FIG. 5.

Crosstalk between BMP/TGF-β and PDGF signaling in EndMT progression. TGF-β1, PDGF-AA, and PDGF-BB induced EndMT in a dose-dependent manner. Transitioning cells exhibited loss of VE-cadherin and CD31 (PECAM), induction of EndMT transcription factors Snail and Slug, and gain of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin, fibronectin, and S100A4 expression, along with a shift of cell morphology from cobblestone to spindle like. BMPs BMP2 and BMP7 inhibit pro-EndMT effects of TGF-β1, and dysregulated BMPR2 releases inhibitory effects on activity of HMGA1, potentiating EndMT. BMP, bone-morphogenetic protein; CD31, cluster of differentiation 31; HMGA1, High Mobility Group AT-hook 1; PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor; S100A4, S100 calcium binding protein A4. Color images are available online.