TGF-β/Smad-1 signaling activates regenerative pro-survival mechanisms, whereas TGF-β/Smad-2/3 leads to pro-apoptotic programs in primary mouse hepatocytes

Phosphorylation of the signaling molecules Smad2/3 is considered as classical TGF-β signal transduction pathway. However, in an increasing number of cell types, including endothelial cells, hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells, TGF-β phosphorylates Smad1, originally dedicated as BMP responsive branch. Since no discrimination of these parallel pathways was done up to now in liver cells, aim of the present study was to identify TGF-β/Smad1 target genes in cultured hepatocytes. Using microarray technology, TGF-β regulated early-response genes were identified either under control conditions or after adenoviral ove…