title: Role of TGF-beta in vascular development and vascular reactivity.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is the prototypic member of a large family of structurally related proteins. Three vertebrate TGF-beta isoforms have been identified and termed TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, and TGF-beta3, respectively. In addition, two receptors of the serine/threonine kinase family termed type I and II have also been identified. In this review, we focused our attention on the effects of TGF-beta on vascular development and vascular reactivity. The critical role of the TGF-beta1 and the TGF-beta type II receptor in blood vessel formation in the yolk sac has been demonstrated by gene deletion experiments. Recent investigations have also shown that isoforms of TGF-beta play a critical role in smooth muscle cell differentiation. And, finally, a role for TGF-beta1 in the regulation of vascular tone and reactivity has been suggested by studies demonstrating that TGF-beta1 can inhibit the production of potent vasodilators (such as nitric oxide) and stimulate the production of potent vasoconstrictors (such as endothelin). Taken together, these studies suggest that TGF-beta plays a critical role in blood vessel development and vascular function.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, Harvard School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass 02115, USA. Perrella@cvlab.harvard.edu
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Perrella
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase