TGF-beta (Transforming Growth Factor Beta)

Microbiome Connection#

SCFA-driven Treg induction: Butyrate from Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and other SCFA producers promotes TGF-beta-dependent Treg differentiation in the gut—the primary mechanism by which the microbiome maintains immune tolerance. Dysbiosis-driven butyrate loss reduces TGF-beta/Treg signaling, enabling inflammatory and autoimmune pathology.

Endometriosis: TGF-beta drives endometrial stromal cell proliferation and fibrosis; Gut Microbiome disruption (antibiotic-induced) affects TGF-beta-dependent endometriotic lesion progression.^{[1]Antibiotic therapy with metronidazole reduces endometriosis disease progression in mice: a potential role for gut microbiotaChadchan SB, Cheng M, Parnell LA et al. · 2019Open reference 1 ↓}

Hashimoto's thyroiditis: TGF-beta-mediated Treg/Th17 balance disrupted via gut microbiota-immune crosstalk.^{[2]Role of immune cells in mediating the effect of gut microbiota on Hashimoto's thyroiditis: a 2-sample Mendelian randomization studyPei XQ, Wang WH, Gao YH et al. · 2024Open reference 2 ↓} ASD: Immunoregulatory TGF-beta pathways altered in ASD.^{[3]Arteaga-Henriquez 2023 -- Immunoregulatory and/or Anti-inflammatory Agents for the Management of Core and Associated Symptoms in Individuals with ASDGara Arteaga-Henriquez, Laura Gisbert, Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga · 2023Open reference 3 ↓}

Metal Connection#

Cadmium and lead induce TGF-beta overexpression in kidney tissue, driving renal fibrosis.^{[4]Molecular Mechanisms of Cellular Injury and Role of Toxic Heavy Metals in Chronic Kidney DiseaseManish Mishra, Larry Nichols, Aditi A. Dave et al. · 2022Open reference 4 ↓} The dual nature of TGF-beta means metal-driven TGF-beta elevation is simultaneously immunosuppressive (reducing pathogen clearance) and pro-fibrotic (causing tissue damage).