Figure 8.

Schematic diagram of intracellular signaling mechanisms that induce epithelial mesenchymal transition during CSE-induced aberrant EGFR activation in human RPE cells. CSE induces the expression of EGFR and increases the activity of FAK, Syk, and Src in RPE cells. These signaling molecules promote the production of TGF-β1 and VEGF and induce expression of EMT markers. CSE, cigarette smoke extract; EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; RPE cell, retinal pigment epithelial cell; FAK, focal adhesion kinase; siRNA, small interfering RNA; Syk, spleen associated tyrosine kinase; Src, Src proto-oncogene non-receptor tyrosine kinase; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; TGF-β1, transforming growth factor-β.