c-Ski inhibits the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells via suppressing Smad3 signaling but stimulating p38 pathway

► c-Ski overexpression can inhibit VSMC proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. ► Inhibiting TGF-β/Smad3 but stimulating TGF-β/p38 pathway mediates the role of c-Ski. ► Endogenous c-Ski expression decreases after vascular injury.