Bone morphogenetic proteins, activins, and growth and differentiation factors in tumor immunology and immunotherapy resistance

Abstract

The TGF-β superfamily is a group of secreted polypeptides with key roles in exerting and regulating a variety of physiologic effects, especially those related to cell signaling, growth, development, and differentiation. Although its central member, TGF-β, has been extensively reviewed, other members of the family—namely bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), activins, and growth and differentiation factors (GDFs)—have not been as thoroughly investigated. Moreover, although the specific roles of TGF-β signaling in cancer immunology and immunotherapy resistance have been extensively reported, little is known of the roles of BMPs, activins, and GDFs in these domains. This review focuses on how these superfamily members influence key immune cells in cancer progression and resistance to treatment.

Novel role of bone morphogenetic protein 9 in innate host responses to HCMV infection

“…The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Activin signaling pathways have recently been implicated as new regulators of antiviral innate immune responses (Eddowes et al, 2019 ; Jiyarom et al, 2022 ; Zhong et al, 2021 ). BMPs and Activins belong to the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family of cytokines, and are multi-functional growth factors (Ganjoo et al, 2022 ; Nickel and Mueller, 2019 ). BMP ligands bind specific receptor complexes, consisting of one type I and one type II receptor, subsequently inducing the formation of an intracellular trimeric transcription factor complex, consisting of Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (SMAD) proteins, resulting in the transcriptional activation of SMAD-responsive genes (Fig.…”

Novel role of bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) in innate host responses to HCMV infection

“…The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Activin signaling pathways have recently been implicated as new regulators of antiviral innate immune responses (Eddowes et al , 2019; Jiyarom et al , 2022; Zhong et al , 2021). BMPs and Activins belong to the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family of cytokines, and are multi-functional growth factors (Ganjoo et al , 2022; Nickel & Mueller, 2019). BMP ligands bind specific receptor complexes, consisting of one type I and one type II receptor, subsequently inducing the formation of an intracellular trimeric transcription factor complex, consisting of Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (SMAD) proteins, resulting in the transcriptional activation of SMAD-responsive genes (Figure 1).…”