Human TGF-β3

TGF-β3 (transforming growth factor beta 3) is one of three closely related mammalian members of the large TGF-β super family that share a characteristic cysteine-knot structure. TGF-β1, -β2 and -β3 are highly pleiotropic cytokines that regulate immune function, proliferation and epithelial mesenchymal transition. Each TGF-β isoform has some non-redundant functions. So mice with a targeted deletion of TGF-β3 show defects in palatogenesis and pulmonary development. Human TGF-β3 cDNA encodes a 412 amino acid precursor that contains a 20 amino acid signal peptide and a 392 amino acid precursor. A furin-like convertase processes the precursor to generate an N terminal 220 amino acid latency associated peptide and a C terminal 112 amino acid mature TGF-β3. Mature human TGF-β3 shows 100%, 99% and 98% identity with mouse/dog/horse, rat and pig TGF-β3, respectively.