TGF-β signaling pathway as a pharmacological target in liver diseases

Abstract

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) belongs to a class of pleiotropic cytokines that are involved in the processes of embryonic development, wound healing, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Moreover, TGF-β is also regarded as a central regulator in the pathogenesis and development of various liver diseases because it contributes to almost all of the stages of disease progression. A range of liver cells are considered to secrete TGF-β ligands and express related receptors and, consequently, play a crucial role in the progression of liver disease via different signal pathways. In this manuscript, we review the role of the TGF-β signaling pathway in liver disease and the potential of targeting the TGF-β signaling in the pharmacological treatment of liver diseases.

Keywords: LY-2157299 (PubChem CID: 10090485); LY2109761 (PubChem CID: 11655119); Liver diseases; Pharmacological target; SB-431542 (PubChem CID: 4521392); SB-505124 (PubChem CID: 9858940); Signaling pathway; Targeted drugs; Transforming growth factor β.