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Published online before print September 25, 2008

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© by The Society for Leukocyte Biology
Journal of Leukocyte Biology, doi:10.1189/jlb.0708415

Received for publication July 11, 2008.
Revised August 25, 2008.
Accepted for publication August 26, 2008.

Article

Review of the activation of TGF- in immunity

Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

^@ To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: andrew.taylor{at}schepens.harvard.edu.

	Abstract

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

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