During bone growth, development, and remodeling, angiogenesis as well as osteogenesis are closely associated processes, sharing some essential mediators. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was initially recognized as the best-characterized endothelial-specific growth factor, which increased vascular permeability and angiogenesis, and it is now apparent that this cytokine regulates multip...

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) has been implicated to play an important role both in the process of normal development and in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of disease processes, including those of the kidney. TGF-β1 regulates diverse cellular functions via a heteromeric signaling complex of two transmembrane serine/threonine kinase receptors (types I and II). Several distinct type ...

PURPOSE The role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in breast cancer is ambiguous; it can display both tumor suppressing and enhancing effects. Activation of the TGF-beta signal transduction system is subject to hormonal regulation. This study was conducted to further analyze the role of TGF-beta receptors in breast cancer and to evaluate their significance as prognostic markers. E...

Factors from two growth factor families have been identified as having mesoderm inducing activity. These include activin and TGF beta 2 from the TGF beta superfamily, and all members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. When isolated ectoderm explants are treated with any of these factors, a proportion of their cells are caused to differentiate into mesodermal tissue types instead of e...

Integrins are a large family of transmembrane glycoprotein receptors initially identified as mediators of cell adhesion and tissue integrity. However, it is now known that the primary function of integrins in mammals is to act as signalling proteins. Signals from integrins are known to play critical roles in virtually every aspect of the behaviour of epithelial cells and in the development of c...

By definition, growth factors are polypeptides that modulate the proliferation of mammalian cells by acting on their receptors at low concentration. Based on similarities in their sequences and their receptors, growth factors can be divided into several superfamilies including platelet-derived growth factors, epidermal growth factors, insulin-like growth factors, the transforming growth factor-...

OBJECTIVE Loss-of-function mutations in genes coding for transforming growth factor-beta/bone morphogenetic protein receptors and changes in nitric oxide(*) (NO(*)) bioavailability are associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and some forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension. How these abnormalities lead to seemingly disparate pulmonary pathologies remains unknown. Endoglin (Eng), ...

Abstract Introduction High-grade primary brain tumors cause serious morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) suppressor mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad) receptors in high-grade tumors. Material Method Thirteen patients with a pathological diagnosis glioblastoma multiforme were included study. Pathological preparations eac...