TGF-β Signaling in Immunity, Inflammation and Cancer

Dear Colleagues,

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β plays pivotal roles in a variety of cellular processes, such as proliferation, cell death, differentiation and cell motility, during both embryonic development and adulthood. Not surprisingly, dysregulation of its expression and/or intracellular signaling activities contributes to human diseases, i.e., immunological disorders, tissue fibrosis and cancer. Here, the role of TGF-β is highly complex, depending to a large extent on cellular contexts, stage of disease and the fact that many cell types are able to synthesise and secrete this growth factor. In addition, the TGF-β precursors undergo a complex maturation process, and even after its release, its biological activity is modulated by a variety of interactions with components of the cellular environment. During cancer development, this is reflected by the dual role TGF-β—also known as the TGF-β paradox—which holds that in normal tissues and premalignant stages, this growth factor acts as a tumour suppressor, while during later stages, it contributes to tumour progression by favouring immune suppression, neoangiogenesis, genomic instability, cell invasion and metastasis.

Authors are invited to submit manuscripts that cover specific aspects of TGF-β biology in health and disease with a focus on signaling and signaling crosstalk with other disease-relevant pathways. The data may provide useful information on how to better and more selectively target TGF-β signaling for inhibition considering specific contextual, temporal or disease conditions.

In this Special Issue, we aim to shed light on the state-of-the-art, as well as novel data that contribute to increasing our knowledge on the role of TGF-β signaling in immunological disorders, fibrotic/inflammatory diseases and cancer. We welcome experts in the field to contribute research papers and critical reviews on the various facets of TGF-β signaling that either halt or promote disease development, as well as on how natural and pharmacological inhibitors of TGF-β signaling may be exploited as therapeutic tools.

Prof. Dr. Hendrik Ungefroren
Prof. Gareth Inman
Guest Editors

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