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Transforming Growth Factor-ß and Connective Tissue Growth Factor

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Systemic Sclerosis

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Abstract

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a disorder of connective tissue characterized by excessive fibrosis affecting different organs such as the skin, lung, and heart. Increasing evidence has demonstrated the fundamental role of cytokines in the pathogenesis. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a very potent stimulator of collagen synthesis by fibroblasts. While TGF-β has been considered as a primary cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of SSc (LeRoy et al. Arthritis Rheum32:817–825, 1989; Takehara. J Rheumatol 30:755–759, 2003; Varga and Pasche. Nat Rev Rheumatol 5:200–206, 2009; Lafyatis. Nat Rev Rheumatol 10:706–719, 2014; Ihn. J Dermatol Sci 49:103–113, 2008), additional factors are also likely to play an important role in the initiation and maintenance. These include connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) (Takehara. J Rheumatol 30:755–759, 2003; Ihn. Curr Opin Rheumatol 14:681–685, 2002; Leask. Cell Signal 20:1409–1414, 2008; Jinnin. J Dermatol 37:11–25, 2010). This review summarizes the biology of TGF-β and CTGF and their involvement in SSc, especially in its fibrotic condition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8571, Japan

    Manabu Fujimoto

  2. Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8641, Japan

    Kazuhiko Takehara

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  1. Manabu Fujimoto
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  2. Kazuhiko Takehara
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Correspondence to Manabu Fujimoto .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

    Kazuhiko Takehara

  2. Department of Dermatology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

    Manabu Fujimoto

  3. Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Masataka Kuwana

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Fujimoto, M., Takehara, K. (2016). Transforming Growth Factor-ß and Connective Tissue Growth Factor. In: Takehara, K., Fujimoto, M., Kuwana, M. (eds) Systemic Sclerosis. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55708-1_9

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