TGF-β Family Signaling in Epithelial Differentiation and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

The document reviews the roles of the Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) family in epithelial differentiation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), with a focus on their involvement in various developmental processes such as neural crest development, skin and hair follicle development, and organogenesis. It explains how TGF-β family ligands, including TGF-βs, activins, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and growth and differentiation factors (GDFs), signal through Smad proteins and kinase pathways to influence cell differentiation and EMT. The review highlights the importance of BMP signaling in maintaining hair follicle stem cell (HFSC) quiescence and differentiation, and the role of TGF-β signaling in skin regeneration and hair follicle cycling. It also discusses the involvement of these pathways in the development of the palate, teeth, and eye, including lens and retinal epithelium formation. The document does not specify the number of subjects in the study, as it is a general review of signaling pathways rather than a specific experimental study.