title: TGFβ signaling and the control of myofibroblast differentiation: Implications for chronic inflammatory disorders.
abstract: The myofibroblast is a highly specialized cell type that plays a critical role during normal tissue wound healing, but also contributes pathologically to chronic inflammatory conditions such as fibrosis and cancer. As fibrotic conditions continue to be a major burden to the public health system, novel therapies that target the function of myofibroblasts may show promise in the clinic. The cytokine transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is the most potent known inducer of myofibroblast differentiation and thus represents a powerful target to modify myofibroblast function during disease. This review focuses on our current understanding of the key signaling pathways activated by TGFβ during myofibroblast differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathon M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8634-3634
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Carthy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins
keywords: cancer; fibroblast; fibrosis; myofibroblast; smooth muscle α-actin; transforming growth factor β