Transforming growth factor (TGF) .. is an evolutionarily conserved pleiotropic factor that\nregulates a myriad of biological processes including development, tissue regeneration, immune\nresponses, and tumorigenesis. TGF... is necessary for lung organogenesis and homeostasis as evidenced\nby genetically engineered mouse models. TGF... is crucial for epithelial-mesenchymal interactions\nduring lung branching morphogenesis and alveolarization. Expression and activation of the three TGF... ligand isoforms in the lungs are temporally and spatially regulated by multiple mechanisms. The lungs\nare structurally exposed to extrinsic stimuli and pathogens, and are susceptible to inflammation, allergic\nreactions, and carcinogenesis. Upregulation of TGF... ligands is observed in major pulmonary diseases,\nincluding pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema, bronchial asthma, and lung cancer... regulates\nmultiple cellular processes such as growth suppression of epithelial cells, alveolar epithelial cell\ndifferentiation, fibroblast activation, and extracellular matrix organization. These effects are closely\nassociated with tissue remodeling in pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. TGF... is also central to T\ncell homeostasis and is deeply involved in asthmatic airway inflammation. TGF... is the most potent\ninducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer cells and is pivotal to\nthe development of tumor-promoting microenvironment in the lung cancer tissue. This review\nsummarizes and integrates the current knowledge of TGF... relevant to lung health\nand disease.
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