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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

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Published on: October 27, 2020
Bioinformatic and functional analysis of TGFBR1 polymorphisms.
Markus A Schirmer1, Arne O Hoffmann, Radu Campean
1Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Medicine Göttingen, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany. mschirmer@med.uni-goettingen.de
Genetic variations in the transforming growth factor-beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1), specifically the *6A deletion, may alter cellular responses to TGFB1 and increase sensitivity to radiation. These findings have implications for cancer susceptibility and treatment side effects.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The transforming growth factor-beta (TGFB) pathway is crucial for regulating cellular functions, including proliferation and apoptosis.
- Inherited genetic variations in TGFB pathway components can influence cellular responses and disease susceptibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the functional impact of common inherited germline polymorphisms in the TGFB receptor 1 (TGFBR1).
- To assess the relationship between TGFBR1 polymorphisms and cellular responses to TGFbeta1 ligand and X-ray irradiation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of TGFB1 pathway gene expression using real-time PCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
- Assessment of cellular viability via flow cytometry after TGFbeta1 stimulation and X-ray exposure.
- Genotyping of six TGFBR1 polymorphisms, including the *6A deletion variant, in exploratory (n=55) and confirmatory (n=106) studies.
Main Results:
- TGFbeta1 stimulation induced a negative feedback response with SMAD7 upregulation and SMAD3 downregulation.
- The TGFBR1 *6A deletion variant attenuated SMAD3 suppression by TGFbeta1 (P=0.02).
- Cells with the *6A variant showed increased sensitivity to irradiation (P=0.001), particularly when combined with the rs11568785 variant allele.
Conclusions:
- The TGFBR1 *6A deletion and rs11568785 polymorphisms appear to attenuate TGFB signaling.
- These genetic variations may influence cancer susceptibility.
- Consideration of these polymorphisms is relevant for understanding radiotherapy and drug side effects.
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