Figure 1

The signalling pathways mediated by vGPCR. Constitutive active vGPCR promotes the transcription of inflammatory cytokines and cell transformation. vGPCR through the Rac-NF-κB pathway promotes production of proinflammatory cytokines that in turn leads to recruitment and transformation of neighbouring cells by a paracrine mechanism. The pathway indicated by the red arrows show the activation of the P38 signalling pathway with the consequent increase in VEGF and bFGF production and secretion. The pathway indicated by the blue arrows shows the inactivation of pro-apoptotic genes (PAGI) and the activation of survival genes (SGEA). The green arrow shows activation of Akt/PKB by vGPCR-induced VEGF leading to cell survival.