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Deactivation of macrophages by transforming growth factor-β
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  • Published: 21 July 1988

Deactivation of macrophages by transforming growth factor-β

  • Shohko Tsunawaki1 nAff3,
  • Michael Sporn2,
  • Aihao Ding1 &
  • …
  • Carl Nathan1 

Nature volume 334, pages 260–262 (1988)Cite this article

  • 1973 Accesses

  • 6 Altmetric

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Abstract

Macrophage activation—enhanced capacity to kill, in a cell that otherwise mostly scavenges—is essential for host survival from infection and contributes to containment of tumours. Both microbes and tumour cells, therefore, may be under pressure to inhibit or reverse the activation of macrophages. This reasoning led to the demonstration of macrophage deactivating factors from both microbes1,2 and tumour cells3–5. In some circumstances the host itself probably requires the ability to deactivate macrophages. Macrophages are essential to the healing of wounds and repair of tissues damaged by inflammation. Yet the cytotoxic products of the activated macrophages can damage endothelium, fibroblasts, smooth muscle and parenchymal cells (reviewed in ref. 6). Thus, after an inflammatory site has been sterilized, the impact of macrophage activation on the host might shift from benefit to detriment. These concepts led us to search for macrophage deactivating effects among polypeptide growth factors that regulate angiogenesis, fibrogenesis and other aspects of tissue repair. Among 11 such factors, two proteins that are 71% similar proved to be potent macrophage deactivators: these are transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF- β1) and TGF- β2.

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Author information

Author notes
  1. Shohko Tsunawaki

    Present address: Second Department of Surgery, Teikyo University School of Medicine, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beatrice and Samuel A. Seaver Laboratory, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York, 10021, USA

    Shohko Tsunawaki, Aihao Ding & Carl Nathan

  2. Laboratory of Chemoprevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA

    Michael Sporn

Authors
  1. Shohko Tsunawaki
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  2. Michael Sporn
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  3. Aihao Ding
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  4. Carl Nathan
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Cite this article

Tsunawaki, S., Sporn, M., Ding, A. et al. Deactivation of macrophages by transforming growth factor-β. Nature 334, 260–262 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/334260a0

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  • Received: 06 February 1988

  • Accepted: 19 May 1988

  • Issue Date: 21 July 1988

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/334260a0

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