Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 10, 2025

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

13.7K

TGF-β superfamily co-receptors in cancer

John B Pawlak1, Gerard C Blobe1,2

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

Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists
|April 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily co-receptors modulate SMAD signaling, impacting cancer growth and metastasis. Soluble co-receptors can antagonize membrane-bound forms, influencing TGF-β signaling pathways in disease.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily signaling is crucial for cellular functions.
  • TGF-β signaling is modulated by co-receptors, influencing SMAD-mediated pathways.
  • Soluble forms of co-receptors can act antagonistically to membrane-bound receptors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the roles of various TGF-β superfamily co-receptors.
  • To elucidate the impact of co-receptors on TGF-β signaling and cellular functions.
  • To focus on the implications of co-receptor dysregulation in cancer pathophysiology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of TGF-β superfamily co-receptors.
  • Analysis of co-receptor function in SMAD-mediated signaling.
  • Discussion of co-receptors in cancer growth, metastasis, and tumor microenvironment.

Main Results:

  • Co-receptors dynamically enhance or depress TGF-β superfamily signaling.
  • Soluble co-receptors can antagonize membrane-bound receptor activity.
  • Dysregulation of co-receptors contributes to cancer development and progression.

Conclusions:

  • TGF-β superfamily co-receptors are critical regulators of TGF-β signaling.
  • Altered co-receptor function significantly impacts cancer biology.
  • Targeting co-receptors presents potential therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.
Keywords:
BAMBICD109Cripto-1RGMSCUBETGF-βTβRIIIcancerco-receptorendoglinneuropilin

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

22.2K
A Mouse Model to Investigate the Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Growth06:35

A Mouse Model to Investigate the Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Growth

Published on: December 22, 2020

4.8K

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...
8.2K
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...
2.5K
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...
7.3K
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
3.2K
Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors01:30

Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors

G Protein–Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to various stimuli. GPCRs regulate critical physiological pathways and are excellent drug targets for treating diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, depression, or Alzheimer's. Nearly 35% of approved drugs implement their therapeutic effects by selectively interacting with specific GPCRs.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical,...
3.1K
Receptor Tyrosine Kinases01:26

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

Receptor tyrosine kinases or RTKs are membrane-bound receptors that phosphorylate specific tyrosine on protein substrates. RTKs regulate cellular growth, differentiation, survival, and migration. They contain an extracellular ligand binding domain, a transmembrane domain, and a cytosolic tail with intrinsic kinase activity. Several extracellular signaling molecules activate RTKs in one or more ways and relay the signal downstream. Ligands such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or...
16.0K