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Updated: Jul 26, 2025

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
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TGFβ signaling pathways in human health and disease

Pei-Yu Chen1, Lingfeng Qin2, Michael Simons1,3

  • 1Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.

Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
|June 16, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) regulates cell fate, particularly in blood vessels. This review focuses on its critical roles beyond its cancer-promoting origins.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) was initially identified for its role in promoting malignant cell transformation.
  • Decades of research reveal TGFβ as a pleiotropic cytokine with diverse biological functions.
  • TGFβ family members and their receptors are ubiquitously expressed across human tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of TGFβ.
  • To highlight the critical function of TGFβ in regulating cell fate.
  • To focus on TGFβ's specific activities within the vasculature.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on TGFβ.
  • Analysis of TGFβ's diverse cellular activities.
  • Focus on vascular cell fate regulation.

Main Results:

  • TGFβ exhibits varied effects depending on cell type and physiological context.
  • TGFβ plays a crucial role in determining cell fate.
  • Specific emphasis on TGFβ's impact on vascular cells.

Conclusions:

  • TGFβ is a complex signaling molecule with functions extending far beyond its initial discovery.
  • Understanding TGFβ's role in cell fate, especially in the vasculature, is critical.
  • This review provides insights into the vascular-specific functions of TGFβ.
Keywords:
EndMTRNAiTGFβaneurysmcell fateendothelail cellnanoparticlesmooth muscle cell

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