Wang Xiao-Ling, Yang Meng, Wang Ying
Clinical Laboratory, Shanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan 030012, Shanxi Province, China.
World J Hepatol. 2024 Jul 27;16(7):973-979. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i7.973.
In this editorial we expand the discussion on the article by Zhang published in the recent issue of the . We focus on the diagnostic and therapeutic targets identified on the basis of the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of liver disease. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) belongs to a structurally related cytokine super family. The family members display different time- and tissue-specific expression patterns associated with autoimmunity, inflammation, fibrosis, and tumorigenesis; and, they participate in the pathogenesis of many diseases. TGF-β and its related signaling pathways have been shown to participate in the progression of liver diseases, such as injury, inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and cancer. The often studied TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway has been shown to promote or inhibit liver fibrosis under different circumstances. Similarly, the early immature TGF-β molecule functions as a tumor suppressor, inducing apoptosis; but, its interaction with the mitogenic molecule epidermal growth factor alters this effect, activating anti-apoptotic signals that promote liver cancer development. Overall, TGF-β signaling displays contradictory effects in different liver disease stages. Therefore, the use of TGF-β and related signaling pathway molecules for diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases remains a challenge and needs further study. In this editorial, we aim to review the evidence for the use of TGF-β signaling pathway molecules as diagnostic or therapeutic targets for different liver disease stages.
在这篇社论中，我们拓展了对张发表于最近一期《 》上文章的讨论。我们聚焦于基于当前对肝病分子机制的理解所确定的诊断和治疗靶点。转化生长因子-β（TGF-β）属于一个结构相关的细胞因子超家族。该家族成员表现出与自身免疫、炎症、纤维化和肿瘤发生相关的不同时间和组织特异性表达模式；并且，它们参与多种疾病的发病机制。TGF-β及其相关信号通路已被证明参与肝病的进展，如损伤、炎症、纤维化、肝硬化和癌症。经常被研究的TGF-β/Smad信号通路在不同情况下已被证明可促进或抑制肝纤维化。同样，早期未成熟的TGF-β分子起肿瘤抑制作用，诱导细胞凋亡；但是，它与促有丝分裂分子表皮生长因子的相互作用改变了这种效应，激活促进肝癌发展的抗凋亡信号。总体而言，TGF-β信号在不同肝病阶段表现出矛盾的作用。因此，使用TGF-β及相关信号通路分子来诊断和治疗肝病仍然是一项挑战，需要进一步研究。在这篇社论中，我们旨在综述将TGF-β信号通路分子用作不同肝病阶段诊断或治疗靶点的证据。
