recently, it has been found that TGF-beta can have autocrine as well as paracrine effects on the immune system, indicating that immune cells can activate the inactive secreted form of TGF-beta. Furthermore, TGF-beta has differential intracellular effects on cell surface receptor modulation, tyrosine phosphorylation, and cytokine gene transcription as well as cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Importantly, the administration of TGF-beta has proven beneficial in several animal disease models such as septic shock, allograft rejection, and autoimmunity. Moreover, the increased levels of TGF-beta found in several disease states associated with immunosuppression such as different forms of malignancy, chronic degenerative diseases, and AIDS implicate the involvement of TGF-beta in the pathogenesis of some diseases. Ultimately, well designed clinical trials will determine whether the exciting potential of TGF-beta can be used to treat or prevent disease.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007108	Immune Tolerance	The specific failure of a normally responsive individual to make an immune response to a known antigen. It results from previous contact with the antigen by an immunologically immature individual (fetus or neonate) or by an adult exposed to extreme high-dose or low-dose antigen, or by exposure to radiation, antimetabolites, antilymphocytic serum, etc.	Immunosuppression (Physiology),Immunosuppressions (Physiology),Tolerance, Immune
D007109	Immunity	Nonsusceptibility to the invasive or pathogenic effects of foreign microorganisms or to the toxic effect of antigenic substances.	Immune Process,Immune Response,Immune Processes,Immune Responses,Process, Immune,Response, Immune
D007249	Inflammation	A pathological process characterized by injury or destruction of tissues caused by a variety of cytologic and chemical reactions. It is usually manifested by typical signs of pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function.	Innate Inflammatory Response,Inflammations,Inflammatory Response, Innate,Innate Inflammatory Responses
D008223	Lymphoma	A general term for various neoplastic diseases of the lymphoid tissue.	Germinoblastoma,Lymphoma, Malignant,Reticulolymphosarcoma,Sarcoma, Germinoblastic,Germinoblastic Sarcoma,Germinoblastic Sarcomas,Germinoblastomas,Lymphomas,Lymphomas, Malignant,Malignant Lymphoma,Malignant Lymphomas,Reticulolymphosarcomas,Sarcomas, Germinoblastic
D009369	Neoplasms	New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms.	Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D011956	Receptors, Cell Surface	Cell surface proteins that bind signalling molecules external to the cell with high affinity and convert this extracellular event into one or more intracellular signals that alter the behavior of the target cell (From Alberts, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2nd ed, pp693-5). Cell surface receptors, unlike enzymes, do not chemically alter their ligands.	Cell Surface Receptor,Cell Surface Receptors,Hormone Receptors, Cell Surface,Receptors, Endogenous Substances,Cell Surface Hormone Receptors,Endogenous Substances Receptors,Receptor, Cell Surface,Surface Receptor, Cell
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
D012192	Retroviridae Infections	Virus diseases caused by the RETROVIRIDAE.	Retrovirus Infections,Infections, Retroviridae,Infections, Retrovirus,XMRV Infection,Xenotropic MuLV-related Virus Infection,Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-related Virus Infection,Infection, Retroviridae,Infection, Retrovirus,Infection, XMRV,Infections, XMRV,Retroviridae Infection,Retrovirus Infection,XMRV Infections,Xenotropic MuLV related Virus Infection,Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus related Virus Infection
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