ABSTRACT
Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a growth factor regulating cell proliferation, differentiation and the production of extracellular matrix. Vascular remodeling is a common pathological process of many cardiovascular diseases. TGF-β can accelerate vascular adventitial fibroblasts proliferation, induce the transdifferentiation of vascular adventitial fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, and promote the vascular remodeling and a series of changes in vascular injury sites. Smad proteins involved in TGF-β intracellular signal transduction can regulate the expression of TGF-β target gene by binding with differenot proteins, so as to perform multiple biological functions. This review introduces the influence of TGF-β on the proliferation, migration and phenotype traasformation of vascular adventitial fibroblasts. © 2006 Editorial office of Foreign Medical Sciences.