IMMUNE OSby Allerim

cytokine

TGF-beta

Tolerance and remodeling cytokine linking Tregs, fibrosis, epithelial restraint, and TH17 context

tolerancefibrosisTregTH17

Review layer

Last reviewed 2026-05-17

well-supportedclinical context required

Tolerance and resolution are modeled as active regulatory programs. Their meaning changes across allergy, infection, cancer, and autoimmunity.

3 review sources

State signature

Systems profile

Inflammation86
Tolerance84
Metabolism54
Tissue88
Neuroimmune38
Chronicity78

Cascade viewer

Source → signal → tissue behavior

Sources

Tregs
macrophages
epithelium
fibroblasts

Signal

TGF-beta

Targets and effects

T cells
fibroblasts
epithelium
matrix deposition
epithelial restraint
related: IL-6related: IL-10related: IL-17related: IL-13

Graph neighborhood

Direct relationships

Full graph

Tolerance and repair cytokine with fibrosis risk

TGF-beta supports regulatory T-cell differentiation and repair restraint

Cytokine ecology

Signal Role

TGF-beta is a context-dependent cytokine that can promote tolerance, restrain inflammation, support tissue repair, or drive fibrosis and TH17 differentiation.

Pathway

TGFBR1/2SMAD2/3SMAD4

Source Cells

Tregsmacrophagesepitheliumfibroblastsplatelets

Target Cells

T cellsfibroblastsepitheliummacrophagesB cells

Inflammatory Role

Can support TH17 differentiation in IL-6-rich contexts and fibrotic immune remodeling.

Regulatory Role

Promotes Tregs, epithelial restraint, wound repair, and immune tolerance.

Tissue Effects

matrix depositionepithelial restraintimmune exclusionfibrosis risk

Metabolic Effects

supports repair metabolism and stromal matrix programs

Nervous System Interactions

contributes to chronic remodeling states that alter sensory and barrier function

Related Loops

TGF-beta + IL-6 -> TH17TGF-beta -> Treg and fibrosis programs