M. Platten et al., Malignant glioma biology: Role for TGF-beta in growth, motility, angiogenesis, and immune escape, MICROSC RES, 52(4), 2001, pp. 401-410
Characteristics of human malignant glioma are excessive proliferation, infi
ltrative growth, angiogenesis and suppression of anti-tumor immune surveill
ance. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a versatile cytokine, is
intimately involved in the regulation of these processes. Here, we discuss
the interactions of TGF-beta with growth factors, such as basic fibroblast
growth factor (bFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet derived gr
owth factor (PDGF), metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-9) and their inhibitor,
plasmin activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and immune cells, like natural kille
r cells, T-cells and microglia. The differential effects of TGF-beta in gli
oma biology are outlined with emphasis on the induction of a survival advan
tage for glioma cells by enforced cell growth, migration, invasion, angioge
nesis and immune paralysis. By virtue of its growth regulatory and immunomo
dulatory properties, TGF-beta promises to become a novel target for the exp
erimental therapy of human malignant glioma. Microsc. Res. Tech. 52:401-410
, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.