Other Names

TGFB2, G-TSF; LDS4; TGF-beta2

Background

TGFβ2 is a multifunctional polypeptide cytokine composed of 442 amino acids. It plays an important role in cell morphology, proliferation, differentiation, embryonic development and angiogenesis, and plays a very key role in the regulation of human immune system. The activated receptor complex signal is transmitted to cells mainly through Smad protein family.  Ligands of this family bind various TGF-beta receptors leading to recruitment and activation of SMAD family transcription factors that regulate gene expression. The encoded preproprotein is proteolytically processed to generate a latency-associated peptide (LAP) and a mature peptide, and is found in either a latent form composed of a mature peptide homodimer, a LAP homodimer, and a latent TGF-beta binding protein, or in an active form consisting solely of the mature peptide homodimer. The mature peptide may also form heterodimers with other TGF-beta family members. Disruption of the TGF-beta/SMAD pathway has been implicated in a variety of human cancers.