Figure 7. Kindlin-1 is required for TGF-β/Smad3 signaling in CRC progression - A working model.

A. Inter-relationship between FERMT1 RNA expression with members of TGF-β1 signaling pathway in Reid Colon Dataset of Oncomine (p=0.017). a. FERMT1RNA is correlated with TGF-β1. b. FERMT1RNA showed a tendency with TβRI. c. FERMT1RNA is not correlated with SARA, d. Correlation of TGF-β1 RNA is strongly correlated with SARA. B. A working model depicting the relationship between Kindlin-1 and TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway. In this model, Kindlin-1interacts with key TGF-β/Smad3 signaling components including TβRI, SARA and Smad3, and functionally as a signaling hub that brings TβRI, SARA and Smad3 together, and is required for active TβRI phosphorylation on Smad3. Without the presence of Kindlin-1, TGF-β/Smad3 signaling cannot be fully activated. Taken together, Kindlin-1 promotes CRC progression through activation of the TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway.