The Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (TGF-β) family is involved in regulating a variety of cellular processes such as apoptosis, differentiation, and proliferation. TGF-β binding to a Serine/Threonine kinase receptor complex causes the recruitment and subsequent activation of transcription factors known as smad2 and smad3. These proteins subsequently translocate into the nucleus to negatively or...

Recent advances in defining TGF-β signaling pathways have provided a new level of understanding of the role of this pleiotropic growth factor in the development of fibrosis. Here, we review selected topics related to the profibrotic role of TGF-β . We will discuss new insights into the mechanisms of ligand activation and the contribution of Erk1/2 MAPK, PI3K/FAK, and Endoglin/Smad1 signaling pa...

The present study investigated the dynamic expression and regulatory mechanism of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling involved in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) differentiation into male germ cells. Candidate genes involved in TGF-β signaling pathway were screened from RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), which were further validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Bone morphogenetic prot...

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta is the prototype in a family of secreted proteins that act in autocrine and paracrine pathways to regulate cell development and function. Normal cells typically coexpress TGF-beta receptors and one or more isoforms of TGF-beta, thus the synthesis and secretion of TGF-beta as an inactive latent complex is considered an essential step in regula-ting the activ...

Chronic hypoxia activates transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling and leads to pulmonary vascular remodeling. Pharmacological activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) has been shown to prevent hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling in rodent models, suggesting a vasoprotective effect of PPAR-γ under chronic hypoxic stress. This study tes...

A large body of work has established roles for epithelial cells as important mediators of progressive fibrosis and carcinogenesis. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and pro-inflammatory cytokines are important inducers of fibro-carcinogenesis. TGF-beta signaling involves phosphorylation of Smad3 at middle linker and/or C-terminal regions. Reversible shifting of Smad3-dependent signalin...

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent pro-inflammatory eicosanoid that is derived from arachidonic acid, and its signaling is known to have a tumor-promoting role in several cancer types. In this study, we investigated whether enhanced LTB4 signaling confers resistance to the cytostatic transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) response. We found that LTB4 pretreatment or ectopic expression of BLT1, a...

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells have the ability to rapidly secret cytokines in response to diverse stimuli, and therefore influence numerous immune reactions. Although IFN-γ and IL-4 are thought to dominate iNKT cytokine production, a distinct subset of iNKT cells, expressing RORγt and producing IL-17, has now been identified in both mice and humans. Although a role in pathogen and all...

Periodontal regeneration is a complex goal, which commonly pursued with combination of surgical techniques, biomaterials, and bioactive compounds. One such compound enamel matrix derivative (EMD), medical substance that extracted from porcine tooth germs contains several protein fractions BMP- TGF-β-like action. Activation TGF-β signaling required for EMD activity on cells tissues, growing body...

Disruption of the TGF-β pathway is associated with liver fibrosis and suppression of liver tumorigenesis, conditions associated with low Vitamin D (VD) levels. However, potential contributions of VD to liver tumor progression in the context of TGF-β signaling remain unexplored. Our analyses of VD deprivation (VDD) in in vivo models of liver tumor formation revealed striking three-fold increases...