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Updated: Jul 9, 2025

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
Published on: October 27, 2020
TGF-β3 mediates mitochondrial dynamics through the p-Smad3/AMPK pathway
Xinmei Du1, Mengmeng Duan1, Shiyi Kan1
1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGF-β3) promotes mitochondrial fission in chondrocytes, increasing mitochondrial numbers. This process is mediated by the AMPK signaling pathway, offering potential therapeutic strategies for osteoarthritis.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Mitochondrial Dynamics
- Osteoarthritis Pathophysiology
Background:
- Mitochondrial dynamics are crucial for cartilage health.
- Dysfunctional mitochondrial dynamics contribute to cartilage diseases like osteoarthritis (OA).
- Transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGF-β3) is present in OA joints, but its role in mitochondrial dynamics is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of TGF-β3 on chondrocyte mitochondrial dynamics.
- To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of TGF-β3's action on mitochondria.
Main Methods:
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for mitochondrial morphology and number.
- Western blotting for protein expression analysis.
- Immunofluorescence for protein localization.
- RNA sequencing for transcriptome profiling.
Main Results:
- TGF-β3 significantly increased the number of mitochondria in chondrocytes.
- TGF-β3 promoted mitochondrial fission, leading to increased mitochondrial numbers.
- TGF-β3-induced mitochondrial fission was mediated by the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway.
- TGF-β3 activated the canonical p-Smad3 signaling pathway, which subsequently mediated AMPK-induced mitochondrial fission.
Conclusions:
- TGF-β3 plays a key role in regulating mitochondrial dynamics in chondrocytes by promoting mitochondrial fission.
- The findings highlight a novel mechanism involving TGF-β3, p-Smad3, and AMPK in controlling mitochondrial biogenesis.
- This research provides insights into potential therapeutic targets for cartilage injury and OA, focusing on energy metabolism regulation.
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