Transforming growth factor(TGF)-β superfamily is a group of essential growth factors involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. TGF-β, bone morphogenetic protein(BMP), growth differentiation factor(GDF), activin(ACT), inhibin and so on, share a set of similar spatial structures of proteins. Dentin, as the important supportive part of tooth structure, is formed with mineralized matrix, which secreted by odontoblasts. During dentin formation, TGF-β1 participates in the regulation of matrix formation, mineralization, and the odontoblasts arrangement; BMP involved in the adjustment of many transcription factors’ expression and mediated epithelialmesenchymal interaction in dentification; while GDF play roles in periodontal development and ACT regulates cell metabolism, inmmune response, damage repairment and so on. This article reviewed the advances on the roles of TGF-β superfamily in dentinogenesis.
