FIGURE 10. Schematic model of β8-integrin regulation of Rho family G-proteins in MC differentiation.
The figure on the left represents the normal state, wherein MC differentiation is regulated by αvβ8-dependent docking of RhoGDI-1 with the β8 cytoplasmic tail, which stimulates release of Rac1 from GDI for Rac-GEF interaction. The figure on the right represents the pathologic state, modeled by either decreased β8 or GDI expression, resulting in up-regulated RhoA-dependent α-SMA assembly, which defines pathologic, myofibroblast differentiation.