Role of Transforming Growth Factor- in Skeletal Muscle Fibrosis: A Review

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-) isoforms are cytokines involved in a variety of cellular processes, including myofiber repair and regulation of connective tissue formation. Activation of the TGF- pathway contributes to pathologic fibrosis in most organs. Here, we have focused on examining the evidence demonstrating the involvement of TGF- in the fibrosis of skeletal muscle particularly. The TGF- pathway plays a role in different skeletal muscle myopathies, and TGF- signaling is highly induced in these diseases. In this review, we discuss different molecular mechanisms of TGF--mediated skeletal muscle fibrosis and highlight different TGF--targeted treatments that target these relevant pathways.