Transforming growth factor-beta: the breaking open of a black box.
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and its related proteins regulate broad aspects of body development, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and gene expression, in various organisms. Deregulated TGF-beta function has been causally implicated in the generation of human fibrotic disorders and in tumor progression. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms of TGF-beta action remained essentially unknown until recently. Here, we discuss recent progress in our understanding of the mechanism of TGF-beta signal transduction with respect to the regulation of gene expression, the control of cell phenotype and the potential usage of TGF-beta for the treatment of human diseases.
Alevizopoulos
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Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnology, Center of Biotechnology UNIL-EPFL, DC-IGC, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Mermod
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D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005810:Multigene Family; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D009928:Organ Specificity; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta