title: Immunoregulation by members of the TGFβ superfamily.
abstract: The transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) superfamily is encoded by 33 genes and includes TGFβ, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and activins. Although TGFβ is well recognized as a crucial regulator of immune responses, the immunoregulatory functions of other TGFβ family members are less clear. However, recent evidence suggests that BMPs and activins have important roles in regulating immune responses. In this Review, we briefly outline the signalling pathways of the TGFβ superfamily and discuss new insights into the immunoregulatory functions of BMPs and activins in the context of infection, inflammation and cancer.
authors.affiliation: Mucosal Immunology Section, National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Iinstitutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: WanJun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Cancer Genomics Centre Netherlands, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ten Dijke
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D005810:Multigene Family; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D028341:Activins