Post-translational activation of TGF-.sub.1 involving the TSP-1 receptor CD36

摘要

A protein called transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-) is important in causing the inflammation and progressive scar tissue in pulmonary fibrosis. The TGF-.sub.1 isoform is important in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. It is usually secreted non- covalently bound to a latency associated peptide (LAP) which renders it biologically inactive. The inactive form is called latent TGF-.sub. 1 (L-TGF-.sub.1). Activation of L-TGF-.sub.1 involves L-TGF-. beta..sub.1 /TSP-1 complex which interacts with the TSP-1 receptor, CD36, to process L-TGF-.sub.1 to the mature form in the presence of plasmin. Synthetic or natural CD36 peptides or fragments thereof can be used to prevent activation of TGF-.sub.1, in mammalian alveolar macrophages, thereby controlling the inflammation process.