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The serum concentration of active transforming growth factor-β is severely depressed in advanced atherosclerosis

Nature Medicine volume 1, pages 74–79 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

Recent evidence has led us to propose that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a key inhibitor of atherosclerosis. We show here that a population of patients with advanced atherosclerosis all have less active TGF-β in their sera than patients with normal coronary arteries, with a fivefold difference in average concentration between the two groups. This correlation with atherosclerosis is much stronger than for other Known major risk factors and it may therefore have important diagnostic and prognostic significance. Aspirin medication correlates with an increase in active TGF-β concentration, indicating that therapeutic interventions for TGF-β are possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK

    David J. Grainger, Paul R. Kemp, James C. Metcalfe & Andrew A. Grace

  2. Falk Cardiovascular Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, California, 94305-5246, USA

    Alexander C. Liu & Richard M. Lawn

  3. Department of Pathology, Papworth Hospital NHS Trust, Papworth Everard, Cambridge, CBS 8RE, U.K.

    Norman R. Williams

  4. Department of Cardiology, Papworth Hospital NHS Trust, Papworth Everard, Cambridge, CBS 8RE, U.K.

    Andrew A. Grace, Peter M. Schofield & Anoop Chauhan

Authors
  1. David J. Grainger
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  2. Paul R. Kemp
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  4. Alexander C. Liu
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Grainger, D., Kemp, P., Metcalfe, J. et al. The serum concentration of active transforming growth factor-β is severely depressed in advanced atherosclerosis. Nat Med 1, 74–79 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0195-74

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