Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
06:54

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells

Published on: October 27, 2020

Roles for the type III TGF-beta receptor in human cancer

Catherine E Gatza1, Sun Young Oh, Gerard C Blobe

  • 1Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.

Cellular Signalling
|February 16, 2010
PubMed

Insights

The type III TGF-beta receptor (TbetaRIII) acts as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting cancer cell migration and angiogenesis. Understanding TbetaRIII's function is key for developing new cancer treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) superfamily ligands regulate crucial cellular processes.
  • These signaling pathways have dual roles in cancer, potentially suppressing or promoting tumor progression.
  • The type III TGF-beta receptor (TbetaRIII), also known as betaglycan, is a key co-receptor in TGF-beta signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the physiological function of TbetaRIII.
  • To investigate the mechanisms of TbetaRIII action in cellular processes.
  • To understand how TbetaRIII alterations contribute to cancer progression.

Main Methods:

  • The study focuses on the known roles and effects of TbetaRIII in cellular signaling pathways.
  • Analysis of TbetaRIII's involvement in cell migration, invasion, proliferation, and angiogenesis.
  • Investigating both ligand-dependent and ligand-independent signaling mediated by TbetaRIII.

Main Results:

  • TbetaRIII loss correlates with cancer progression.
  • TbetaRIII directly influences cell migration, invasion, proliferation, and angiogenesis.
  • Evidence suggests TbetaRIII acts as a suppressor of cancer progression and metastasis.

Conclusions:

  • TbetaRIII plays a significant role in suppressing cancer progression and metastasis.
  • Further research into TbetaRIII's mechanisms can lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
  • Targeting TbetaRIII-mediated functions holds promise for human cancer treatment.

More Related Videos

Spheroid Assay to Measure TGF-β-induced Invasion09:18

Spheroid Assay to Measure TGF-β-induced Invasion

Published on: November 16, 2011

Live Cell Imaging of the TGF- β/Smad3 Signaling Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo Using an Adenovirus Reporter System11:06

Live Cell Imaging of the TGF- β/Smad3 Signaling Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo Using an Adenovirus Reporter System

Published on: July 30, 2018

Related Concept Videos

TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs01:15

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that  lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR  stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive  EGFR activation may...
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho01:24

Small GTPases - Ras and Rho

Ras and Rho are small monomeric GTPases that act downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and regulate various cellular processes. These GTPases switch between active and inactive states by binding to guanine nucleotides.
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
The Retinoblastoma Gene01:20

The Retinoblastoma Gene

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...