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Diseases caused by mutations in lamins A and C (laminopathies) suggest a crucial role for A-type lamins in different cellular processes. Laminopathies mostly affect tissues of mesenchymal origin. As transforming growth factor-b1 (TGF-b1) signalling impinges on the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) and SMADs, we tested the hypothesis that lamins modulate cellular responses to TGF-b1 signalling, via the regulation of these transcription factors in mesenchymal cells. Here, we report that A-type lamins are essential for the inhibition of fibroblast proliferation by TGF-b1. TGF-b1 dephosphorylated pRB through PP2A, both of which, we show, are associated with lamin A/C. In addition, lamin A/C modulates the effect of TGF-b1 on collagen production, a marker of mesenchymal differentiation. Our findings implicate lamin A/C in control of gene activity downstream of TGF-b1, via nuclear phosphatases such as PP2A. This biological function provides a novel explanation for the observed mesenchymal dysfunction in laminopathies.
Berlo et al. (Mon,) studied this question.