title: Focus issue: TGF-β and the mesenchymal transition in physiology and disease.
abstract: The ability of cells to alter their phenotypic and morphological characteristics, known as cellular plasticity, is critical in normal embryonic development and adult tissue repair and contributes to the progression of diseases like organ fibrosis and cancer. Signaling mediated by the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily of extracellular protein ligands is one pathway that is integral to these processes. Content published in Science Signaling highlights the roles and complexities of TGF-β signaling in physiology and disease.
authors.affiliation: Associate Editor of Science Signaling, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1200 New York Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20005, USA. lferrare@aaas.org.
authors.forename: Leslie K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Ferrarelli
authors.affiliation: Editor of Science Signaling, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1200 New York Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20005, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Gough
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta