Tissue transglutaminase in fibrosis - more than an ECM crosslinker

Tissue transglutaminase (TG2) is upregulated in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of chronic diseases. In this review, special emphasis will be placed on fundamental mechanisms underlying the critical role of TG2 in fibroproliferative disorders. TG2 is best known for its cross-linking capacities in the extracellular space but has many critical and multifaceted roles beyond protein cross-linking, which are driven by the conformation and specific localization of the molecule.