The complex regulation of TGF-β in cardiovascular disease

• Published in: Vascular health and risk management 2012, Vol.8, p.533-539
• Main Authors: Redondo, Santiago, Navarro-Dorado, Jorge, Ramajo, Marta, Medina, Úrsula, Tejerina, Teresa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - genetics; Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - pathology; Cardiovascular System - metabolism; Cardiovascular System - pathology; Cellular signal transduction; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Physiological aspects; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta - metabolism; Review; Risk factors; Signal Transduction; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - genetics; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - metabolism; Transforming growth factors
• ISSN: 1178-2048; 1176-6344; 1178-2048
• DOI: 10.2147/VHRM.S28041

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β1) is a pleiotropic cytokine with many and complex effects in cell and tissue physiology. This is made possible by a very complex and interwoven signaling system, whose regulation continues to be the focus of a growing line of research. This complex regulation translates to a key role in cardiovascular physiology, hemostasis, and the blood-vessel interface. In accordance with this, the TGF-β1 pathway appears to be deregulated in related disorders, such as atherosclerotic vascular disease and myeloproliferative syndromes. It is expected that the growing amount of experimental and clinical research will yield medical advances in the applications of knowledge of the TGF-β1 pathway to diagnosis and therapeutics.