Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling in Fibrotic Diseases and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is essential in embryo development and maintaining normal homeostasis. Extensive evidence shows that TGF-β activation acts on several cell types, including epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells, to form a pro-fibrotic environment, ultimately l...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/12/1666 |
| _version_ | 1797544874671603712 |
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| author | Xueke Shi Christian D. Young Hongmei Zhou Xiao-Jing Wang |
| author_facet | Xueke Shi Christian D. Young Hongmei Zhou Xiao-Jing Wang |
| author_sort | Xueke Shi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is essential in embryo development and maintaining normal homeostasis. Extensive evidence shows that TGF-β activation acts on several cell types, including epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells, to form a pro-fibrotic environment, ultimately leading to fibrotic diseases. TGF-β is stored in the matrix in a latent form; once activated, it promotes a fibroblast to myofibroblast transition and regulates extracellular matrix (ECM) formation and remodeling in fibrosis. TGF-β signaling can also promote cancer progression through its effects on the tumor microenvironment. In cancer, TGF-β contributes to the generation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that have different molecular and cellular properties from activated or fibrotic fibroblasts. CAFs promote tumor progression and chronic tumor fibrosis via TGF-β signaling. Fibrosis and CAF-mediated cancer progression share several common traits and are closely related. In this review, we consider how TGF-β promotes fibrosis and CAF-mediated cancer progression. We also discuss recent evidence suggesting TGF-β inhibition as a defense against fibrotic disorders or CAF-mediated cancer progression to highlight the potential implications of TGF-β-targeted therapies for fibrosis and cancer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:07:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45b95ae77fef4fb7a00802c07f244a92 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:07:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-45b95ae77fef4fb7a00802c07f244a922023-11-21T00:31:58ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2020-12-011012166610.3390/biom10121666Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling in Fibrotic Diseases and Cancer-Associated FibroblastsXueke Shi0Christian D. Young1Hongmei Zhou2Xiao-Jing Wang3State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USAState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USATransforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is essential in embryo development and maintaining normal homeostasis. Extensive evidence shows that TGF-β activation acts on several cell types, including epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells, to form a pro-fibrotic environment, ultimately leading to fibrotic diseases. TGF-β is stored in the matrix in a latent form; once activated, it promotes a fibroblast to myofibroblast transition and regulates extracellular matrix (ECM) formation and remodeling in fibrosis. TGF-β signaling can also promote cancer progression through its effects on the tumor microenvironment. In cancer, TGF-β contributes to the generation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that have different molecular and cellular properties from activated or fibrotic fibroblasts. CAFs promote tumor progression and chronic tumor fibrosis via TGF-β signaling. Fibrosis and CAF-mediated cancer progression share several common traits and are closely related. In this review, we consider how TGF-β promotes fibrosis and CAF-mediated cancer progression. We also discuss recent evidence suggesting TGF-β inhibition as a defense against fibrotic disorders or CAF-mediated cancer progression to highlight the potential implications of TGF-β-targeted therapies for fibrosis and cancer.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/12/1666TGF-β signalingfibroblastsfibrotic diseasescancercancer-associated fibroblastanti-fibrosis/cancer therapy |
| spellingShingle | Xueke Shi Christian D. Young Hongmei Zhou Xiao-Jing Wang Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling in Fibrotic Diseases and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Biomolecules TGF-β signaling fibroblasts fibrotic diseases cancer cancer-associated fibroblast anti-fibrosis/cancer therapy |
| title | Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling in Fibrotic Diseases and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts |
| title_full | Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling in Fibrotic Diseases and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts |
| title_fullStr | Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling in Fibrotic Diseases and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling in Fibrotic Diseases and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts |
| title_short | Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling in Fibrotic Diseases and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts |
| title_sort | transforming growth factor β signaling in fibrotic diseases and cancer associated fibroblasts |
| topic | TGF-β signaling fibroblasts fibrotic diseases cancer cancer-associated fibroblast anti-fibrosis/cancer therapy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/12/1666 |
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