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Mammalian transforming growth factor-betas: Smad signaling and physio-pathological roles

Delphine Javelaud1, Alain Mauviel

  • 1INSERM U532, Institut de Recherche sur la Peau, Université Paris VII, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Pavillon Bazin, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France.

The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
|April 28, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is crucial for development and tissue repair. This growth factor family plays a role in diseases like fibrosis and cancer, with complex signaling pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a family of growth factors discovered in the early 1980s.
  • TGF-beta regulates critical physiological processes such as embryonic development, differentiation, tissue repair, and cell growth.
  • Mammalian TGF-beta isoforms are vital for inflammation and tissue repair, as shown by knockout experiments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the multifaceted roles of TGF-beta in biological processes.
  • To highlight the involvement of TGF-beta in human diseases, including fibrosis and cancer.
  • To describe the initial steps of TGF-beta cellular signaling.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on TGF-beta.
  • Analysis of knockout experiment data in mice.
  • Examination of TGF-beta's role in human disease pathogenesis.

Main Results:

  • TGF-beta is essential for embryonic development, differentiation, tissue repair, and cell growth control.
  • TGF-beta knockout mice exhibit dysregulation of inflammation and tissue repair.
  • TGF-beta is implicated in tissue fibrosis and carcinogenesis, potentially acting as a tumor suppressor or promoter.

Conclusions:

  • TGF-beta signaling is initiated by cell surface receptor assembly.
  • Receptor activation leads to the activation of Smad transcription factors.
  • Understanding TGF-beta pathways is critical for addressing diseases like fibrosis and cancer.

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