Human milk contains substantial amounts of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, particularly the isoform TGF-β2. We previously showed in preclinical models that enterally administered TGF-β2 can protect against necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an inflammatory bowel necrosis of premature infants. In this study we hypothesized that premature infants remain at higher risk of NEC than full-term infa...

Researchers discovered a new cytokine with the capability to transform fibroblasts in 1983 while studying epidermal and platelet derived growth factors in rat fibroblasts. Originally called sarcoma growth factor, TGF┚ was first isolated from neoplastic mouse tissue by Moloney sarcoma virus (Assoian et al., 1983). After more than three decades TGF-┚ family comprise several members including – no...

Both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrate that transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) suppresses expression of the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In this study, we examined the effects of exogenous and endogenous TGF-beta1 on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and resident peritoneal macrophages ex vivo using cells from TGF-beta1 null (TGF-beta1-/-) mice or ag...

Introduction: Natural biomaterials and growth factors are key factors in tissue engineering. The objective of the present study was to evaluate transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and curcumin on proliferation and differentiation of nasal-derived chondrocyte seeded on the fibrin glue scaffold. Methods: Chondrocytes were isolated from nasal samples. Nasal-derived chon...

Background: Preeclampsia is a common pregnancy-specific disorder associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. It has been proposed that the imbalance between two CD4+ T cell subtypes, regulatory T cells (Treg) and T-helper 17 cells (Th17), is involved in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Objectives: To determine the serum levels of IL-17, IL-21, IL-23 and...

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate transcriptional activities of genes encoding transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta isoforms in bullous keratopathy corneas. METHODS The study group consisted of 45 patients with bullous keratopathy (22 females and 23 males). The control group included 45 corneal donors (21 females and 24 males). Quantification of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, and TGF-b...

The aim of this study was to determine the differential effects of latent and activated transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) in growth control of normal and proliferating hepatocytes in vivo. Rats were injected with adenoviruses expressing control transgenes (Ctrl), latent TGF-beta(1) [TGF-beta(L)], or activated TGF-beta(1) [TGF-beta(A)]. Additional animals underwent two-thirds partial hepa...

PURPOSE To assess whether the lacrimal gland is a possible site of synthesis of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and to characterize TGF-alpha biochemically in human tears. METHODS Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification was used to analyze rat lacrimal glands for the presence of TGF-alpha mRNA. Specific monoclonal antibodies were used to localize TG...

Background: Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in addition to the C-terminal region can phosphorylate receptor-regulated Smads (R-Smads) in their linker region. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of signaling mediators such as NAD(P)H oxidases (reactive oxygen species [ROS] generators), ROS, and ROS-sensitive p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) in this signaling ...