Clinical Applications of TGF-B : Symposium Proceedings

Clinical Applications of TGF-s Chairman: M.B. Sporn 1991 TGF-s, originally identified as a transforming growth factor, is now known to exist as a family of factors with similar properties.

These factors promote cell proliferation in some tissue types or conditions and induce cell differentiation in others.

This book contains the latest information on the molecular biology of this family and the cognate receptors.

TGF-s regulates the expression of components of the extracellular matrix, and thus cell adhesion and migration - processes that are particularly important during development and tumorigenesis.

TGF-s has an effect on many cell types, which means that it, or its antagonists, may have clinical applications in diseases of many different tissues.

It is already showing promise as a therapeutic agent in bone and wound healing.

Increased expression of TGF-s is associated with the fibrosis that occurs in chronic liver disease (TGF-s1) and in pulmonary fibrosis of the lung (TGF-s1 and 2).

Treatment with an anti-TGF-s1 antiserum attenuated the histological manifestations of disease in an experimental model of glomerulonephritis. In the haemopoietic system, TGF-s arrests the growth of the most primitive stem cells and could therefore be used as a bone marrow protrctive agent during chemotherapy.

In contrast, TGF-s2 is produced by glioblastomas and may contribute to the malignancy of these tumours by impairing tumour surveillance - another case in which treatment with an antagonist may be useful.

The complex effects of TGF-s in different tissues make it a very exciting agent, but one which must be used with care.

This book evaluates the behaviour of the TGF-s family in many contexts and provides a basis for future clinical application.

Other Ciba Foundation Symposia: No 143 The biology of hyaluronan Chairman: T.C.

Laurent 1989 ISBN 0 471 92305 2 No 148 Molecular control of haemopoiesis Chairman: D.

Metcalf 1990 ISBN 0 471 92561 6 No 150 Proto-oncogenes in cell development Chairman: T.

Hunter 1990 ISBN 0 471 92686 8