Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is one of the most important cytokines implicated in growth, differentiation, repair and also the pathogenesis of the lung fibrosis by its stimulatory effect on extracellular matrix deposition. Pulmonary epithelial cells are considered as a source of TGF-beta in lung. Substance P (SP), as a neuroimmunomodulator has elevated levels in inflamed airways a...

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is a cytokine engaged in a wide range of diverse and often contradictory functions. Its effect on the cardiovascular system is also ambiguous; on the one hand, there is a strong evidence for so-called 'protective cytokine hypothesis'considering TGF-beta to be an anti-atherogenic and plaque-stabilizing factor, but on the other hand, TGF-beta has been pr...

To investigate the mechanisms underlying contraction of the stomach wall in cases of gastric scirrhous carcinoma, we have developed an in vitro model for gastric cancer, in which both fibroblasts and gastric carcinoma cells are embedded within a collagen matrix. Gastric carcinoma cells of the scirrhous type (KATO-III) but not the nonscirrhous type (MKN-28) markedly enhanced the ability of human...

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta) can be tumor suppressive, but it can also enhance tumor progression by stimulating the complex process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transdifferentiaion (EMT). The signaling pathway(s) that regulate EMT in response to TGF-beta are not well understood. We demonstrate the acquisition of a fibroblastoid morphology, increased N-cadherin expression, loss of...

Retinoic acid (RA)-treated HL-60 cells were used as a model to study differentiation of granulocytic leukemias. RA induces these cells to mature into granulocytes and to decrease growth. Mediators of these RA effects have not been identified definitively, but transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been implicated in regulating proliferation and differentiation of myelogenous leukemic ce...

Mouse liver stem cell (oval cell) lines were investigated in order to determine the role which two families of growth and differentiation factors (GDFs), epidermal growth factor (EGF) family and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) family, play in liver regeneration. EGF family members, including EGF, amphiregulin, betacellulin, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor, and TGF-alpha, were...

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) inhibits pancreatic acinar cell growth. In many cell types, TGF-beta mediates its growth inhibitory effects by activation of Smad proteins. Recently, it has been reported that Smad proteins may interact with the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathways. In this study, we report on the interactions between the TGF-beta and MAP kinase si...

To address the role of transforming growth factor (TGF) beta in the progression of established tumors while avoiding the confounding inhibitory effects of TGF-beta on early transformation, we generated doxycycline (DOX)-inducible triple transgenic mice in which active TGF-beta1 expression could be conditionally regulated in mouse mammary tumor cells transformed by the polyomavirus middle T anti...