Published online before print September 25, 2008

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(Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 2009;85:29-33.)
© 2009 by Society for Leukocyte Biology

Review of the activation of TGF-β in immunity

Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

¹ Correspondence: Schepens Eye Research Institute, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. E-mail: andrew.taylor{at}schepens.harvard.edu

The evolutionarily conserved TGF-β proteins are distributed ubiquitously throughout the body and have a role in almost every biological process. In immunity, TGF-β has an important role in modulating immunity. Much is understood about the process of TGF-β production as a latent molecule and of the consequences and the intercellular signaling of active TGF-β binding to its receptors; however, there is little discussed between the production and activation of TGF-β. This review focuses on what is understood about the biochemical and physiological processes of TGF-β activation and identifies the gaps in understanding immune cell activation of TGF-β. A mechanistic understanding of the process activating TGF-β can lead to regulating multiple biological systems by enhancing or inhibiting TGF-β activation.

Key Words: transforming growth factor-β • immune regulation • latent-associated