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Clearance of apoptotic cells: TGF‐β in the balance between inflammation and fibrosis
Author(s) -
Clancy Robert M.,
Buyon Jill P.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.0603276
Subject(s) - inflammation , biology , cytokine , transforming growth factor , autoantibody , fibrosis , secretion , apoptosis , immunology , antibody , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , medicine , biochemistry
Transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) has been considered an anti‐inflammatory cytokine responsible for the bland removal of apoptotic cells. What is less established is the extent of secretion of this cytokine during the clearance of opsonized apoptotic cells via Fcγ‐mediated uptake. To date both decreased (favoring predominance of inflammation) and increased (favoring resolution of inflammation but potentially pro‐fibrotic) responses have been demonstrated. In an in vitro model of autoantibody‐induced cardiac injury, we herein demonstrate that macrophages cocultured with apoptotic human fetal cardiocytes bound by anti‐SSA/Ro antibodies secrete increased levels of TGF‐β. Prolonged secretion of this cytokine may contribute to the exuberant scarring seen in congenital heart block associated with maternal autoantibodies reactive with SSA/Ro and SSB/La antigens.