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Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
Published on: October 27, 2020
Crosstalk between TGF-β signaling and epigenome
Jianbo Bai1,2, Qiaoran Xi1
1Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Abstract:
The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) family of ligands plays major roles in embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, adult immunity, and wound repair. Dysregulation of TGF-β signaling pathway leads to severe diseases. Its key components have been revealed over the past two decades. This family of cytokines acts by activating receptor activated SMAD (R-SMAD) transcription factors, which in turn modulate the expression of specific sets of target genes. Cells of a multicellular organism have the same genetic information, yet they show structural and functional differences owing to differential expression of their genes. Studies have demonstrated that epigenetic regulation, an integral part of the TGF-β signaling, enables cells to sense and respond to TGF-β signaling in a cell context-dependent manner. R-SMAD, as the central transcription factor of TGF-β signaling, can recruit various epigenetic regulators to shape the transcriptome. In this review, we focus on epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in the TGF-β signaling during mammalian development and diseases and discuss the central role of the interaction between R-SMAD and various epigenetic regulators in this epigenetic regulation. The crosstalk between TGF-β signaling and the epigenome could serve as a versatile fine-tuning mechanism for transcriptional regulation during embryonic development and progression of diseases, particularly cancer.
Insights
The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway regulates gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. This review highlights how R-SMAD interactions with epigenetic regulators impact development and disease, especially cancer.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway is crucial for embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, immunity, and repair.
- Dysregulation of TGF-β signaling is linked to severe diseases, including cancer.
- Epigenetic regulation plays a key role in mediating cellular responses to TGF-β signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review epigenetic regulatory mechanisms within the TGF-β signaling pathway during mammalian development and disease.
- To elucidate the central role of receptor-activated SMAD (R-SMAD) interactions with epigenetic regulators.
- To discuss the implications of TGF-β signaling and epigenome crosstalk in transcriptional regulation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on epigenetic mechanisms in TGF-β signaling.
- Analysis of R-SMAD interactions with epigenetic modifiers.
- Examination of studies on mammalian development and disease models.
Main Results:
- TGF-β signaling utilizes epigenetic regulation for cell context-dependent responses.
- R-SMAD proteins recruit epigenetic regulators to modulate gene expression.
- Crosstalk between TGF-β signaling and the epigenome fine-tunes transcription.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic regulation is integral to TGF-β signaling, influencing development and disease.
- The interaction between R-SMAD and epigenetic regulators is critical for shaping the transcriptome.
- Understanding this crosstalk offers insights into developmental processes and cancer progression.
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