Fig. 7.

Schematic showing proposed mechanism of ECM synthesis following CDH11 engagement. CDH11 engagement activates TGF-β and ROCK pathways as evidenced by phosphorylation of MYPT and Smad2. Activation of Rho–ROCK leads to actin polymerization and nuclear localization of MRTF-A. Phosphorylation of Smad2–Smad3 leads to increased levels of MYOCD. These two transcription factors, perhaps with the help of other co-factors such as SRF, bind to the SBE or CARG response elements leading to transcription of collagen and elastin as well as CDH11, indicating the presence of a positive-feedback loop. The dotted lines denote that the pathway is not fully defined.