Figure 2

Bile acids transactivate EGFR in cholangiocytes. Bile acids induce a signaling transduction cascade through EGFR. Bile acids can stimulate Src kinase activity, enhance MMP activity and generate TGF-α. Soluble TGF-α acts as the ligand for activation of EGFR. This activation induces signaling molecules such as protein kinase C (PKC), PI3-K and MAPK resulting in alterations in the cell cycle, cell growth, and cell survival (adapted from [53].