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Visualization and Quantification of TGFβ/BMP/SMAD Signaling under Different Fluid Shear Stress Conditions using Proximity-Ligation-Assay
Published on: September 14, 2021
Extracellular microfibrils: contextual platforms for TGFbeta and BMP signaling
Francesco Ramirez1, Daniel B Rifkin
1Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|June 16, 2009
Summary
Fibrillin microfibrils maintain tissue integrity and regulate cell signaling. Disruptions in these functions lead to disease, highlighting their crucial role in health.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Extracellular Matrix Biology
Background:
- The extracellular matrix (ECM) is vital for organ development and tissue stability.
- Fibrillin assemblies (microfibrils) are key ECM components influencing tissue integrity and cellular signaling.
- Dysfunctional microfibrils are linked to various diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the dual role of fibrillin microfibrils in structural support and signal regulation.
- To investigate how microfibrils modulate TGFbeta and BMP signaling pathways.
- To understand the integration of structural and instructive cues by fibrillin-rich ECM.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of fibrillin assembly dynamics.
- Investigating the interaction of microfibrils with TGFbeta and BMP signaling complexes.
- Correlative studies on cell-directed microfibril assembly and signaling molecule targeting.
Main Results:
- Fibrillin microfibrils provide essential tissue integrity.
- Microfibrils regulate cell signaling, specifically TGFbeta and BMP pathways.
- Evidence suggests a coupling between microfibril assembly and TGFbeta/BMP targeting.
Conclusions:
- Fibrillin microfibrils act as molecular integrators of structural and signaling information.
- TGFbeta and BMP signaling are modulated by fibrillin assemblies in a context-specific manner.
- Microfibrils convert extracellular signals into distinct cellular responses, crucial for homeostasis and disease prevention.
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