Smad7 Protein Interacts with Receptor-regulated Smads (R-Smads) to Inhibit Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad Signaling

TGF-β Signaling from Receptors to Smads.

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and related growth factors are secreted pleiotropic factors that play critical roles in embryogenesis and adult tissue homeostasis by regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, death, and migration. The TGF-β family members signal via heteromeric complexes of type I and type II receptors, which activate members of the Smad family of signal transducers. ...

Choosing Smads: smooth muscle origin-specific transforming growth factor-β signaling.

Specificity and Versatility in TGF-β Signaling Through Smads

The TGF-β family comprises many structurally related differentiation factors that act through a heteromeric receptor complex at the cell surface and an intracellular signal transducing Smad complex. The receptor complex consists of two type II and two type I transmembrane serine/threonine kinases. Upon phosphorylation by the receptors, Smad complexes translocate into the nucleus, where they coo...

Transcriptional Activators of TGF-β Responses: Smads

Programs in Cell Biology and Developmental Biology ence with Smad signaling inhibits the ligand-induced response, Smads are considered as effectors for the ligand-induced transcriptional responses. Recent progress provides insight into the mechanisms through which Smads regulate transcription and explains the sequence heterogeneity of the TGF-␤/activin-respon-Smads are a class of proteins that ...

Valsartan blocks thrombospondin/transforming growth factor/Smads to inhibit aortic remodeling in diabetic rats

BACKGROUND Angiotensin II (Ang II) and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) are closely involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. We aimed to determine whether an aberrant thrombospondin 1 (TSP1)-mediated TGFβ1/Smads signaling pathway specifically affects vascular fibrosis in diabetic rats and whether valsartan, an Ang II subtype 1 receptor blocker, has an anti-fibrotic effect. M...