Thromb Haemost 2004; 92(02): 253-261
DOI: 10.1160/TH04-05-0324
Theme Issue Article
Schattauer GmbH

Extracellular regulation of TGF-β activity in wound repair: growth factor latency as a sensor mechanism for injury

Georg Brunner
1   Department of Cancer Research, Fachklinik Hornheide, Münster, Germany
,
Robert Blakytny
1   Department of Cancer Research, Fachklinik Hornheide, Münster, Germany
› Institutsangaben

Financial support: This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (BR 1125/2-1 and BR 1125/2-2).
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Publikationsverlauf

Received 27. Mai 2004

Accepted after revision 08. Juni 2004

Publikationsdatum:
30. November 2017 (online)

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Summary

The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family of growth factors are major regulators of wound repair, scar formation, and fibrosis. One of the prominent features of TGF-β biology is the fact that this growth factor is secreted as a latent precursor, which may be directed to and stored at specific sites in the cellular microenvironment. Targeting and mobilization, and particularly extracellular activation of latent TGF-β control the biological action of this growth factor. This review will focus on mechanisms of extracellular TGF-β regulation relevant to and potentially operating in wound repair and scarring.