Skip to main content
Figure 3 | Fibrogenesis & Tissue Repair

Figure 3

From: Elevation of the antifibrotic peptide N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline: a blood pressure-independent beneficial effect of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors

Figure 3

The action of N -acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (AcSDKP) on transforming growth factor (TGF)β signal transduction. TGFβ binds to TGF receptors on the cell membrane. TGFβ and TGFβ-receptor interaction induces phosphorylation of receptor-regulated (R)-Smads. Phosphorylated R-Smads bind with the common (co)-Smad in the cytoplasm of cells. Such Smads heterodimerize in the nucleus and bind to the genomic promoter region of DNA, called the Smad binding element (SBE). AcSDKP may induce Smad7 translocation from the nucleus of cells to the cytoplasm and inhibit phosphorylation of R-Smads by receptors. Or alternatively, AcSDKP may increase Smad7 levels in the cytoplasm by as-yet unknown mechanisms.

Back to article page