TGF‐β/Smads signaling pathway, Hippo‐YAP/TAZ signaling pathway, and VEGF: Their mechanisms and roles in vascular remodeling related diseases

Vascular remodeling is a basic pathological process in various diseases characterized by abnormal changes in the morphology, structure, and function of vascular cells, such as migration, proliferation, hypertrophy, and apoptosis. Various growth factors and pathways are involved in the process of vascular remodeling. The transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) signaling pathway, which is mainly mediated by TGF‐β1, is an important factor in vascular wall enhancement during vascular development and regulates the vascular response to injury by promoting the accumulation of intimal tissue. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has an important effect on initiating the formation of blood vessels. The Hippo‐YAP/TAZ signaling pathway also plays an important role in angiogenesis. In addition, studies have shown that there is a certain interaction between the TGF‐β/Smads signaling pathway, Hippo‐YAP/TAZ signaling pathway, and VEGF. Many studies have shown that in the development of atherosclerosis, hypertension, aneurysm, vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia, pulmonary hypertension, restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, and other diseases, various inflammatory reactions lead to changes in vascular structure and vascular microenvironment, which leads to vascular remodeling. The occurrence of vascular remodeling changes the morphology of blood vessels and thus changes the hemodynamics, which is the cause of further development of the disease process. Vascular remodeling can cause vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction and vascular homeostasis regulation. This review aims to explore the mechanisms of the TGF‐β/Smads signaling pathway, Hippo‐YAP/TAZ signaling pathway, and vascular endothelial growth factor in vascular remodeling and related diseases. This paper is expected to provide new ideas for research on the occurrence and development of related diseases and provide a new direction for research on the treatment of related diseases.