Transforming Growth Factor-β1 as a Common Target Molecule for Development of Cardiovascular Diseases, Renal Insufficiency and Metabolic Syndrome

Figure 1

Schematic diagram of TGF-β superfamily signaling pathway. TGF-β is produced as a latent protein that is activated by various factors including plasmin, MMPs, and Tsp-1. Active form of TGF-β binds to its receptors and induces Smad2/3 phosphorylation, and BMPs induce Smad1/5/8 phosporylation. Activated R-Smads, form heteromeric complexes with Smad4 and regulate the expression of target genes of TGF-β such as fibronectin, collagen type I, PAI-1 and MMP-2 in the nucleus. TGF-β: transforming growth factor-β, LAP: latency-associated peptide, MMPs: metalloproteinases, Tsp-1: thrombospondin-1 and BMP: bone morphogenetic protein.