Fig. 1
From: Complex regulation of cardiac fibrosis: insights from immune cells and signaling pathways
Overview of canonical TGF-β/SMAD and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Released from TGF-β complex, active TGF-β binding to TGF-β receptor initiates SMAD-dependent signaling pathway and promotes the transcription of profibrotic genes. SMAD6/7 exerts an inhibitory role in TGF-β signaling pathway. Wnt protein binds to receptor (complex receptor comprised of FZD and LRP5/6), which results in instability of destruction complex and subsequent increase of β-catenin. Increased β-catenin translocates into nuclear to enhance targeted profibrotic genes expression. APC adenomatous polyposis coli protein, CK1 casein kinase1, GSK-3β glycogen synthase kinase-3β, LRP5/6 low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5/6, FZD frizzled, TGF-β transforming growth factor-β