Pathogenesis of fibrosis: role of TGF-β and CTGF

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Abstract
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β regulates diverse biologic activities including cell growth, cell death or apoptosis, cell differentiation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. TGF-β is believed to be a key mediator of tissue fibrosis as a consequence of ECM accumulation in pathologic states such as systemic sclerosis. TGF-β is known to induce the expression of ECM proteins in mesenchymal cells, and to stimulate the production of protease inhibitors that prevent enzymatic breakdown of the ECM. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), which is induced by TGF-β, has been reported to mediate stimulatory actions of TGF-β ECM synthesis. This review focuses on the possible role of TGF-β and CTGF in the pathogenesis of fibrosis.