The primary cilium at the helm: gatekeeper of TGF-β superfamily signaling in development, homeostasis, and disease

Cristian Herrera-Cid; Oskar Kaaber Thomsen; Linéa Désarbre; Rylee Blair Marin; Canan Doganli; Lotte Bang Pedersen; Lars Allan Larsen; Søren Tvorup Christensen

doi:10.1042/BST20253108

The primary cilium at the helm: gatekeeper of TGF-β superfamily signaling in development, homeostasis, and disease

Cristian Herrera-Cid, Oskar Kaaber Thomsen, Linéa Désarbre, Rylee Blair Marin, Canan Doganli, Lotte Bang Pedersen, Lars Allan Larsen, Søren Tvorup Christensen^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review › peer-review

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Abstract

The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily is crucial for regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and tissue homeostasis, and plays a central role in embryonic development and function of tissues and organs. Dysregulation of these pathways contributes to a broad spectrum of diseases, including cancer, fibrosis, and developmental disorders. The present review explores how the primary cilium, a specialized signaling organelle, orchestrates TGF-β superfamily signaling, with a focus on emerging evidence of its role in heart and brain development, as well as in tissue homeostasis.

Original language	English
Journal	Biochemical Society Transactions
Volume	54
Issue number	6
Pages (from-to)	665-680
ISSN	0300-5127
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20253108
Publication status	Published - 2026

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Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 The Author(s).

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title = "The primary cilium at the helm: gatekeeper of TGF-β superfamily signaling in development, homeostasis, and disease",

abstract = "The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily is crucial for regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and tissue homeostasis, and plays a central role in embryonic development and function of tissues and organs. Dysregulation of these pathways contributes to a broad spectrum of diseases, including cancer, fibrosis, and developmental disorders. The present review explores how the primary cilium, a specialized signaling organelle, orchestrates TGF-β superfamily signaling, with a focus on emerging evidence of its role in heart and brain development, as well as in tissue homeostasis.",

author = "Cristian Herrera-Cid and Thomsen, {Oskar Kaaber} and Lin{\'e}a D{\'e}sarbre and Marin, {Rylee Blair} and Canan Doganli and Pedersen, {Lotte Bang} and Larsen, {Lars Allan} and Christensen, {S{\o}ren Tvorup}",

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T2 - gatekeeper of TGF-β superfamily signaling in development, homeostasis, and disease

AU - Herrera-Cid, Cristian

AU - Thomsen, Oskar Kaaber

AU - Désarbre, Linéa

AU - Marin, Rylee Blair

AU - Doganli, Canan

AU - Pedersen, Lotte Bang

AU - Larsen, Lars Allan

AU - Christensen, Søren Tvorup

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N2 - The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily is crucial for regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and tissue homeostasis, and plays a central role in embryonic development and function of tissues and organs. Dysregulation of these pathways contributes to a broad spectrum of diseases, including cancer, fibrosis, and developmental disorders. The present review explores how the primary cilium, a specialized signaling organelle, orchestrates TGF-β superfamily signaling, with a focus on emerging evidence of its role in heart and brain development, as well as in tissue homeostasis.

AB - The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily is crucial for regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and tissue homeostasis, and plays a central role in embryonic development and function of tissues and organs. Dysregulation of these pathways contributes to a broad spectrum of diseases, including cancer, fibrosis, and developmental disorders. The present review explores how the primary cilium, a specialized signaling organelle, orchestrates TGF-β superfamily signaling, with a focus on emerging evidence of its role in heart and brain development, as well as in tissue homeostasis.

U2 - 10.1042/BST20253108

DO - 10.1042/BST20253108

M3 - Review

C2 - 42233350

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JO - Biochemical Society Transactions

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