Transforming growth factor-beta signalling pathway in tendon healing

Transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) plays an important but diverse role in tendon injuries, such as collagen synthesis, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and cell adhesion, leading to tendon healing and tendon fibrosis. In the well-known canonical TGF-beta signalling pathway, TGF-beta activates Smad signalling through its two cell surface receptors, which leads to Smad-mediated transcriptional regulation and is also regulated by inhibitory Smads, forming a negative feedback regulatory pathway. In the context of the canonical TGF-beta signalling mechanism mediated by Smad, the activated receptors also send signals through other signal transducers, which in the backdrop of TGF-beta signaling are collectively known as non-Smad signalling pathways. Activated TGF-beta binds to the receptor and acts through these signalling pathways. Understanding the mechanism of the TGF-beta signalling pathway and its role in tendon repair is of great significance for targeting the TGF-beta signalling pathway to accelerate tendon healing and reduce tendon fibrosis.