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Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
09:18

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Published on: December 27, 2016

Nodal signalling and apoptosis

Hongmei Wang1, Benjamin K Tsang

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. wanghm@ioz.ac.cn

Reproduction (Cambridge, England)
|July 10, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Nodal, a transforming growth factor beta family member, plays a role in apoptosis and growth inhibition in adult tissues. This review focuses on Nodal

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Nodal is a key member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily.
  • It signals through a receptor complex involving ActRIIA/ActRIIB and ALK4/ALK7.
  • Smad2 and Smad3 are crucial intracellular mediators of Nodal signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the functions of Nodal in adult tissue apoptosis.
  • To highlight Nodal's specific roles in the ovary and placenta.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on Nodal function in adult tissues.
  • Analysis of Nodal's pro-apoptotic and growth-inhibitory effects.

Main Results:

  • Nodal demonstrates pro-apoptotic activity in rat ovarian granulosa cells, human trophoblast cells, and human ovarian epithelial cancer cells.
  • Nodal exhibits growth inhibitory effects in human trophoblast and ovarian epithelial cancer cells.

Conclusions:

  • Nodal influences apoptosis and growth regulation in various adult tissues.
  • Further research into Nodal's functions in the ovary and placenta is warranted.

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