Unanswered Questions Regarding Sex and BMP/TGF-β Signaling

• Main Authors: Tapan A. Shah, Melissa B. Rogers
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-06-01
• Series: Journal of Developmental Biology
• Subjects: BMP; TGF-β; signaling; sex; chromosomes; XIST; genomic imprinting; hormones; fibrosis
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2221-3759/6/2/14

Crosstalk between the BMP and TGF-β signaling pathways regulates many complex developmental processes from the earliest stages of embryogenesis throughout adult life. In many situations, the two signaling pathways act reciprocally. For example, TGF-β signaling is generally pro-fibrotic, whereas BMP signaling is anti-fibrotic and pro-calcific. Sex-specific differences occur in many diseases including cardiovascular pathologies. Differing ratios of fibrosis and calcification in stenotic valves suggests that BMP/TGF-β signaling may vary in men and women. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of the interplay between sex and BMP/TGF-β signaling and pose several unanswered questions.