Figure 5.

Diagram of the proposed role of Erk-pathway in the control of CTGF and PAI-1 expression. CTGF and PAI-1 seems to be regulated by two TGF-β-induced pathways: TGF-β-Smad 3 and TGF-β-Ras-Mek-Erk pathway. Additionally, dexamethasone clearly induced CTGF expression but it did not affect PAI-1 expression in hepatocytes. [TGF-β] transforming growth factor beta, [Smad 3] mothers against DPP homolog 3, transcription factor, [Ras] rat sarcoma, proto-oncogen, [Mek] MAP-Erk-Kinasen; [Erk] Extra-cellular-signal regulated Kinase; [dexamethasone] glucocorticoid, transcription factor; [JNK] c-Jun N-terminale Kinase; [Erk i] Erk inhibitor binds selectively to Erk2 and prevent its interaction with Mek.