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TGF - β Signaling Pathway

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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...

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Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

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Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
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Cells and Secretions of the Pancreas

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Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Surgical Injury to the Mouse Pancreas through Ligation of the Pancreatic Duct as a Model for Endocrine and Exocrine Reprogramming and Proliferation

Surgical Injury to the Mouse Pancreas through Ligation of the Pancreatic Duct as a Model for Endocrine and Exocrine Reprogramming and Proliferation

Published on: August 7, 2015

Smad signaling pathways regulate pancreatic endocrine development.

Yousef El-Gohary¹, Sidhartha Tulachan, Ping Guo

¹Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, One Children's Hospital Drive, 4401 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA. yousef.gohary@gmail.com

Developmental Biology

|April 23, 2013

Summary

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling regulates embryonic pancreatic endocrine development. Interplay between smad2/3 and smad7 controls beta-cell expansion, crucial for understanding pancreatic development.

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Isolating and Analyzing Cells of the Pancreas Mesenchyme by Flow Cytometry

Isolating and Analyzing Cells of the Pancreas Mesenchyme by Flow Cytometry

Published on: January 28, 2017

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Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Surgical Injury to the Mouse Pancreas through Ligation of the Pancreatic Duct as a Model for Endocrine and Exocrine Reprogramming and Proliferation

Surgical Injury to the Mouse Pancreas through Ligation of the Pancreatic Duct as a Model for Endocrine and Exocrine Reprogramming and Proliferation

Published on: August 7, 2015

Endothelial Cell Co-culture Mediates Maturation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell to Pancreatic Insulin Producing Cells in a Directed Differentiation Approach

Endothelial Cell Co-culture Mediates Maturation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell to Pancreatic Insulin Producing Cells in a Directed Differentiation Approach

Published on: March 27, 2012

Isolating and Analyzing Cells of the Pancreas Mesenchyme by Flow Cytometry

Isolating and Analyzing Cells of the Pancreas Mesenchyme by Flow Cytometry

Published on: January 28, 2017

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Endocrinology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Pancreatic endocrine cell expansion is vital for embryonic development, growth, and regeneration.
Mechanisms governing embryonic endocrine pancreas growth and adult islet cell replication remain unclear.
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily signaling is implicated in developmental processes.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the role of TGF-β signaling in regulating pancreatic endocrine maturation and development.
To investigate the specific involvement of intracellular mediators smad2, smad3, and their inhibitor smad7.

Main Methods:

Analysis of smad2, smad3, and smad7 expression patterns during embryonic pancreatic development.
Genetic inactivation of smad2 and smad3 in vivo.
Genetic inactivation of smad7 in vivo.
In vitro antisense studies to examine the interplay between smad7 and smad2/3.

Main Results:

Smad2, smad3, and smad7 showed broad expression in early embryonic pancreatic epithelium.
Later development showed nuclear localization of smad2/3 in endocrine cells and absence of smad7.
Inactivation of smad2/3 resulted in significant endocrine compartment expansion.
Inactivation of smad7 led to a significant decrease in the endocrine compartment.

Conclusions:

The interplay between inhibitory smad7 and intracellular mediators smad2/3 is a critical control point for pancreatic endocrine development.
These findings enhance understanding of key regulatory mechanisms governing beta-cell development.