Figure 7. Schematic depicting that NFkappaB-mediated cell survival is dependent at least in part on Met.
(A) In the presence of NFkappaB (i.e. p65+/+), cells such as hepatocytes are protected from pro-death signals mediated by the TNF alpha/TNFR-I axis. This is due in part to the upregulated expression of Met tyrosine kinase receptor gene, which encodes a potent pro-survival factor, by NFkappaB, and to lesser extent, by C/EBP beta. (B) In cells lacking NFkappaB (i.e. p65-/-), Met expression, and therefore Met-mediated cytoprotection, are reduced. The pro-apoptotic arm of death signals such as TNF alpha is insufficiently countered, and death pathways prevail.