transforming-growth-factor-beta and Communicable-Diseases

For over 60 years, selenium (Se) has been known as an essential microelement to many biological functions, including cardiovascular homeostasis. This review presents a compilation of studies conducted in the past 20 years related to chronic Chagas disease cardiomyopathy (CCC), caused by

Topics: Chagas Disease; Communicable Diseases; Fibrosis; Heart Failure; Humans; Selenium; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Trypanosoma cruzi

Glucocorticoids (GCs) have been widely used for decades as a first-line treatment for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. However, their use is often hampered by the onset of adverse effects or resistance. GCs mediate their effects via binding to glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a transcription factor belonging to the family of nuclear receptors. An important aspect of GR's actions, including its anti-inflammatory capacity, involves its interactions with various proteins, such as transcription factors, cofactors, and modifying enzymes, which codetermine receptor functionality. In this review, we provide a state-of-the-art overview of the protein-protein interactions (PPIs) of GR that positively or negatively affect its anti-inflammatory properties, along with mechanistic insights, if known. Emphasis is placed on the interactions that affect its anti-inflammatory effects in the presence of inflammatory and microbial diseases.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cell Nucleus; Communicable Diseases; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Inflammation; Protein Interaction Maps; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Receptors, Glucocorticoid; Signal Transduction; STAT Transcription Factors; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Current dogma suggests that immunity to infection is controlled by distinct type 1 (Th1) and type 2 (Th2) subpopulations of T cells discriminated on the basis of cytokine secretion and function. However, a further subtype of T cells, with immunosuppressive function and cytokine profiles distinct from either Th1 or Th2 T cells, termed regulatory T (Tr) cells has been described. Although considered to have a role in the maintenance of self-tolerance, recent studies suggest that Tr cells can be induced against bacterial, viral and parasite antigens in vivo and might prevent infection-induced immunopathology or prolong pathogen persistence by suppressing protective Th1 responses. These observations have significant implications for our understanding of the role of T cells in immunity to infectious diseases and for the development of new therapies for immune-mediated disorders.

Topics: Animals; Cell Differentiation; Communicable Diseases; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Interleukin-10; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; Th1 Cells; Th2 Cells; Transforming Growth Factor beta

At the portals of pathogen entry, there are pools of the latent form of a potent cytokine, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). Many infections activate these pools and stimulate further TGF-beta expression. As well as potent immunomodulation, activated TGF-beta might have important effects on pathogen entry, replication, persistence, latency and oncogenesis.

Topics: Animals; Bacterial Infections; Chronic Disease; Communicable Diseases; Disease Progression; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Oncogenes; Parasitic Diseases; Transforming Growth Factor beta

The immune system is poised like a fulcrum to respond quickly to challenge by infectious agents, but can produce excess inflammatory signals or excess suppressive signals when out of balance. During the past year, significant progress has been made in our understanding of how certain pathogens promote immune suppression and shift the balance from the host in their favor. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie excessive inflammatory responses or the suppressive effects of the micro-organism will aid in the development of new therapies.

Topics: Animals; Communicable Diseases; Cytokines; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-10; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

The TGF-β superfamily is an ancient metazoan protein class which cuts across cell and tissue differentiation, developmental biology and immunology. Its many members are regulated at multiple levels from intricate control of gene transcription, post-translational processing and activation, and signaling through overlapping receptor structures and downstream intracellular messengers. We have been interested in TGF-β homologues firstly as key players in the induction of immunological tolerance, the topic so closely associated with Ray Owen. Secondly, our interests in how parasites may manipulate the immune system of their host has also brought us to study the TGF-β pathway in infections with longlived, essentially tolerogenic, helminth parasites. Finally, within the spectrum of mammalian TGF-β proteins is an exquisitely tightly-regulated gene, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), whose role in sex determination underpins the phenotype of freemartin calves that formed the focus of Ray's seminal work on immunological tolerance.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Communicable Diseases; Helminths; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Models, Immunological; Signal Transduction; Transforming Growth Factor beta