TGF-beta latency: biological significance and mechanisms of activation.
Transforming growth factor (TGF-) beta is secreted as a latent complex in which the mature growth factor remains associated with its propeptide. In order to elicit a biological response, the cytokine must be released from the latent complex, a process termed latent TGF-beta activation or TGF-beta formation. Although latent TGF-beta activation is a critical step in the regulation of its activity, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to the production of active TGF-beta. In this article, we present an overview of the data available on this topic, and we propose a tentative model for the mechanism of TGF-beta formation based upon the observations with different cell systems and on recent findings on the structure of the latent TGF-beta complex.
Gleizes
P E
PE
Department of Cell Biology, New York University Medical Center, New York 10016, USA.
Munger
J S
JS
Nunes
I
I
Harpel
J G
JG
Mazzieri
R
R
Noguera
I
I
Rifkin
D B
DB
D000818:Animals; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta