A recombinant therapeutic agent which is chemically identical to or similar to endogenous transforming growth factor (TGF). Representing peptides of two distinct classes, designated TGF-alpha and TGF-beta, TGFs are produced by various non-transformed cells during the development of mammalian embryos and are found in urine and plasma; TGFs are also produced by some human carcinomas and cell lines transformed by viral and cellular oncogenes. TGFs affect bone formation and remodeling by inhibition of the synthesis of collagen and release of calcium. (NCI04)