Complex roles of TGF-b signaling pathways in lung development and bronchopulmonary dysplasia

As survival of extremely preterm infants continues to improve, there is also an associated increase in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), one of the most significant complications of preterm birth. BPD development is multifactorial resulting from exposure to multiple antenatal and postnatal stressors. BPD has both short-term health implications and long-term sequelae including increased respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological morbidity. Transforming growth factor I3 (TGF-I3) is an important signaling pathway in lung develop-ment, organ injury, and fibrosis and is implicated in the development of BPD. This review provides a detailed account on the role of TGF-I3 in antenatal and postnatal lung development, the effect of known risk factors for BPD on the TGF-I3 signaling pathway, and how medications currently in use or under development, for the prevention or treatment of BPD, affect TGF-I3 signaling.

Automated summary

As survival rates for extremely preterm infants improve, there is an increase in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), one of the most significant complications of preterm birth. BPD development is multifactorial, resulting from exposure to various antenatal and postnatal stressors. BPD has short-term and long-term implications, including respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological issues. The review focuses on the role of transforming growth factor I3 (TGF-I3) in lung development, the impact of known risk factors on the TGF-I3 signaling pathway in BPD, and the effect of current and potential medications on TGF-I3 signaling for BPD prevention and treatment.