Transforming growth factor β and severe asthma: A perfect storm
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease involving complex interplay between resident and infiltrative cells, which in turn are regulated by a wide range of host mediators. Identifying useful biomarkers correlating with clinical symptoms and degree of airway obstruction remain important to ef...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2017
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/80790 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/42243 |
| Summary: | Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease involving complex interplay between resident and infiltrative cells, which in turn are regulated by a wide range of host mediators. Identifying useful biomarkers correlating with clinical symptoms and degree of airway obstruction remain important to effective future asthma treatments. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a major mediator involved in pro-inflammatory responses and fibrotic tissue remodeling within the asthmatic lung. Its role however, as a therapeutic target remains controversial. The aim of this review is to highlight its role in severe asthma including interactions with adaptive T-helper cells, cytokines and differentiation through regulatory T-cells. Associations between TGF-β and eosinophils will be addressed and the effects of genetic polymorphisms of the TGF-β1 gene explored in the context of asthma. We highlight TGF-β1 as a potential future therapeutic target in severe asthma including its importance in identifying emerging clinical phenotypes in asthmatic subjects who may be suitable for individualized therapy through TGF-β modulation. |
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