The harmonies played by TGF-β in stem cell biology

Naoki Oshimori, Elaine Fuchs

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

156 Scopus citations

Abstract

To rejuvenate tissues and/or repair wounds, stem cells must receive extrinsic signals from their surrounding environment and integrate them with their intrinsic abilities to self-renew and differentiate to make tissues. Increasing evidence suggests that the superfamily of transforming growth factor-βs (TGF-βs) constitute integral components in the intercellular crosstalk between stem cells and their microenvironment. In this review, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of TGF-β superfamily functions in embryonic and adult stem cells. We discuss how these pathways help to define the physiological environment where stem cells reside, and how perturbations in the signaling circuitry contribute to cancers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)751-764
Number of pages14
JournalCell Stem Cell
Volume11
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 7 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

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