JNK dependent regulation of TGF-β target genes in hepatic stellate cells

Hepatic fibrosis is a wound healing process characterized by accumulation of several extracellular matrix proteins e.g. collagen1, which is initiated amongst others by activating hepatic stellate cells (HSC) through transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). TGF-β binds and phosphorylates transmembrane receptors, which in turn propagate the signal via Smads into the nucleus in order to regulate gene expression. The connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), which supports profibrotic TGF-β action, is induced by TGF-β during fibrosis. In the present study we demonstrate the dependency of CTGF expression on JNK activity i…