Is Transforming Growth Factor β1 a Cause of Hypertension?

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) is a ubiquitously expressed potent pleiotropic cytokine. It has biological functions in cell proliferation, differentiation, senescence, and apoptosis, tumor suppression, immunity, wound healing, and so on.¹ It may facilitate extracellular matrix assembly by stimulation of matrix synthesis and prevention of matrix degradation and play a role in tissue repairing and remodeling. Overproduction of this factor, however, may behave as an important mechanism for fibrogenesis.² That is why TGFβ1 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several chronic complications of hypertension, such as left ventricular hypertrophy,³ vascular remodeling,⁴ and end-stage renal disease,⁵ especially on high serum angiotensin conditions.⁶

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