title: Transforming growth factor-beta signal transduction and progressive renal disease.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily members are multifunctional growth factors that play pivotal roles in development and tissue homeostasis. Recent studies have underscored the importance of TGF-beta in regulation of cell proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis and deposition. TGF-beta signaling is initiated by ligand binding to a membrane-associated receptor complex that has serine/threonine kinase activity. This receptor complex phosphorylates specific Smad proteins, which then transduce the ligand-activated signal to the nucleus. Smad complexes regulate target gene transcription either by directly binding DNA sequences, or by complexing with other transcription factors or co-activators. There is extensive crosstalk between the TGF-beta signaling pathway and other signaling systems, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. The importance of TGF-beta in regulation of cell growth has been emphasized by recent observations that mutations of critical elements of the TGF-beta signaling system are associated with tumor progression in patients with many different types of epithelial neoplasms. TGF-beta has emerged as a predominant mediator of extracellular matrix production and deposition in progressive renal disease and in other forms of chronic tissue injury. In this overview, recent advances in our understanding of TGF-beta signaling, cell cycle regulation by TGF-beta, and the role of TGF-beta in progressive renal injury are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Renal Pathophysiology Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Jingfei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Grande
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta