Lessons from TGF-β Transgenic Mice

Abstract
Aberrant expression of TGF-β and/or receptor/signaling function is present in a wide variety of disease processes. Overexpression of TGF-β isoforms in transgenic mice using tissue-specific promoters has provided model systems to study the effects of increased activity of TGF-β in the intact organism. We will review the pertinent features of some of these models, and discuss new insights provided by these studies into regulation and role of TGF-β in health and disease.