A case report suggesting the occurrence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in obstructive nephropathy.
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been well investigated using cultured kidney epithelial cell lines and the mouse obstructive nephropathy model. The role of EMT in the genesis or progression of human renal fibrosis remains controversial. We report a case of obstructive nephropathy that occurred in a pregnant woman. Renal tissue obtained by percutaneous renal biopsy after the delivery showed marked interstitial fibrosis and obstructive tubuli. Immunofluorescence images clearly demonstrated S100A4-positive tubular epithelial cells in these specimens. With regard to human obstructive nephropathy, this is the first report which proves that tubular epithelial cells become positive for the fibroblast-specific marker. EMT is probably a common event not only in mouse but also in human.
Department of Nephrology, Saitama Medical School, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama-machi, Iruma, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan.
Tsutomu
T
Inoue
Department of Nephrology, Saitama Medical School, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama-machi, Iruma, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan.
Hirokazu
H
Okada
Department of Nephrology, Saitama Medical School, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama-machi, Iruma, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan.
Tsuneo
T
Takenaka
Department of Nephrology, Saitama Medical School, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama-machi, Iruma, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan.
Yusuke
Y
Watanabe
Department of Nephrology, Saitama Medical School, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama-machi, Iruma, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan. iromichi@saitama-med.ac.jp.
Hiromichi
H
Suzuki
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000071999:S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D000071999:S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4; D009418:S100 Proteins; C077591:S100A4 protein, human