Evidence for a cross-talk between the TGFbeta-signalling cascade and the RAS/MEK/MAPK-pathway in mediating transdifferentiation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells

TGF-β and fibrosis in different organs — molecular pathway imprints

“…Mutant mice show diminished cell responsiveness to TGF-1, massive infiltration of T cells, and multiple pyogenic abscesses in the stomach and intestine [87,90]. When Smad signaling was studied in normal human gut mucosa, whole biopsies or isolated lamina propria mononuclear cells, a basal level of phosphorylated (phospho-) Smad3 was observed which was rapidly upregulated by the addition of exogenous TGF-1 [91].TGF- has been also implicated as a key inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)[92][93][94][95][96][97]. Amongst others, EMT is an essential component of tissue remodeling and wound repair (reviewed in[98,99]) and fibrosis (reviewed in[100]).…”