Abstract.
Transforming growth factor (TGF-β) is a multifunctional peptide growth factor that has an important role in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and repair in a variety of tissues. In mammals, the cytokine has three isoforms, TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3. TGF- β1 is up-regulated by Ang II and induction of TGF-β1 causes cardiac fibrosis. The stimulus that triggers the expression of TGF-β1 may be repeated causing continual injury, which is associated with an increase in the activity of Ang II in heart tissue. The interplay between Ang II and TGF-β1 causes continued activation that may result in chronic hypertension and progressive myocardial fibrosis, leading to heart failure. The regulation of TGF-β1 secretion and action involves complex transcriptional events. Overproduction of TGF-β1 underlies tissue fibrosis. Understanding the actions and signaling transduction of TGF-β could lead to the development of therapeutic options that may be effective in inhibiting myocardial fibrosis triggered by TGF-β1 in heart failure.
Keywords. Transforming growth factor-β, signaling pathways, heart tissues, therapeutic options
Footnotes
Received 26 February 2006; received after revision 10 June 2006; accepted 27 July 2006