Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2018 Jun 13. pii: S1359-6101(18)30071-6. doi: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2018.06.002. [Epub ahead of print]

TGF-β and mesenchymal stromal cells in regenerative medicine, autoimmunity and cancer.

de Araújo Farias V¹, Carrillo-Gálvez AB², Martín F², Anderson P³.

Abstract

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) represent a promising cell-based therapy in regenerative medicine and for the treatment of inflammatory/autoimmune diseases. Importantly, MSCs have emerged as an important contributor to the tumor stroma with both pro- and anti-tumorigenic effects. However, the successful translation of MSCs to the clinic and the prevention of their tumorigenic and metastatic effect require a greater understanding of factors controlling their proliferation, differentiation, migration and immunomodulation in vitro and in vivo. The transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1, 2 and 3 are involved in almost every aspect of MSC function. The aim of this review is to highlight the roles that TGF-β play in the biology and therapeutic applications of MSCs. We will discuss the how TGF-β modulate MSC function as well as the paracrine effects of MSC-derived TGF-β on other cell types in the context of tissue regeneration, immune responses and cancer. Finally, taking all these aspects into consideration we discuss how modulation of TGF-β signaling/production in MSCs could be of clinical interest.