抑制型Smad对TGF-β信号通路的负调控研究进展

Research Progress on the Negative Regulation of the TGF-β Signaling Pathway by Inhibitory Smads

转化生长因子TGF-β超家族是一类在结构上相关的蛋白,目前发现在哺乳动物中有超过30多个细胞因子可能属于这一超家族。它们在各类细胞中广泛参与细胞生长、黏附、迁移、分化及凋亡等过程。其中抑制型Smad(I-Smads,包括Smad6和Smad7)是TGF-β/BMP信号通路里重要的抑制型蛋白,在多种细胞与组织的发育过程以及疾病的发生过程中扮演着重要的角色。对其研究已经过10多年,取得许多重大的进展,但也还有很多重要的问题还没有解决。着重介绍I-Smads对TGF-β信号通路的负调控研究进展。

The transforming growth factor-β （ TGF-β ） superfamily is a family of structurally related proteins, and by now more than 30 members have been identified in mammals. They are widely involved in the process of cell growth, cell-cell adhesion, cell migration, eell differentiation, and apoptosis of different kinds of cells. Inhibitory Smads （ I-Smads ） , including Smad6 and Smad7, are key negative regulators in the TGF-β/BMP pathways, and play pivotal roles in the development of multiple cells and tissues and the process of disease genesis. Though the TGF-β signaling pathway has been studied for more than ten years and there had been many great discoveries, there are still a lot of important problems to be solved. Here we will give a highlighting introduction to the research progress on the negative regulation of TGF-β signaling by I-Smads.