TGF-beta 2 (transforming growth factor beta 1) is one of three closely related mammalian members of the large TGF-beta superfamily that share a characteristic cystine knot structure . TGF-beta 1, -2 and -3 are highly pleiotropic cytokines that are proposed to act as cellular switches that regulate processes such as immune function, proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition . Each TGF-beta isoform has some non?redundant functions; the TGFB2 gene, which encodes transforming growth factor ��2 (TGF��2), making it an obvious candidate gene for this aneurysm phenotype with MFS- and LDS-like features.Human TGF? beta 2 cDNA encodes a 414 amino acid (aa) precursor that contains a 20 aa signal peptide and a 394 aa proprotein . A furin?like convertase processes the proprotein to generate an N?terminal 282 aa latency?associated peptide (LAP) and a C?terminal 112 aa mature TGF? beta 2 .