title: Regulation of differentiation by TGF-beta.
abstract: Recent experiments in neural, skeletal, endothelial, and hematopoietic tissues have provided new insights into the way members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily regulate cellular differentiation. TGF-betas regulate the fate of multipotential stem cells instructively (in the neural crest) by regulating the expression or function of tissue-specific transcription factors, as well as selectively (in the mesenchyme) by regulating the expression of required growth factors and their receptors. During skeletal development, TGF-betas have unique functions and act sequentially to modulate chondrocyte and osteoblast differentiation. Responsiveness to TGF-betas changes as cells differentiate and evidence now suggests that changes in TGF-beta receptor profile may account for some of these differences. Drosophila and transgenic mouse models are now providing useful insights into mechanisms of TGF-beta action in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Cancer Center and Department of Cell Biology, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-6838, USA. hal.moses@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Moses
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000502:physiology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000502:physiology; D008322:Mammals; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D007265:Inhibins