The Nuclear Receptor Constitutive Androstane Receptor/NR1I3 Enhances the Profibrotic Effects of Transforming Growth Factor beta and Contributes to the Development of Experimental Dermal Fibrosis

Abstract

CAR is upregulated in SSc and regulates TGF-β signaling. Activation of CAR increases the profibrotic effects of TGF-β in cultured fibroblasts and in different preclinical models of SSc.

Thus, inactivation of CAR might be a novel approach to target aberrant TGF-β signaling in SSc and in other fibrotic diseases

Keywords

• systemic sclerosis
• scleroderma
• fibroblasts
• nuclear receptor
• TGF-β