Goumans MJ, Ten Dijke P. TGF-β Signaling in Control of Cardiovascular Function.
Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2018;
10:cshperspect.a022210. [PMID:
28348036 DOI:
10.1101/cshperspect.a022210]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Genetic studies in animals and humans indicate that gene mutations that functionally perturb transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling are linked to specific hereditary vascular syndromes, including Osler-Rendu-Weber disease or hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and Marfan syndrome. Disturbed TGF-β signaling can also cause nonhereditary disorders like atherosclerosis and cardiac fibrosis. Accordingly, cell culture studies using endothelial cells or smooth muscle cells (SMCs), cultured alone or together in two- or three-dimensional cell culture assays, on plastic or embedded in matrix, have shown that TGF-β has a pivotal effect on endothelial and SMC proliferation, differentiation, migration, tube formation, and sprouting. Moreover, TGF-β can stimulate endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, a process shown to be of key importance in heart valve cushion formation and in various pathological vascular processes. Here, we discuss the roles of TGF-β in vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis and the deregulation of TGF-β signaling in cardiovascular diseases.
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