Cardioprotective actions of transforming growth factor-β.
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) has been shown to have protective effects in experimental models of myocardial, mesenteric, and cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. These effects are mediated by its ability to block adhesion of neutrophils to endothelium and to preserve endothelial function in terms of physiologic release of nitric oxide (NO). TGF-β also maintains the rhythmicity of cultured cardiac myocytes and blocks the suppressive effects of interleukin-1 on their beating rate by antagonizing the pathologic induction of NO synthase. These data suggest that TGF-β will be useful clinically in treatment of both reperfusion injury and inflammatory diseases of the heart.
Laboratory of Chemoprevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA.
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Roberts
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MB
Sporn
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Lefer