Ahamed Lab

Job Description

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a multifunctional cytokine with important roles in cellular proliferation, differentiation, the immune response, and many other biological functions, including synthesis of the matrix protein collagen in wound repair as well as pathological fibrosis in cancer and cardiovascular diseases.  In addition to its generation in the tissues, TGF-β1 circulates in the bloodstream where it has the potential to produce systemic effects, but the sources of circulating TGF-β1 remain to be defined. TGF-β1 is produced by almost all cell types, but platelets contain ~100 times more than any other cells. TGF-β1 is secreted as an inactive, latent complex, and defining its activation mechanism in vivo is one of the subjects of our research. We recently demonstrated that shear force activates TGF-β1 release from platelets in vitro and during thrombus formation in mouse carotid artery in vivo. These data indicate that shear force is a potential mechanism for systemic activation of TGF-β1 in disease states associated with high circulatory shear force.