Next Article in Journal
Evaluation of an Infertile, All-Male ZZ Line Exhibiting Female-like Growth in Chinese Tongue Sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis): Growth Performance, Flesh Quality, and Muscle Metabolome
Previous Article in Journal
Deciphering the Origins of Commercial Sweetpotato Genotypes Using International Genebank Data
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Biology
Volume 15
Issue 1
10.3390/biology15010092
biology-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

Beyond VEGF and TGF-β: A Comprehensive Review of Growth Factor Pathways in the Pathophysiology of Uterine Leiomyomas

by
Nuray Rozmurat
1,*,
Sanja Terzic
2,
Peng Zhao
3,
Gauri Bapayeva
4,
Kuralay Kongrtay
4,5,
Matthew Naanlep Tanko
2 and
Milan Terzic
4,5
1
School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Zhanybek-Kerey Khans Street 5/1, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
2
Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Zhanybek-Kerey Khans Street 5/1, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
3
Department of Obstetrics, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou 310006, China
4
Clinical Academic Department of Women’s Health, CF “University Medical Center”, Turan Ave. 32, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
5
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Zhanybek-Kerey Khans Street 5/1, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biology 2026, 15(1), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15010092 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 22 November 2025 / Revised: 19 December 2025 / Accepted: 30 December 2025 / Published: 1 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Physiology)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Uterine leiomyomas or fibroids, are non-cancerous smooth muscle proliferations of the uterus, occurring mostly in women of reproductive age. Their pathogenesis involves complex growth factor interactions that regulate cellular proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and angiogenesis in myometrium. Women affected by fibroids often have a range of consequences such as infertility, endometriosis, and dysmenorrhea. Several growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor (TGF-β), and platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) have long been described as key regulators of angiogenic and fibrotic activities in fibroid tissue. Moreover, we summarized updated information between 2015 and 2025 following strictly inclusion/exclusion criteria and key research areas, including growth factors and its isoform-interaction, their roles within key signaling pathways, and the contribution of ECM deposition in uterine fibroids development and growth. Implementing growth factors in the clinical research field can develop new biomarkers and treatment options, focusing on effective and advanced management of uterine fibroids.
Keywords: uterine leiomyoma; VEGF; TGF-β3; angiogenesis; extracellular matrix; growth factors; clinical management uterine leiomyoma; VEGF; TGF-β3; angiogenesis; extracellular matrix; growth factors; clinical management

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Rozmurat, N.; Terzic, S.; Zhao, P.; Bapayeva, G.; Kongrtay, K.; Tanko, M.N.; Terzic, M. Beyond VEGF and TGF-β: A Comprehensive Review of Growth Factor Pathways in the Pathophysiology of Uterine Leiomyomas. Biology 2026, 15, 92. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15010092

AMA Style

Rozmurat N, Terzic S, Zhao P, Bapayeva G, Kongrtay K, Tanko MN, Terzic M. Beyond VEGF and TGF-β: A Comprehensive Review of Growth Factor Pathways in the Pathophysiology of Uterine Leiomyomas. Biology. 2026; 15(1):92. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15010092

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rozmurat, Nuray, Sanja Terzic, Peng Zhao, Gauri Bapayeva, Kuralay Kongrtay, Matthew Naanlep Tanko, and Milan Terzic. 2026. "Beyond VEGF and TGF-β: A Comprehensive Review of Growth Factor Pathways in the Pathophysiology of Uterine Leiomyomas" Biology 15, no. 1: 92. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15010092

APA Style

Rozmurat, N., Terzic, S., Zhao, P., Bapayeva, G., Kongrtay, K., Tanko, M. N., & Terzic, M. (2026). Beyond VEGF and TGF-β: A Comprehensive Review of Growth Factor Pathways in the Pathophysiology of Uterine Leiomyomas. Biology, 15(1), 92. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15010092

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.
Back to TopTop