The role of Smad signaling in bile duct ligation induced fibrogenesis in rat

TGF- β1 has1s a central role in the fibrogenic response to injury in many organs, including the liver. Only little in vivo information is currently available regarding the impact of intracellular TGF-β signal transducers in fibrogenesis. Pathway restricted Smads2/3 are activated by ligand dependent phosphorylation through TGF-β receptor I. Phosphorylated Smads2/3 subsequently heterodimerize with Smad4 and form a transcriptionally active complex. Phosphorylation of Smads 2/3 is inhibited by Smad7. In the present study, we investigated expression and activation of Smads in fibrotic livers from bile duct ligated (B…