The role of TGF-β in immune regulation and allergy

Allergic disease are characterized by an unbalanced, overshooting immune response against otherwise harmless allergens. The enduring exposure with environmental allergens leads in the case of asthma to chronic inflammation which, in turn, mobilizes repair processes and irreversible airway remodeling. The cytokine TGF-beta as well as activin beta A play an important role in the systemic and local processes. However, the role of these cytokines has a Janus-faced character: the immunosuppressive function is clearly welcome, whereas the TGF-beta/activin beta A promoted airway remodeling is a serious complication of allergic disease. The relative contribution of activin beta A and TGF-beta is discussed and set into relation of both immunologic and remodeling processes.