Angiotensin II Activates the Smad Pathway in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by a Transforming Growth Factor-β–Independent Mechanism

Abstract

Our results show that Ang II activates the Smad signaling system in vascular cells in vivo and in vitro. Smad proteins are involved in Ang II-induced CTGF and ECM overexpression independently of TGF-beta. This novel finding suggests that Smad activation could be involved in the profibrogenic effects of Ang II in vascular diseases.