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Transforming Growth Factor beta-1 (TGF-beta-1): A Biological Paradox
Angela Okragly, James M. Balwit and Mary Haak-Frendscho
Promega Corporation
It has been ten years since the initial identification and characterization of
Transforming Growth Factor beta-1 (TGF-beta-1), a factor with diverse biological
activities. TGF-beta has potent, often opposing effects on the development, physiology and
immunological responses of a wide variety of cell types. Attempts to unravel its mechanism
of action recently have been aided by the identification of nine distinct TGF-beta binding
proteins. The promise of TGF-beta resides in potential clinical applications aimed at
harnessing its beneficial effects and exploiting specific inhibitors to block the
pathological consequences of excess or inappropriate TGF-beta-1 production.
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