Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) in milk: a review

Abstract

Bovine milk and colostrum contain growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor IGF-I, IGF-II, transforming growth factor TGF-β1, TGF-β2, epidermal growth factor EGF, basic fibroblast growth factor bFGF and platelet-derived growth factor PDGF. In recent years, intense scientific interest has been focused on the identification of factors within bovine milk that may be relevant to improving human health. Then a number of methodologies for the extraction of milk growth factors from milk, colostrum or whey have been developed. Cation-exchange chromatography has been widely used because of the basic nature of the growth factors. Also, microfiltration has been used for the concentration of some growth factors from colostrum, while ultrafiltration was successful only in separating IGF-I from IGF-II in whey. Growth factor extracts from milk, colostrum or whey have been used as therapeutic preparations for wound healing and in the treatment of inflammatory gut disorders.