Fig. 3
From: Targeting hypoxic tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer
Effects of microenvironmental remodeling on PC progression under hypoxia. Hypoxia-driven ROS production activates PSCs to secrete various soluble factors, favoring the malignant phenotypes of PC. Hypoxia-stimulated TGF-α signaling induces Fbln5 expression through a PI3K/AKT-dependent mechanism in A-PSC, and Fbln5 competes with fibronectin for integrin binding and reduces ROS production. Upward arrows indicate upregulation of expression, and other arrows indicate positive modulations or release of molecules. Abbreviations: A-PSC, activated pancreatic stellate cells; Gem, gemcitabine; Q-PSC, quiescent pancreatic stellate cells