title: [Transforming growth factor-beta superfamily in the regulation of new bone formation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the recent advances in transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) superfamily study and its role in new bone formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The latest original articles related to this subject were retrieved extensively, especially the effect of TGF-beta, bone morphogenetic proteins(BMPs) and activin(ACT) on distraction osteogenesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TGF-beta, BMPs and ACT play important roles in prompting new bone formation and each of them has different effects. Among them, TGF-beta can stimulate the proliferation of osteoblast and synthesis of extra cellular medium; BMPs can initiate the differentiation of interstitial cell to osteocyte; then ACT displays the combine effect of above two factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TGF-beta superfamily can regulate new bone formation and thus shorten the course of mandibular distraction osteogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Second Medical University, Shanghai, P. R. China 200011.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zuo-Liang
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D028341:Activins