TGF- β family signaling in multiple myeloma - Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine
Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine
TGF-β family signaling in multiple myeloma
Many factors play important roles in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma. We focus on how transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family signaling pathways affects myeloma cell growth and survival.
This family includes ligands such as TGF-β, activins, BMPs and GDFs. Some of these ligands send «suicide signals» to myeloma cells. Many factors influence this process and the effect of a given ligand will always depend on the context. We aim to understand exactly how ligands kill myeloma cells.
We hope this research will help us to develop novel drugs for treatment of myeloma patients.
In our latest publication we show that activins can act as dual-specificity TGF-β family molecules and activate both SMAD-pathways in myeloma cells (figure 1). Activins as Dual Specificity TGF-β Family Molecules: SMAD-Activation via Activin- and BMP-Type 1 Receptors (NTNU Open)