The RhoA activator GEF-H1/Lfc is a transforming growth factor-beta target gene and effector that regulates alpha-smooth muscle actin expression and cell migration.

ABSTRACT: Maintenance of the epithelial phenotype is crucial for tissue homeostasis. In the retina, dedifferentiation and loss of integrity of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) leads to retinal dysfunction and fibrosis. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta critically contributes to RPE dedifferentiation and induces various responses, including increased Rho signaling, up-regulation of alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), and cell migration and dedifferentiation. Cellular TGF-beta responses are stimulated by different signal transduction pathways: some are Smad dependent and others Smad independent. Alterations in Rho signaling are crucial to both types of TGF-beta signaling, but how TGF-beta-stimulates Rho signaling is poorly understood. Here, we show that primary RPE cells up-regulated GEF-H1 in re

SUBMITTER: Tsapara A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2836967 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature