Comparison of the TGF-β-induced canonical and non-canonical signaling in oval cell expressing a functionally active or inactive Met receptor. A.

<p>Mouse Met^flx/flx and Met^−/− oval cell lines were serum-starved and treated with 1 ng/ml TGF-β for different periods of time as indicated. Untreated cells were included as control. Whole cell lysates were collected and used for immunoblotting with anti-phosphoSmad2 antibody. β-actin was analyzed as loading control. A representative experiment of two is shown. <b>B.</b> Mouse Met^flx/flx and Met^−/− oval cell lines were transiently transfected with SBE containing construct linked to a luciferase reporter (Cignal Smad reporter). Cells were serum-starved and incubated in the absence (C) or presence of 1 ng/ml TGF-β (Tβ) for 8 hours. Normalized luciferase activity is shown as fold induction relative to untreated cells. Data are mean±SEM of three independent experiments run in triplicates. <b>C.</b> Cells were treated as in A. Whole cell lysates were collected and used for immunoblotting with indicated antibodies. A representative experiment of two is shown. <b>Black bars</b>, Met^flx/flx cells. <b>White bars</b>, Met^−/− cells. ***<i>P</i><0.001 (treated versus untreated).