Transforming growth factor-beta1 induces activation of Ras, Raf-1, MEK and MAPK in rat hepatic stellate cells.

The transdifferentiation of hepatic stellate cells into myofibroblast-like cells and the proliferation of the transdifferentiated cells are controlled by TGF-beta1. Little is known about the intracellular signal transducers of TGF-beta1. In this paper we show that in cultured hepatic stellate cells TGF-beta1 induces activation of Ras, Raf-1, MEK and MAPK p42 and p44. The activation of MAPK depends on the activation of MEK. Our data exclude that the observed effects are mediated by a bFGF or PDGF autocrine loop.