Transforming growth factor β and severe asthma: A perfect storm

• Main Authors: Al-Alawi, Mazen, Hassan, Tidi, Chotirmall, Sanjay Haresh
• Other Authors: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: Asthma; TGF-β
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/80790; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/42243
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease involving complex interplay between resident and infiltrative cells, which in turn are regulated by a wide range of host mediators. Identifying useful biomarkers correlating with clinical symptoms and degree of airway obstruction remain important to effective future asthma treatments. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a major mediator involved in pro-inflammatory responses and fibrotic tissue remodeling within the asthmatic lung. Its role however, as a therapeutic target remains controversial. The aim of this review is to highlight its role in severe asthma including interactions with adaptive T-helper cells, cytokines and differentiation through regulatory T-cells. Associations between TGF-β and eosinophils will be addressed and the effects of genetic polymorphisms of the TGF-β1 gene explored in the context of asthma. We highlight TGF-β1 as a potential future therapeutic target in severe asthma including its importance in identifying emerging clinical phenotypes in asthmatic subjects who may be suitable for individualized therapy through TGF-β modulation.