Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Peritoneal EMT and Fibrosis

Figure 2

Cooperation between signals delivered by TGF- and Toll-like/IL-1 receptors in the EMT of MCs. TGF-β delivers pro-EMT signals inducing the Smad2/3 (not described in this figure) and the non-Smad pathways, composed of MEK/ERK1/2 and PI3K pathways. IL-1β and TLR ligands activate redundant pathways leading to activation of NF-κB and ERK1/2. Also, pathways able to limit EMT induction, such as p38, are induced at the same time. Smad2/3 acted as transcription factor in combination with Snail, NF-κB, and AP-1 to induce the EMT program.