European Journal of Dermatology
MENUSignaling moderation: TGF-β in exocrine gland development, maintenance, and regulation Ahead of print
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Division of Developmental Biology,
Children's Hospital Medical Center,
3333 Burnet Avenue,
Cincinnati,
OH 45229,
USA, Department of Biomedical Sciences,
College of Veterinary Medicine,
Cornell University,
Ithaca,
NY 14853,
USA
- Key words: Exocrine gland, microenvironment, signal transduction, TGF-β signaling
- DOI : 10.1684/ejd.2013.1979
The TGF-β superfamily is involved in embryonic development and regulation of many cellular processes. Importantly, these signaling molecules have been increasingly revealed to play a crucial role in exocrine gland maintenance and regulation. TGF-β is involved in controlling the branching morphogenesis that is common to most exocrine glands, including: mammary gland, salivary, prostate, and in sebaceous gland regulation. In this review, we explore the molecular mechanisms and uses of TGF-β in crafting the microenvironment of epithelial tissues surrounding these exocrine glands and how perturbations in the signaling pathway affect their differentiation and proper development.