title: FAK is required for TGFbeta-induced JNK phosphorylation in fibroblasts: implications for acquisition of a matrix-remodeling phenotype.
abstract: Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) plays a critical role in connective tissue remodeling by fibroblasts during development, tissue repair, and fibrosis. We investigated the molecular pathways in the transmission of TGFbeta signals that lead to features of connective tissue remodeling, namely formation of an alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) cytoskeleton, matrix contraction, and expression of profibrotic genes. TGFbeta causes the activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), leading to JNK phosphorylation. TGFbeta induces JNK-dependent actin stress fiber formation, matrix contraction, and expression of profibrotic genes in fak+/+, but not fak-/-, fibroblasts. Overexpression of MEKK1, a kinase acting upstream of JNK, rescues TGFbeta responsiveness of JNK-dependent transcripts and actin stress fiber formation in FAK-deficient fibroblasts. Thus we propose a FAK-MEKK1-JNK pathway in the transmission of TGFbeta signals leading to the control of alpha-SMA cytoskeleton reorganization, matrix contraction, and profibrotic gene expression and hence to the physiological and pathological effects of TGFbeta on connective tissue remodeling by fibroblasts.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Biology and Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Shangxi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shi-wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.forename: Yunliang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eastwood
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Carol M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leask
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051418:Focal Adhesion Kinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048728:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D022502:Stress Fibers / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D051418:Focal Adhesion Kinase 2; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048728:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 1