title: TGF-beta: a master of all T cell trades.
abstract: A functional adaptive immune system depends on a diverse and self-tolerant population of T lymphocytes that are generated in the thymus and maintained in the peripheral lymphoid organs. Recent studies have defined the cytokine transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) as a critical regulator of thymic T cell development as well as a crucial player in peripheral T cell homeostasis, tolerance to self antigens, and T cell differentiation during the immune response. The unique mechanism of TGF-beta activation and the plasticity of TGF-beta signaling create a stage for TGF-beta to integrate signals from multiple cell types and environmental cues to regulate T cells.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Ming O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Flavell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta