title: TGF-beta in the central nervous system: potential roles in ischemic injury and neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: The Transforming Growth Factor-betas (TGF-beta) are a group of multifunctional proteins whose cellular sites of production and action are widely distributed throughout the body, including the central nervous system (CNS). Within the CNS, various isoforms of TGF-beta are produced by both glial and neural cells. When evaluated in either cell culture or in vivo models, the various isoforms of TGF-beta have been shown to have potent effects on the proliferation, function, or survival of both neurons and all three glial cell types, astrocytes, microglia and oligodendrocytes. TGF-beta has also been shown to play a role in several forms of acute CNS pathology including ischemia, excitotoxicity and several forms of neurodegenerative diseases including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, AIDS dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Protein and Cell Therapeutics Development Group, Genzyme Tissue Repair Division, Genzyme Corporation, Framingham, MA 01701-9322, USA.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McPherson
mesh_terms: D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000209:etiology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology*; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D017628:Microglia / Q000502:physiology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000502:physiology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta