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Figure 5 | Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

Figure 5

From: Transforming growth factor-beta inhibits aromatase gene transcription in human trophoblast cells via the Smad2 signaling pathway

Figure 5

Proposed model of TGF-β action in estrogen production in trophoblast cells. TGF-β binds to its serine/threonine receptor complex (TβRII and ALK5) to activate Smad2. The phosphorylated Smad2 forms a complex with Smad4 and translocate to the nucleus, where the complex could interact with other transcription factors (TF) and co-repressors to inhibit aromatase gene transcription. TGF-β also decreases aromatase mRNA stability, which contributes to a decrease in aromatase mRNA levels. The decrease in aromatase mRNA may lead to a decrease in aromatase activity and thus estrogen biosynthesis in trophoblast cells.

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