TGF-β family co-receptor function and signaling. (27th December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nickel, Joachim; ten Dijke, Peter; Mueller, Thomas D
• Is Part Of: Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica. Volume 50:Number 1(2018:Jan.)
• Page Start: 12
• Page End: 36
• Publication Date: 2017-12-27
• Subjects: activin -- BMP -- co-receptor -- SMAD -- TGF-β; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Biophysics -- Periodicals; 572.05
• DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmx126
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1672-9145

Abstract

Abstract: Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family members, which include TGF-βs, activins and bone morphogenetic proteins, are pleiotropic cytokines that elicit cell type-specific effects in a highly context-dependent manner in many different tissues. These secreted protein ligands signal via single-transmembrane Type I and Type II serine/threonine kinase receptors and intracellular SMAD transcription factors. Deregulation in signaling has been implicated in a broad array of diseases, and implicate the need for intricate fine tuning in cellular signaling responses. One important emerging mechanism by which TGF-β family receptor signaling intensity, duration, specificity and diversity are regulated and/or mediated is through cell surface co-receptors. Here, we provide an overview of the co-receptors that have been identified for TGF-β family members. While some appear to be specific to TGF-β family members, others are shared with other pathways and provide possible ways for signal integration. This review focuses on novel functions of TGF-β family co-receptors, which continue to be discovered.