目前又有一条理由使人们对β转化生长因子（TGF-β）感兴趣,因为它可能是脓毒性休克的有效治疗剂。美国哈佛公共卫生学院的一项研究显示,细胞因子TGF-β1可能阻断导致脓毒性休克的一系列过程。本病始于严重感染,后者能触发自身免疫攻击,并导致致死性的血压锐降。每年美国有20万人（大多为免疫系统损害的住院患者）发生此病,约有半数死亡。 由于许多细菌毒素能触发脓毒性休克,因此Perrella等对此病的病程作进一步观察。此病的关键阶段是体内产生过量的血管扩张剂一氧化氮（NO）。TGF-β1能阻断一氧化氮合酶（NOS）的产生,已知此酶能产生NO。Perrella等用伤寒杆菌脂多糖注 There is another reason that people are currently interested in beta-transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) because it may be a potent therapeutic for septic shock. A study by the Harvard School of Public Health in the United States shows that the cytokine TGF-β1 may block a series of processes leading to septic shock. The disease starts with a severe infection, which triggers an autoimmune attack and causes a lethal drop in blood pressure. Every year in the United States there are about 200,000 people (mostly hospitalized patients with compromised immune system) that have about half their deaths. Since many bacterial toxins can trigger septic shock, Perrella et al. Further looked at the course of the disease. The key phase of the disease is the in vivo production of an excessive amount of the vasodilator, nitric oxide (NO). TGF-β1 blocks the production of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which is known to produce NO. Perrella and other Salmonella lipopolysaccharide injection