Aberrant transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) signaling plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of vascular fibrosis. On the other hand, deregulated transient receptor potential canonical 6 (TRPC6) channel expression shows impaired vascular physiology and wound healing. However, it has little been known about the functional association between TGF beta and TRPC6 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In this study, we analyzed the microarray data obtained from TGF beta 1-treated A7r5 VSMCs. We found that TGF beta 1 specifically elevates the expression level of TRPC6 mainly through Smad-dependent canonical pathway. The siRNA against TRPC6 abolished TGF beta 1-induced molecular and cellular phenotype changes, including myosin light chain phosphorylation, actin stress fiber formation, and cell migration. These results demonstrate that TRPC6 is an important component of TGF beta 1 signaling pathway in VSMCs. Therefore, our findings provide a basis for future investigation aimed at developing novel therapeutic strategies for treatment of vascular fibrosis. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.