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transforming growth factor beta

factor synthesised in a wide variety of tissues including platelets, placenta, and both normal and transformed cell lines. It acts synergistically with tgf-alpha in inducing phenotypic transformation and can also act as a negative autocrine growth factor. Tgf-beta also has a potential role in embryonal development, cellular differentiation, hormone secretion, and immune function. There are at least three forms of tgf-beta: tgf-beta1, tgf-beta2, and tgf-beta1.2. The latter is a heterodimer made up of both tgf-beta1 and tgf-beta2.