This article appears in the following Rheumatology issue: Update in systemic sclerosis [View the issue table of contents]
Pro- and anti-fibrotic effects of TGF-β in scleroderma
1Division of Experimental Pathophysiology and Immunology and 2Laboratory of Autoimmuity, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Correspondence to: G. Wick, Division of Experimental Pathophysiology and Immunology, Laboratory of Autoimmunity, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Peter-Mayr-Straße 4a, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. E-mail: georg.wick{at}i-med.ac.at
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The University of California at Davis 200 and 206 (UCD-200/206) lines of chickens have proven to be the animal model that best reflects the situation in human SSc. We have demonstrated a misbalance of pro-fibrotic (TGF-β1) and anti-fibrotic (TGF-β2 and -β3) TGF-β isoforms as a possible cause for fibrotic alterations in this model. This opens new avenues for diagnosis and therapy for this still intractable condition.
KEY WORDS: Systemic sclerosis, Transforming growth factor-β1, Transforming growth factor-β2, Transforming growth factor-β3, Fibrosis, The University of California at Davis 200 chicken
Submitted 30 April 2008; Accepted 19 June 2008