Intracellular signal transduction pathway of integrin and hepatic stellate cell behavior / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

Integrins are the main mediators of the complicated interaction between hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Signal transduction by integrins is initiated by both occupancy and crosslinking of integrins by ECM components. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and mitogen- activated protein kinase (MAPK), which are the downstream molecules, involve in integrin-mediated cellular behaviors. In this review, we briefly summarize the integrin's structure, intracellular signaling cascades and its role in HSC behaviors,such as activation,proliferation and apoptosis.