Transforming growth factor (TGF) beta 2 is a member of the TGF-β superfamily and regulates diverse cellular phenotypes. Similar to TGF-β1 & -β3, TGF-β2 signals via serine-threonine kinase type I and II receptors and activates signal transduction via SMAD family proteins, regulating a variety of functions such as cell proliferation, differentiation, wound healing, apoptosis, and metabolism (de Caestecker; Massague; Zuniga et al.). TGF-β2 is important in many developmental processes; for example, mice with TGF-β2 deletions show defects in the development of cardiac, lung, craniofacial, limb, eye, ear, and urogenital systems (Dunker & Kreiglstein).
