The TGFβ superfamily in stem cell biology and early mammalian embryonic development

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 1830; no. 2; pp. 2268 - 2279
• Main Authors: Beyer, Tobias A., Narimatsu, Masahiro, Weiss, Alexander, David, Laurent, Wrana, Jeffrey L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.02.2013
• Subjects: Animals; Cell fate; cytokines; Embryo, Mammalian - cytology; Embryo, Mammalian - metabolism; embryogenesis; embryonic stem cells; mammals; medicine; Pluripotency; signal transduction; SMAD; Stem cell; TGFbeta family; transforming growth factor beta; Transforming Growth Factor beta - metabolism; TGFbeta family; SMAD; Cell fate; Stem cell; Pluripotency
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 0006-3002; 1872-8006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2012.08.025

Members of the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGFβ) superfamily of cytokines are essential for early embryonic development and play crucial roles in pluripotency and differentiation of embryonic stem cells in vitro. In this review, we discuss how TGFβ family signals are read by cells and how they are modulated by the cellular context. Furthermore, we review recent advances in our understanding of TGFβ function in embryonic stem cells and point out hot topics at the intersection of TGFβ signaling and stem cell biology fields. TGFβ family signals are essential for early mammalian development and the importance of this pathway is reflected in pluripotent stem cells derived from the mammalian embryo. Understanding signaling pathways underlying pluripotency and cell fate specification holds promises for the advent of personalized regenerative medicine. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Biochemistry of Stem Cells. ► The molecular mechanism of TGFβ signaling in stem cell controlling pluripotency. ► Molecular events driven by TGFβ family/SMAD signaling to cell fate determination. ► Integration of the TGFβ pathway with the core pluripotency transcription factors. ► Open questions on the crossroad of stem cell biology and the TGFβ pathway.