Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Athens Medical School, 11527 Athens, Greece.
Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2012 Mar;44(3):475-9. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2011.12.014. Epub 2011 Dec 31.
Rising obesity epidemic makes the better understanding of transcription factor networks regulating adipogenesis very challenging. Adipogenesis begins with the commitment of pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells to the adipocyte lineage, followed by terminal differentiation of preadipocytes to mature adipocytes. Among the molecules that influence the decision of progenitor cells to become adipocytes are members of transforming growth factor-beta superfamily and particularly bone morphogenetic proteins. Transforming growth factor-beta and bone morphogenetic proteins exert their biological functions mainly through their downstream molecules, the Smads. Here, we review the role(s) of transforming growth factor-beta/bone morphogenetic protein signalling pathway in adipocyte differentiation. Unravelling the precise mechanism of each molecule/pathway is necessary for developing suitable inhibitors or mimetic agents in order to treat obesity and improve insulin resistance. Current research efforts aim at discovering drugs that reduce fat mass or change the phenotype of adipose tissue into a more thermogenic one.
肥胖症的流行使得深入了解调节脂肪生成的转录因子网络变得极具挑战性。脂肪生成始于多能间充质干细胞向脂肪细胞谱系的定向，随后前脂肪细胞向成熟脂肪细胞的终末分化。影响祖细胞成为脂肪细胞的决定的分子包括转化生长因子-β超家族成员和骨形态发生蛋白。转化生长因子-β和骨形态发生蛋白主要通过其下游分子 Smads 发挥生物学功能。在这里，我们综述了转化生长因子-β/骨形态发生蛋白信号通路在脂肪细胞分化中的作用。揭示每个分子/通路的精确机制对于开发合适的抑制剂或模拟物以治疗肥胖症和改善胰岛素抵抗是必要的。目前的研究旨在发现能够减少脂肪量或改变脂肪组织表型为更产热型的药物。
