TGFbeta signaling pathways and human diseases.

Recent progress in deciphering the TGFbeta pathway has uncovered a new signaling molecule, the Smads, and with this finding now gives us insights into how TGFbeta-like signals are transmitted from outside the cell to the nucleus. As we learn more about how TGFbeta regulates normal development, we also are gaining insights into diseases that are caused by mis-regulation or mutation of various components of the signaling pathways.