Description
Transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF- β 2) is a member of TGF-beta superfamily that shares a characteristiccysteine knot structure. Mice with TGF- β 2 gene deletion show defects in development of cardiac, lung,craniofacial, limb, spinal column, eye, inner ear and urogenital systems. All TGF-β isoforms signal via the sameheteromeric receptor complex, consisting of a ligand binding TGF- β receptor type II (T β R-II), and a TGF- βreceptor type I (T β R-I). Signal transduction from the receptor to the nucleus is mediated via SMADs. TGF- βexpression is found in cartilage, bone, teeth, muscle, heart, blood vessels, haematopoitic cells, lung, kidney,gut, liver, eye, ear, skin, and the nervous system.