Emerging roles for the TGFβ family in pancreatic β-cell homeostasis

Loss of functional beta-cells is the primary cause of type 2 diabetes, so that there is an acute need to understand how beta-cell number and function are regulated in the adult under normal physiological conditions. Recent studies suggest that members of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta family regulate beta-cell function and glucose homeostasis. These factors are also likely to influence beta-cell proliferation and/or the incorporation of new beta-cells from progenitors in adults. Soluble TGF beta antagonists also appear to have important roles in maintaining homeostasis, and the coordinated activity of TGF beta family members is likely to regulate the differentiation and function of adult beta-cells, raising the possibility of developing new diabetes therapies based on TGF beta agonists or antagonists.